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Thrush Thrush is a fungal infection (caused by the fungus Candida albicans). This fungus occurs naturally, and exists on the skin and in the bodies of most people. Babies are particularly susceptible to infection from thrush, as their defence system is not fully developed. How can I recognise it? Thrush usually develops in warm, moist conditions, so the baby’s mouth is an ideal breeding ground. The visible symptom is small white flakes or patches on the inside of the mouth and on the tongue. They look like coagulated milk, but you cannot wipe them off (and trying to remove them can cause bleeding). Thrush can make feeding painful for baby, and may make swallowing difficult. Babies therefore lose their appetite, and can become irritable. The fungus can pass through the stomach and bowel and then be passed in the baby’s stools. If a soiled nappy is then left in contact with the baby’s skin, the area can become infected, causing an anal, vulval or scrotal rash (a form of nappy rash). If you think your baby may have thrush, you should see your midwife or health visitor for advice; or your doctor, who can prescribe an anti-fungal treatment. How do babies catch it? Some babies catch thrush during birth, as many healthy women have thrush naturally occurring in the vaginal membrane. And premature babies and those prescribed antibiotics are particularly vulnerable to thrush infection. These cases are unavoidable. However, because thrush is carried by the majority of healthy people (most of whom do not show any sign of illness) adults can also pass it on to babies in a number of other ways, if care is not taken to avoid doing so. Adults can pass thrush on to babies via anything they handle – particularly food, feeding bottles and utensils – if they do not practise proper standards of hygiene and sterilisation. Dummies (soothers) can become a source of infection, as people often put them in their own mouths to ‘clean’ them after baby has dropped them. If you are carrying the thrush infection in your mouth (and many of us are) you may then pass it on to your baby. Mothers can infect their babies during breast-feeding via infected handles of nipples carrying thrush. What can I do to protect my baby from thrush? Not all cases of thrush can be avoided. The cases which can and should be prevented are those which are the direct result of poor hygiene practise or lack of proper sterilisation. Personal hygiene is of the utmost importance. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling soiled nappies, after using the lavatory, before handling baby’s bottles and other utensils, and before feeding your baby. Proper sterilisation of baby’s feeding utensils is essential to kill germs which can cause gastroenteritis. It is just as essential to kill thrush. Remember, you must sterilise not only feeding bottles and teats, but also other feeding utensils, breast-pumps, teething rings, dummies, etc. Be particularly careful with dummies. If your baby drops a dummy on the ground, never put it in your own mouth to ‘clean’ it. Around one third of all adults carry thrush in their mouths, and you may be one of them. A dropped dummy must be sterilised before it is safe to give it back to your baby. (You may find it useful to keep a spare with you for emergencies when you’re out). Remember, if you have more than one baby, do not let them share the same dummy or feeding bottle without first sterilising it, or the infection may be passed from one to the other. |
