Candidiasis, Thrush: How To Get Rid Of Oral Candidiasis And How To Treat It

Candidiasis, also known as thrush, is a mycotic (yeast, fungal) infection affecting the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. It appears in newborns and infants mostly around the twelfth week of life. It affects 5% to 15% of the total number of children.

It is transmitted to the baby either during the birth itself through the amniotic fluid in which the yeast is normally found, or later during breastfeeding, especially if the mother has inflamed nipples.

There is a greater risk of mumps in preterm newborns with low postnatal weight.

It manifests itself as a white coating mainly on the palate, tongue and cheek mucosa. Its appearance resembles curdled milk.

However, unlike curdled milk, candidiosis cannot be removed mechanically. Trying to clean the baby's mouth, believing that it is the remains of milk, the affected area may begin to bleed due to irritation.

The disease is uncomfortable, causing pain and local bleeding, resulting in difficulty breastfeeding and crankiness of the baby.

Often there is a secondary transmission of infection to the nipple of the nursing mother and vice versa. Therefore, it is preferable to bottle-feed the baby during the illness. The bottle should be cleaned thoroughly after each use.

In addition to thoroughly cleaning bottles, pacifiers should also be boiled in hot water regularly. Of course, with persistent breastfeeding, the mother must take care of sufficient hygiene and breast care.

Regarding the infectious agent of fungal diseases of the oral mucosa as such, i.e. also sores, the yeast Candida albicans has the highest percentage. The latter belongs to the so-called albicans candida.

In recent years, other non-albicans fungi such as Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis and Candida species have also come to the fore.

Thus, the causative agent of the disease are fungi (mycoses, candida), which in an adult survive on the root of the tongue as saprophytes. Unless there is a decrease in immunity due to various disease causes, this remains the case. But when it decreases, the fungi overgrow, and they begin to manifest themselves externally.

In newborns, the immune system is immature, so they often suffer from yeast disease. There is no balance between fungi and the natural microflora in the oral cavity. The fungi begin to predominate and cause harm.

With the gradual development of immunity in children, the number of diseases decreases. If the disease persists or recurs, it is necessary to search for the cause of insufficient or impaired immunity from other pathological causes.

The disease manifests itself in the form of so-called "milk spots", which cannot be wiped off. These spots are called milk spots because of their whitish to slightly yellow colouring and because they are strikingly reminiscent of the remnants of curdled milk after breastfeeding. They bleed and are painful if removed mechanically.

Soreness does not occur in every baby. Mostly it is irritated lips that cause pain, which in turn causes nervousness and dissatisfaction of the baby, or refusal of the breast. It is then restless, weepy, often because of insufficient feeding even hungry. Hunger increases dissatisfaction, and so mothers often find themselves in a vicious circle.

Since soor is quite common in newborns, any doctor can spot it with the naked eye, even moms. This is a so-called examination by sight, which is not possible with other diseases.

Microscopic examination with culture confirmation of the causative agent is required for true, laboratory confirmation of the fungus. This is important to differentiate the species of fungus and subsequent correct treatment.

The course of the disease can be timed from birth to toddlerhood. However, it most often appears in the first two weeks of life. It affects on average about 10% of newborns of the total number.

Forms of candidiasis:

1. Mild form of the disease - local mycotic disease (the disease occurs locally, mostly affecting the palate, tongue and cheek mucosa)
2. Severe form of the disease - systemic mycotic disease (overgrowth of fungi with subsequent infestation of other organ systems)

Uncomplicated course of the disease

The disease almost always runs its course without serious complications. The immaturity of the immune system is temporary. With the development of the child, his immunity and also proper treatment, the disease disappears as quickly as it came.

Some babies have problems sucking milk. It is caused by soreness of the pucker after mechanical irritation. Local bleeding is mild, sometimes it goes unnoticed.

With proper development of your baby and proper medication, the treatment lasts on average about a week. Recovery time can vary individually, depending on several factors. One of them is reinfection with an infected nipple.

Complicated course of the disease - pathological newborns

Thankfully, in very few cases a complicated course can be encountered. The reason for this is usually not the mould itself, but the primary reason for its overgrowth and survival in the baby's organism.

Soor with a complicated course affects mostly pathological newborns with low birth weight, lack of postpartum adaptation and concomitant other disease of a more serious nature.

It manifests itself by the lack of function or even failure of the organ that has been secondarily affected by the fungus. This is usually the respiratory system, which is very dangerous in young children.