Thrush In Newborn Babies

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Thrush in newborns

Thrush in newborns can appear in the very first days of life. The most common is the defeat of the oral mucosa.

This disease is an inflammatory type, provoked by yeasts belonging to the genus Candida. These fungi are conditionally pathogenic, since they are present in the body of any person (genital tract, intestines, oral cavity) and are activated only if there are suitable conditions for reproduction.

Content:

• How does thrush manifest in newborns?
• Causes of thrush in newborns
• Thrush in the mouth of a child
• How to cure thrush in a newborn?

How does thrush manifest in newborns?

Manifestations of thrush in infants can be observed from the fifth day of life. Visible mucous membranes are mainly affected. On the cheeks from the inside, the tongue, sometimes the palate forms a plaque of point localization, which subsequently merges into large foci. They, as a rule, do not cause pain, resemble cottage cheese, and can be removed without effort. The child may react with anxiety, unwillingness to eat, and disturbed sleep patterns.

Candidiasis that occurs on the mucous membranes, in most cases, is combined with the appearance of diaper rash on the baby's bottom - this is the development of diaper dermatitis. The reason lies in the affected intestines and stomach. Blister formations are observed on the skin, the opening of which forms erosion, located on the buttocks, groin folds, genitals (scrotum, penis in boys and vagina, labia in girls), in the lower abdomen.

Thrush, as an infectious disease, spreads through the skin and mucous membranes to neighboring organs. Oral candidiasis with untimely treatment is transformed into a chronic form that threatens allergies and a decrease in immunity, although the very fact of the manifestation of thrush is already a signal of existing problems associated with disorders in the immune system.

Causes of thrush in newborns

Long-term observations make it possible to identify the main reasons affecting the occurrence of thrush in a newborn.

• The baby's mom can be the main source of the fungus. Since Candida, being a conditionally pathogenic microorganism, is present in the vagina of every woman and can begin to reproduce against the background of pregnancy or other accompanying factors (low immunity, absorption of large amounts of sweets, taking antibacterial medications), infection occurs during childbirth.
• The factor affecting the disease of the newborn with thrush is the low immune defense of the body, which arises as a result of congenital immunodeficiency or a severe disease of an infectious type.
• A malfunction of the stomach or intestines, an altered hormonal background, taking antibiotics contributes to a violation of the microflora in the baby's body and gives an impetus to the development of thrush.
• Poor sterilization of the bottle, pacifier, and spoon will cause thrush in the mouth.
• The carrier of the pathogen can be the hospital staff in the presence of defects in the care of babies.
• It is believed that dust, too dry and warm room air, lack of fresh air, overheating of the child cause dry mouth, which affects the properties of protective saliva and, as a result, creates a comfortable environment for the development of fungus.

Thrush in the mouth of a child

Clinical manifestations tend to begin in the first week of life.

The appearance of thrush (candida) in a newborn baby is usually noticed by chance, at the time of feeding. Mom can see the formation of small whitish spots that cover the baby's mouth with a cheesy bloom: from the beginning on the cheeks, then on the tongue, gums, the palate is affected in rare cases. After its removal, the mucous membrane appears in an inflamed red, edematous form.

The main harbinger of thrush may be the changed behavior of the infant. A child who actively responds to the world around him can lie for a long time without interest in external stimuli, and stops walking. Such changes always indicate the emerging discomfort that grows stronger with the development of the disease. The worsening of symptoms is observed at the time of sucking. The soreness of the sensations makes the baby spit out the chest, he is capricious, loses his appetite, his sleep is disturbed, possibly spitting up.

How to cure thrush in a newborn?

If the Candida fungus has begun to have a negative effect on the baby's body. That the first action of the mother is to contact the pediatrician for advice. Only a doctor can confirm the presence of the disease and begin treatment based on two directions: elimination of factors contributing to the spread of thrush and the appointment of measures to directly combat the fungus.

If the cause of candidiasis is frequent regurgitation, it is important to establish a feeding technique: apply it to the breast correctly, hold the baby upright after eating, wait for the air to escape and only then put it in the crib, you should not play with the baby, change it and squeeze it after eating. Allergic causes require a special diet and the appointment of antiallergic drugs. Digestion problems, the presence of dysbiosis are solved by the restoration of the intestinal microflora.

General recommendations for thrush in newborns include the following:

• Re-sterilization of all items (boiling) in contact with the child, elimination of possible stress factors.
• Regular removal of plaque in the mouth with a cotton swab dipped in 2% soda solution (a quarter teaspoon diluted in 200 ml of boiled water). You can use a pharmacy solution or antifungal cream. Nystatin powder, diluted according to the instructions, also helps.
• Before feeding, treat the nipples with the available solutions, and after feeding the baby's mouth. Constant checking of groin folds, where the skin often reddens and flakes, as well as their treatment with levorilone or nystatin ointment, will help the baby to avoid itching, accompanied by anxiety.
• Spend more time walking in the air, massage and exercise your baby in the morning. This will strengthen the immune system and prevent candidiasis from developing into fungal pneumonia and sepsis.
• It is better to use gauze diapers, at least until recovery. They need to be changed more often so that the fungus does not have the opportunity to multiply and boil during washing.
• It is dangerous to use any medications without a doctor's prescription.

Zelenka for thrush in newborns

Zelenka is not recommended for use, since observations indicate its negative effect on the microflora and changes in the water-lipid mantle of the skin. And her participation in the treatment of thrush is useless. It is important to understand that the treatment of the disease can be delayed for a long time and be complicated by chronic ailments if measures are not taken in a timely manner. Therefore, be attentive to your baby.

The author of the article: Sokolova Praskovya Fedorovna | Pediatrician

Education: Diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received at the Volgograd State Medical University. A specialist certificate was immediately received in 2014.