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Who never heard that phrase when they went to pick up a baby: don’t you kiss that you can give a frog !? Many people do not even imagine what it is and confuse it with the sprouts that usually appear in some regions of the baby’s body, such as the face and warmer parts of the body.
What is thrush?
The thrush is a small infection caused by a fungus called candida albicans that mainly affects babies up to 6 months of age due to their low immunity and body resistance, when they are prone to acquire various infections.
Also known as oral candidiasis , it appears as small white spots in the mouth , which can easily be confused with milk residues. They usually appear on the tongue, the inside of the cheek and the roof of the mouth.
Contrary to what many claim, kissing is not a thrush transmitter . Unless the child is kissed on the mouth and the bacteria is transmitted in this way. Other ways of contracting the infection are through the use of poorly washed objects, such as pacifiers and bottles .
Care and Prevention
That is why it is recommended to thoroughly clean these objects before offering them to the baby. Baby bottles must be properly sanitized after feeding the child and pacifiers must be boiled regularly , especially after falling on the floor, which is so common to occur.
Cutlery also deserves care , especially rubber and plastic spoons suitable for infant feeding. Only water and detergent do not clean these objects properly, and the use of boiling water is recommended for better hygiene.
Another form of contagion of the thrush is at the time of delivery . If the woman is suffering from vaginal candidiasis and not treated properly during prenatal care . Fungi can be transmitted when the baby passes through the mother’s vaginal canal.
Another reason that thrush can occur, now more often even in older babies, is after the use of antibiotics . As it is a medication that alters the oral flora, the proliferation and growth of fungi that already exist in the mouth region is favored.
Frog Discomfort
The thrush is not a dangerous infection, its only problem is when feeding. As the white spots are painful it ends up bringing discomfort to ingest the food, which can cause dehydration mainly of babies who are still breastfed. An analgesic is usually indicated to reduce pain and facilitate feeding.
How to Treat Thrush?
The treatment of thrush is relatively easy. It is based on antifungal ointments such as miconazole and nystatin, which must be applied over the affected region of the mouth, inside the cheeks and especially on the tongue.
In some cases the thrush can spread into the baby’s throat and reach the esophagus. In these cases, the use of oral antifungals will be indicated in addition to analgesic medication, which will be essential to relieve pain and discomfort in food intake, even if liquid.
Breastfeeding Babies
In the case of babies breastfeeding, it may be recommended to use the antifungal ointment on the mother’s nipple , thus preventing the fungus from being transmitted from one to the other. If the baby has a fever higher than 38 degrees, it is recommended to return to the pediatrician, as it is a sign that the infection is getting worse.
In general, the frog is very uncomfortable, but it passes quickly . So a good dose of patience and a lot of affection in addition to the treatment being carried out properly, will be enough to face this discomfort.
See also: Candidiasis in Baby – Is it Possible for My Baby to Have It?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
