Thursday 12 July 2007

Oral (Mouth) Thrush



Q. What is it?
A. It's an infection caused by a germ called Candida. When it occurs in the mouth it is called oral thrush. Candida can cause infections elsewhere too, like the nappy area, vagina or nail folds.

Q. How do babies get it?
A. 1 in 7 babies can develop oral thrush. It is most common in babies under 10 weeks old. Candida normally lives in small amounts on the skin and in the mouth but sometimes an 'overgrowth' can occur.

Q. What does it look like?
A. White spots develop on the mouth and tongue. These may join together to form larger patches. Sometimes they look grey or yellow in colour. The mouth may become sore, causing poor feeding and sometimes the baby might dribble excessively.

Q.How is it treated?
A.Mild cases may last a day or so and clear without any treatment. Your doctor may prescribe a gel which works by killing the Candida germs inside the mouth or he may decide to prescribe a dropper which places the treatment on the affected areas. If the thrush doesn't clear in 7 days then you need to reconsult your GP.

Q. What else can I do?
A. Regularly sterilise feeding equipment, dummies and toys. A drink of cooled boiled water after a feed may help as it rinses away any residual milk in the mouth.

Remember, if in doubt ask us!

No comments: