The baby keeps crying and has small white spots on his tongue. Be careful that he may have thrush.

Reviewer: Zhang Shuyuan, Chief Physician, Beijing Huayi Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Dermatology Hospital

Many newborns and young babies have experienced this situation: many small white spots grow on their mouths and tongues, and they become less interested in feeding and even cry incessantly.

This is likely because your baby has thrush.

Although thrush is not a serious disease, it is a "little demon" that bothers people. Many babies will have recurrent attacks of thrush. So what exactly is thrush? What are the causes? How to distinguish? How to prevent and treat it? Let's answer them one by one!

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What is thrush?

Oral thrush, also known as "snow mouth disease", is caused by a fungal infection called Candida albicans.

In fact, Candida albicans also exists in the mouths of healthy children. It generally does not cause infection, but it can easily cause infection when children have low immunity.

Babies with unclean mouths and malnutrition are prone to thrush. Adults with weak physical fitness may also get thrush, but the probability is relatively small.

What are the causes of thrush in babies?

There are five main reasons why babies get thrush.

The mother's vagina is infected with Candida albicans, and the baby is infected when it comes into contact with the mother's secretions through the vagina during birth.

The bottles, nipples and other tools used by the baby are not thoroughly sterilized, or the mother's breasts are not clean during breastfeeding.

The baby comes into contact with food, clothes, toys, etc. that carry Candida. In addition, when the baby is 6 to 7 months old, he starts to grow teeth and likes to bite his fingers or toys, which can easily bring Candida into the mouth and cause infection.

In kindergarten, if a child carries Candida albicans, it may cause cross infection.

Long-term use of antibiotics or inappropriate hormone treatment can cause an imbalance in the body's flora, allowing Candida to take advantage of the situation and invade the body.

How to identify thrush?

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1. Typical symptoms of thrush

Babies with thrush will have milky white spots in their mouths, but there is no inflammation around them, and the white spots are not easy to wipe off. At first, they may only appear as white spots, but if not treated in time, the white spots will gradually develop into white film-like flocs, and even spread throughout the mouth.

Generally speaking, thrush is painless and itchy. Most babies may have no symptoms at the beginning or only experience mild discomfort, and their feeding and eating are relatively normal. However, if the condition is not properly controlled and the infection area expands, the baby will become irritable, cry, refuse to eat, and sometimes have a fever.

2. Serious complications of thrush

If thrush is not treated in time, the damaged mucosa will continue to expand and spread to the pharynx, tonsils, gums, etc. In severe cases, it will spread to the esophagus and bronchus, causing candidal esophagitis or pulmonary candidiasis, and then breathing and swallowing difficulties. A small number of children may develop chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis or even secondary infection, leading to sepsis.

3. Identify milk residue and thrush

Many times, parents get scared when they see white stuff on their baby’s mouth, thinking it is thrush, but sometimes it is just milk residue that has not been wiped off.

The appearance of thrush is very similar to milk residue. You can use a cotton swab dipped in warm water to gently wipe it. If it can be wiped off easily, it is milk residue. The white film of thrush is difficult to wipe off. If you wipe it hard, red and rough mucous membrane will appear under the white film. It won't be long before the white film grows back and covers the red wound.

4. Differentiate between horse teeth and thrush

The yellowish-white spots on the upper palate and the edges of the teeth are a special physiological manifestation of the newborn period, not a disease. Usually, they will not affect the baby's feeding. After a few months, they will fall off on their own and no special treatment is required. However, thrush is patchy and will grow more and more.

How to prevent and treat oral thrush?

If parents find white spots in their baby's mouth and suspect thrush, they should go to the hospital for treatment in time. Thrush is a fungal infection and is generally difficult to heal on its own, especially for newborns with low immunity. If it is not treated in time, it may also spread to other parts of the body. Children should use the correct medication under the guidance of a doctor.

The most important thing is to pay attention to the prevention of thrush. There are five main points to prevent thrush.

1. Cut off the maternal transmission route. Expectant mothers with vaginal mycoses should be actively treated to provide a healthy and safe birth channel for the baby.

2. Pay attention to the baby's oral hygiene. Give the baby a few sips of water after feeding to wash away the milk in the mouth; pay more attention to cleaning the mouth after adding complementary foods, choose the appropriate cleaning method according to the baby's age, and start brushing teeth after teeth grow to reduce the nutrients for the growth of oral bacteria.

3. Mothers should pay attention to personal hygiene. Breastfeeding mothers should take a bath, change underwear, cut their nails frequently, and wash their hands before holding their babies. Underwear and towels should also be cleaned and disinfected to prevent the baby from being infected with bacteria or viruses when in contact. In addition, the nipples should be cleaned before breastfeeding.

4. Disinfection of baby supplies. Baby's bottles, tableware, etc. should be thoroughly cleaned, sterilized at high temperature, and kept dry; baby's toys, quilts, clothes, etc. should be cleaned frequently and exposed to the sun for sterilization; babies should wash their hands after going out to avoid bringing back bacteria and hidden dangers.

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5. Do not take antibiotics indiscriminately. Taking antibiotics indiscriminately may cause bacterial disorder in the baby's body, making the baby more susceptible to thrush.

New parents are most afraid of their babies getting sick. Once their babies are unwell, they will often be in a panic and anxious. Although thrush, a disease caused by fungal infection, is not a serious disease, it can easily cause babies to cry, have a lack of appetite, and can recur.

Therefore, parents should pay attention to their baby's daily care and clean their baby carefully. Once they find that their baby has thrush, they should seek medical attention in time and follow the doctor's instructions for treatment.