Thrush is a fungal infection of the mouth that can affect anyone at any age, but it's especially common in small babies, especially those younger than 6 months. The fungus that causes thrush is a kind of yeast called candida that can live anywhere on the body, even in the mouth and digestive tract.
Oral thrush (also called oral candidiasis) can affect anyone, but is most common in babies younger than 6 months old and in older adults.
“Newborns can get a Candida infection from their mother during birth or may be at higher risk if they have serious health conditions or were born prematurely. It can also occur after mom or baby have taken antibiotics, which can reduce good bacteria in our bodies.”
Usually oral thrush is not serious and can sometimes even go unnoticed.
If thrush is left untreated, the fungus candida can sometimes spread.
But there's no evidence that thrush can harm an unborn baby.
Oral thrush is not considered contagious, but it can be passed back and forth between at-risk individuals or from mother to infant while breastfeeding. In otherwise healthy people, it is very unusual for thrush to be passed by kissing or other close contact.
Fussiness. While some babies are largely unaffected by thrush, others may experience pain while eating and become more fussy than usual, Posner says.
Baking soda paste: Baking soda is known to work against oral thrush in babies. Make a paste of baking soda and apply it over the affected parts in your baby's mouth. Application at certain intervals of time is sure to get rid of the thrush.
Saltwater. Not only does salt act like an antiseptic, it may also soothe the symptoms of thrush. Dissolve a half teaspoon of salt into 1 cup of warm water. Gently paint the lesions with this saltwater solution using a cotton swab.
If either you or your baby does have thrush, you'll need to be treated at the same time as the infection can easily spread between you. It can also spread to other members of the family.
Vaginal thrush can affect women of any age, although it is more common in women between the ages of 15 and 50 years old. It is unusual in girls who have not yet begun their periods and in older women after menopause.
Your GP will usually be able to diagnose oral thrush simply by examining your mouth. Sometimes they may also recommend blood tests to look for certain conditions associated with oral thrush, such as diabetes and nutritional deficiencies.
Possible causes of a white tongue
More often than not, the cause is milk residue, but it could also be a symptom of oral thrush. Newborns tend to have a buildup of milk on their tongue. As they do not produce as much saliva as older children, there is less saliva in their mouth to wash away the milk.
The easiest way to distinguish between thrush and milk tongue is to take a warm damp cloth and give your baby's tongue a gentle wipe. If the white residue wipes off easily — showing a healthy pink tongue underneath — then it's likely just milk residue.
Thrush is not classed as a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but it can be triggered by sex. Thrush is caused by a fungus called candida that is normally harmless. Thrush tends to grow in warm, moist conditions and develops if the balance of bacteria changes.
It occurs because the area is vulnerable to irritation and may be made worse by soaps, bubble baths, dampness and not wiping front to back after using the toilet. Protection of the area with a barrier cream (bepanthen, sudocrem) is often the best treatment.
You can buy thrush tests over the counter at your local pharmacy or online, which are able to diagnose common vaginal infections. Many tests offer immediate results with clear and easy to read instructions, the results you get will also rely upon the symptoms you are experiencing.
Thrush is another name for a yeast infection. Yeast grows rapidly in warm moist areas. A yeast infection may be present on mother's nipples or breast or in your baby's mouth or diaper area. Sometimes both mother and baby have a yeast infection, or only one person has a yeast infection.
Milk residue (“milk tongue”)
It is common for babies to have a buildup of milk on their tongues, and it is more common in newborns because they do not make as much saliva to wash off the milk. It is harmless, and you do not need to clean it off or try to prevent it from happening.
Thrush is easily treated with an antifungal medicine such as nystatin (Mycostatin®), fluconazole (Diflucan®), or itraconazole (Sporanox®). Your child may get these medicines as a syrup or a pill. Thrush usually clears up in 4 to 5 days.
Since thrush is easily passed back and forth, it's best if both you and your baby get treated. For your baby, your pediatrician may prescribe an antifungal medication (such as Nystatin), which is applied topically to the insides of the mouth and tongue multiple times a day for 10 days.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Cradle your baby's head in your hand as you sit with them on your lap. Cover your finger with gauze or cloth and dip it in warm water. Using the damp cloth or gauze, gently open your baby's mouth and then begin to rub their tongue in a circular motion gently.