Each mother experiences with anxiety any disease of her child. This is especially true for infants, because they are completely crumbs, and most of the funds can harm a still weak children's body, and not bring recovery.
When signs of thrush appear in the baby’s mouth, how to treat, what it is, and where it came from are the questions that mom asks herself. Consider the causes of this ailment, ways to get rid of it and the reviews of parents on these or other treatment methods.
What is Candida
The human body is the "home" for many microorganisms, fungi and bacteria. Some of them benefit people by protecting their health from external and internal "aggressors", while some just wait for the moment to attack a weakened immune system in order to spread throughout the body. The latter include some fungal species, which, as a rule, prefer a moist environment and live on mucous membranes in humans.
Thrush, or, as it is scientifically called, candidiasis, is caused by Candida fungi, some species of which are constantly present in the human body, but only a strong immune system prevents them from multiplying and spreading throughout the body. The main danger to humans are the following types of fungal:
- Candida albicans - distributed in 60% of the world's population, often in an inactive form, causes thrush.
- C. Parapsilosia - it is this fungal that is diagnosed in newborns in case of infection.
- C. Glabrata is dangerous for older people with weakened immune systems. They can be carriers of the disease.
One of them can manifest itself in the form of symptoms of thrush in the mouth of an infant. Treatment that is not carried out on time can give undesirable complications, which will be more difficult to deal with.
What causes candidiasis in children
All doctors know that the baby’s body is still very weak for the first six months of its life, and its immunity works only due to the immunoglobulin (protein) that it received through the placenta from its mother. There are 5 types of this protein:
- IgA "stands" for the protection of the mucous membranes in newborns.
- IgM is in the blood and is the first to recognize antibodies.
- IgG also spreads through the bloodstream, but fights specific antibodies.
- IgE is designed to protect against helminthic invasions and allergic reactions, therefore it is produced in the right amount only with a real threat.
- IgD is an auxiliary protein, the purpose of which has not yet been clarified by scientists.
So, what can provoke the appearance of thrush in newborns? How to treat is a minor issue until the root cause of the infection has been identified. If the baby was just born, then his immune cells have yet to turn on, and until this happens, the immunoglobulin must cope with protection against antibodies and fungal diseases, including.
The causes of thrush in newborns (symptoms can not immediately appear) can be as follows:
- The baby was infected by the mother, passing through the birth canal. As mentioned above, the first protection for a newborn is given by the immunoglobulins received by him from the mother, but even they are not able to withstand the penetration of bacteria or fungal into the mucous membranes, if they are not yet “included”. So it turns out that the untreated mother’s illness (some parents admit in their reviews that they became the cause of the disease) passes to the baby at birth.
- Artificial feeding can also cause the appearance of thrush. Whatever the quality infant formulas, they will never replace breast milk, and the sugar they contain is a breeding ground for fungal ones. Among the reviews of parents about how they treated their children for candidiasis, it is often mentioned that the disease manifested itself after the baby switched to artificial feeding.
- The lack of the necessary vitamins and minerals lowers the protective functions of the baby’s body, and viruses, fungal infections and infections will not fail to take advantage of it.
- Taking a mother who is breast-feeding a baby, antibiotics can provoke the appearance of thrush.
- Damage to the mucous membranes in a child, infection through a nipple or toys.
Not all causes of thrush in the mouth of a newborn are listed, but if the first symptoms are manifested, treatment should be started immediately.
Stages and forms of the disease
As one of the primary procedures for the detection of candidiasis in a newborn is the processing and cleaning of his mouth after eating. This should be done so as not to miss the onset of the disease, because parents often perceive a white coating on the tongue or lips as the remnants of porridge or breast milk. To determine the presence of thrush in a newborn in the tongue, how to treat it, what are simple and safe means, mothers should know what stages the disease goes through and what forms it takes.
- The initial stage corresponds to the symptoms:
- Redness, which then takes the form of white grains.
- The enveloping white film on the tongue, when removed which appears bleeding.
How to treat thrush in newborns at this stage? Judging by the reviews of parents, then an excellent tool is ordinary baking soda. How to treat thrush in a newborn with soda? Should dissolve 0.5 teaspoon of soda in 0.5 tbsp. warm water, moisten a piece of gauze and treat the baby's mouth. This method is quite effective, but only at the initial stage of the disease.
2. The light stage is indicated by:
- The imposition of heaven and language with a white "curd" plaque.
- Swelling of the tongue.
At this stage, it is mandatory to show the baby to the doctor, since, most likely, drug treatment will be required for his treatment. In no case should you self-medicate and choose medicines based on advertisements or reviews of other parents.
3. At the middle stage of the development of the disease, a “curdled” white coating covers the entire oral cavity of the baby. Besides:
- sores appear;
- painful symptoms when sucking and swallowing;
- the baby may refuse to eat;
- lips crack.
At this stage, the oral cavity is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate after each feeding and drug antifungal therapy prescribed by the attending physician.
4. A severe stage is a neglected condition in which the disease has been ignored for a long time. Symptoms are characteristic of it:
- Painful ulcers not only in the tongue and palate, but also in the larynx.
- Fever and lethargy.
Most likely, the baby is hospitalized to conduct treatment under medical supervision.
There are two forms of the development of the disease: acute and chronic. Each has its own “set” of symptoms and treatment methods. Consider how to treat thrush in newborns.
Local treatment for thrush
Since the baby can only show that something is wrong with him with her cry or behavior, parents should pay close attention to his reaction to eating after it. If the disease was detected in a timely manner, then local procedures can be connected to the therapy prescribed by the doctor. For example, it was described above how to treat thrush to a newborn in the mouth with soda. Why is it important to do this?
- Soda is a safe substance that does not cause an allergic or poisonous reaction in an infant.
- If it is treated with the solution of the mucosa 3-5 times during the day, then the initial stage of thrush will be cured in 5-10 days due to the alkaline environment that it creates in the mouth.
Another proven method that mothers praise in their reviews is a weak solution of potassium permanganate, which has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
Treatment of infants up to 6 months
Why is it so important to diagnose thrush in the early stages of a baby? The fact is that up to six months, drug therapy for infants is contraindicated. It is prescribed in extremely rare cases, so parents should not ignore any of the above symptoms, and immediately consult a doctor if they occur.
How and how to treat thrush in newborns up to 6 months? In this case, the approach to deliverance should be comprehensive and include:
- Personal hygiene standards. Mom should definitely prepare the breast for feeding, washing it with warm water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After feeding, as some young mothers write, it is imperative to monitor the milk output, use gauze or special absorbent tabs and wipe the breast so that the milk does not remain and does not sour on its surface.
- Hygiene standards for feeding. If artificial feeding is carried out, then the bottles and nipples should be thoroughly washed, doused with boiling water or lowered into a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
- Oral hygiene standards in a newborn. After each feeding, you need to make sure that the child does not spit up and wipe the mucous membrane with a marlka soaked in a soda solution.
- Hygiene standards for children's things. Since during this period the kids pull everything they reach into their mouths, they should thoroughly wash them with detergent (phosphate-free) or rinse with boiling water before giving them toys.
Important: if even the earliest stage of thrush is diagnosed in newborns, the doctor must decide what to treat it with.
Mouthwash
Judging by the reviews, parents often use proven "grandmother's" methods as a remedy for their crumbs. Among them, we can distinguish those that help in the treatment of thrush:
- Borax in glycerin is a remedy that even doctors mention as a composition for treating a baby's oral cavity. It is effective for fungal infections, as it has antiseptic properties. This is an inexpensive tool, so it is in demand not only among young mothers. Judging by their reviews, how to treat thrush in newborns with brown glycerol, it’s enough to wipe the baby’s mucosa 4-5 times a day after feeding and after 3-4 days it will improve, the amount of white plaque will decrease, the pain when swallowing will disappear. Full recovery occurs in 7-10 days, provided that the disease was in the initial stage of development.
Important: before proceeding with the treatment, the baby should be applied to the bend of the elbow and check for an allergic reaction.
- 1-2% aqueous solution of aniline dyes such as gentian violet, 0.25% silver nitrate solution.
You can also use hydrogen peroxide (0.25%), an aqueous solution of tannin to treat your mouth, and irrigate with sage or chamomile infusions.
Medications for candidiasis
As already mentioned, antibiotics and antifungal agents are prescribed for babies older than 6 months or in severe forms of thrush. In this case, how to treat thrush in the mouth of a newborn if it affects not only the mucosa, but also the digestive tract?
As a rule, the doctor prescribes antimycotics. These antifungal agents are used according to the scheme and at the dosage indicated by the doctor. For small patients, solutions are suitable:
- “Candida” (1%) - 3 drops directly on the tongue 4-5 times a day, course no more than three days;
- "Nystatin" (100 thousand units / kg of body);
- "Fluconazole" (from 5 to 7 mg / kg of body);
- Diflucan (3 mg / kg body).
Doses are indicated in the daily dosage.
Important: all drugs must first be checked for an allergic reaction.
The video below from Komarovsky "How to treat thrush in newborns" will complement the information.
Folk remedies
Judging by the advice that mothers leave on how to treat a thrush in a newborn in the tongue, the recipes that have been tested for centuries are the most popular.
Among the effective folk remedies:
- Aloe juice, which must be given very carefully, as it is bitter. It is necessary to dilute the juice 1: 1 with water, moisten the marlechka and wipe the baby's oral mucosa.
- If the baby is not allergic to honey, you can dilute 1 tbsp. spoonful of buckwheat or lime product and give him a nipple soaked in a solution.
- Decoctions of sage, eucalyptus or loosestrife (1 tbsp. L / 1 tbsp. Boiling water) insist, give several sips 5-6 times a day.
- An effective tool for treating the mouth is the infusion of calendula (1 tbsp. L / 1 tbsp boiling water). Treat the mucosa 2-3 times a day.
Important: all folk remedies should be supportive if medication is prescribed, or approved by a doctor.
Preventive action
Of course, it’s better not to create such conditions so that you can later think about how to treat a thrush in a newborn. To prevent this from happening, preventive measures should be taken.
These include:
- The ban on kissing the baby, especially not blood relatives (close ones should also be limited). Candida mushrooms "live" in the mouth of adults and only strong immunity prevents them from multiplying. A newborn does not have such protection yet, therefore, someone else's saliva can provoke infection.
- Constant maintenance of cleanliness in the place where the baby is, and everything with which it comes in contact, starting with the mother’s breast, and ending with the nipple, bottles and toys.
- Hardening and strengthening the immunity of the baby. Daily walks, natural feeding with proper, proper nutrition of the mother will contribute to this.
If you follow these simple rules and check the condition of the mucosa after each feeding, then thrush can be avoided.
Possible complications
A thrush that is not dangerous in appearance can cause a number of negative aspects if it is not diagnosed and treated on time. The fact is that a fungal infection can spread outside the oral cavity, spreading to the larynx, and then to the digestive tract and liver (there were cases when the fungus affected the lungs).
At the same time, the baby experiences not only pain, due to which he refuses food, but also violations such as damage to the gingival tissue, its cracking occur.
In addition, candidiasis reduces the already weakened immunity of the newborn, making his body available for infection with more serious diseases.
Any drug treatment at this age will for a long time be reflected in the overall health of the baby. To prevent this from happening, you should monitor hygiene and check the child's mouth for possible symptoms.