Oral thrush for the baby

Introduction

A mouth sore is a fungal infection, which is caused to 90% by the yeast fungus Candida albicans. Generally this infection is called candidosis. Different parts of the body can be affected.

If the mouth is affected, it is called oral thrush. The yeast fungus Candida albicans can be detected on the skin and mucous membranes in about 30% of the healthy population and is usually not a problem for immunocompetent people. An infectious disease can result from an immunodeficiency, for example due to a long antibiotic therapy or an HIV infection or a change in the bacterial flora of the mucous membranes.

It is therefore a facultatively pathogenic germ. The cause of oral thrush is the colonization of the mouth with yeast fungi. For this, we recommend you also read the following article: Yeast fungus in the mouthA mouth sores express themselves through characteristic, strippable, whitish coatings on the palate.

Mouth sores in babies are particularly common in the first months of life. This is usually due to the fact that the natural bacterial flora of the mucous membranes in babies is not as mature as in adults. Therefore, such fungal infections of the oral mucosa can occur more quickly.

Other reasons can be immunosuppression due to previous illnesses or therapies with immunosuppressive drugs. However, this is rather seldom the case. An infection can also occur during breastfeeding through the mother’s nipples. Mouth sores in babies are often accompanied by a fungus in the diaper area (diaper sores). All in all, it is rather a harmless disease, which must nevertheless be treated with antimycotics (antifungal agents).

Symptoms

The oral thrush in babies manifests itself through whitish, partly gray coatings of the oral mucosa and the palate, which are difficult to remove. Inflamed and bloody areas then usually appear under the stripped coating. The inflammation can also cause pain when drinking or eating.

Babies then often show a drinking weakness or refuse to drink altogether. In addition, a slight fever and a general fatigue can rarely occur. If the oesophagus is also affected by the fungus in severe cases, this is called thrush esophagitis.

This can be asymptomatic in many cases. It can also manifest itself as dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) or odynophagia (painful swallowing). Vomiting is also rarely possible. If, in addition to the oral thrush in the baby, there is also a diaper sores, an inflammation of the skin in the diaper area is evident. Diaper sores are favored by a rare change of diapers and a lack of personal hygiene of the baby.