Baby Yeast Infection - Are You Doing Enough?

Causes

• A baby may acquire yeast infection while passing through the cervical canal of a yeast-infected mother during delivery.
• If the mother was on an antibiotic course during pregnancy, then she is likely to have a very low amount of probiotics in her body. Hence, the baby also obtains little or no probiotics from the mother’s body. Probiotics are the friendly bacteria that check Candida overgrowth by maintaining the pH balance and by leaving less room for the Candida to thrive. In the absence of probiotics, the baby has high chances of developing yeast infection.
• In a similar way, if the baby itself is given antibiotics after birth, it will be very susceptible to Candidiasis.
• If a baby has oral thrush, then it can also acquire yeast infection in the genitals, as the food that passes through the yeast-infected mouth comes out of the genitals in the form of stool.
• If the diapers are not changed frequently, and the baby’s surroundings are not clean and dry, then the Candida can easily breed in the damp, warm conditions of the baby’s genitals and abdomen.
• Breastfed babies, if infected with oral thrush, pass on the infection to their mother’s breasts. Even if the baby is treated for thrush, it can acquire it again when it feeds from its mother’s breasts the next time. So, mothers should be extremely careful about cleaning their breasts thoroughly before feeding the baby.
• If the baby is inherently low in immunity and does not receive adequate nutrition, it can easily acquire Candida yeast infection.
• Inappropriate bathing of the child can also trigger yeast infections. Harsh soaps can irritate the skin by making it extremely dry and can initiate Candidiasis.

Symptoms

·         Flat, reddish swellings with scalloped edges which are surrounded by red and white spots.

·         Itching of genitals and abdomen accompanied by bleeding.

·         Abnormal whitish or whitish-gray discharge from the genitals.

·         Formation of a creamy, white plaque on the tongue, gums, tonsils and oral mucosa.

·         Irritability and lack of sleep.

Remedy

Applying artificial anti-fungal agents such as Nystatin twice a day is usually prescribed as per conventional treatment. But this can cause side-effects in babies and so it is best to use natural cure as far as possible. Changing diapers frequently, keeping the genitals dry with non-starchy powder, and applying plain, unprocessed, unheated and unpasteurized yoghurt topically to replenish probiotics are some of the natural remedies.

Use of diaper cream with pure tea tree oil, aloe, etc. also helps to reduce infection. Washing the infected areas in warm water twice a day has proven to be highly beneficial. Diapers should be loose enough to allow air to flow in.

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar can be used to treat oral thrush by diluting it with water and applying it to the baby’s mouth using a cotton swab.