Healthy Living

Thrush

Thrush is a yeast infection that causes white patches in the mouth and on the tongue. Thrush is most common in babies and older adults, but it can occur at any age.
You get thrush when a yeast called Candida, normally found on the body, grows out of control. In babies, Candida causes thrush because babies' immune systems are not yet strong enough to control the growth of the yeast.

Symptoms of Thrush

The most common symptoms of thrush are white patches that stick to the inside of the mouth and tongue. In babies, it is easy to mistake thrush for milk or formula. It looks like cottage cheese or milk curds. Don't try to wipe away these patches, because you can make them red and sore. Some babies can be cranky and do not want to eat.

Treating Thrush

Thrush in babies is usually not serious, and you can treat it with antifungal medicine such as nystatin liquid. In most cases, you will put the medicine directly on the white patches. When a baby has thrush, the yeast can cause a diaper rash at the same time as thrush. Babies may need nystatin cream or ointment for diaper rash too. If your baby has thrush, it may help to:

• Clean bottle nipples and pacifiers regularly using hot water.
• Clean your nipples with medicine, such as nystatin, if you’re breastfeeding your baby. Breast feeding mothers and babies can pass a yeast infection back and forth.
• Dry your nipples and apply lanolin lotion after breast-feeding.

For more information of thrush visit the BC Health Guide website:
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kbase/topic/major/hw139068/descrip.htm

For more information on health and/or the locations of health centres in your area, visit the Resources section of this site.

Source:
BC Health Guide
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kbase/topic/major/hw139068/descrip.htm