Thrush on the tongue of a newborn: causes, symptoms, how to treat

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Thrush on the tongue of a newborn is a common occurrence in infancy. It appears as a white coating and causes discomfort. If parents notice the symptoms of the disease at an early stage, then the fight against them does not take much time. The article will discuss the causes of thrush, its signs and proper treatment.

What causes pathology

Thrush on the tongue of a newborn in medicine is called candidal stomatitis. Its cause is Candida fungi. They are able to get along with the normal intestinal microflora and populate the digestive tract in the first months after the birth of the baby.

Getting into the baby's body, candida attaches to the oral mucosa and tongue, growing in their thickness and creating colonies. About 80% of people in the world are affected by pathology, for some it is asymptomatic.

When immunity is reduced, mushrooms behave aggressively. In this case, medication is prescribed. For preventiondiseases in newborns, parents should exclude all factors that cause the activity of the fungus Candida.

Distinguishing fungal infections on the tongue from food debris is very simple. Traces of milk disappear over time, and stains from infection only grow. They are located on the mucous membrane of the tongue, gums, giving the baby discomfort.

The clinical picture of thrush in the tongue of a newborn is as follows:

• white coating that is difficult to remove with fingers;
• it smells sour;
• no high temperature, usually 37.5.

In addition to the above signs, babies usually show significant behavioral changes. If mom, having discovered unpleasant manifestations, immediately looks for a way to remove thrush from the tongue of a newborn, then this is correct. The infection does not go away on its own, over time it will only progress. This makes the baby uncomfortable. If such signs occur, parents should show the newborn to the pediatrician.

Causes of thrush

In newborns, the protective functions of the mucous membrane of the digestive tract are reduced. In this regard, the baby is affected by harmful microorganisms. This can be facilitated by the mother's diet, consisting of sweets and preservatives. The substances contained in them, together with breast milk, irritate the delicate mucous membrane of the baby's stomach and create a favorable environment for the colonization of the fungus.

It's best when a woman's dietfull of useful products. Then breast milk protects the body of the newborn. It contains antimicrobial components and antibodies, which forms the normal microflora of the stomach and intestines and prevents the activity of candida during their colonization.

The causes of thrush in newborns on the tongue also include:

1. Early start of artificial feeding. Sugar is a breeding ground for Candida fungi. It is added to all milk formulas, which causes thrush on the tongue at the age of one month.
2. Baby diseases. A fungal infection in the tongue usually occurs against a background of reduced immunity, which is associated with the influence of pathology. If the baby has symptoms of SARS or allergies, then the risk of thrush increases.
3. Constant regurgitation. In this case, all conditions are created in the mouth for the reproduction of pathogenic microflora and Candida fungus.
4. Violation of baby's hygiene. In the case of licking dirty pacifiers, teethers and toys that carry the active components of thrush, a large amount of pathogenic microflora enters the body. If the baby's immune system fails, then an infection develops.
5. Medicines. Antibiotics taken by a newborn or received with breast milk lead not only to dysbacteriosis and stool disorders, but also contribute to the development of thrush.

The mucosa of a baby's mouth is too thin and does not have all the necessary enzymes. Therefore, Candida fungi freely attach to the tongue. Appearance probabilitythrush increases if the baby is born prematurely.

The mother herself can infect a baby with thrush during childbirth. If a woman has vaginal candidiasis, then the child may also develop the disease.

How to treat the tongue of a newborn from thrush? The methods of treatment of the disease will be discussed in the article below. In the meantime, it is necessary to deal with the main signs of pathology.

Thrush symptoms

The disease has characteristic signs. The initial stage of thrush on the tongue of a newborn begins with the formation of small pink spots. A white curdled coating appears on it.

How to clean the tongue of a newborn from thrush? Usually, local remedies are used, which the pediatrician must prescribe. At the initial stage, the infection does not bother the baby at all. His behavior does not indicate any problems. If treatment is not started in time, the fungal infection will spread very quickly.

In the middle stage of thrush in a child, the following is observed:

• lack of appetite;
• capriciousness;
• sleep disorder;
• no games.

It would be good for every expectant mother to know what thrush looks like on the tongue of newborns in order to take the necessary measures for its treatment in the future. White plaques on it increase in size. Thrush on the tongue goes to the area of the cheeks and lips. There are also wounds in the corners. Small foci of the fungus merge together. Therefore, islands appear in the oral cavitywhite.

In this case, the swelling of the mucous membrane increases. This can negatively affect the he alth of the baby.

How to clean the tongue of a newborn from thrush? Removing plaque at this stage is problematic. The plaques become coarse, which causes pain to the baby. So the thrush tightly attaches to the mucous membrane. Experts do not recommend removing such plaque.

If parents do not fulfill their duties and do not monitor the hygiene of the newborn, then thrush on the tongue goes into stage 3.

At this stage, the following symptoms are observed:

• enlarged tonsils;
• white coating on the pharynx and larynx;
• pain when swallowing;
• combining all foci into one dense film.

Such manifestations of the disease lead to loss of appetite, to a lack of desire to suck on the breast or bottle. The child is constantly crying and is in a depressed state. The severe form of the disease is accompanied by high fever and weakness. With such a course of thrush, treatment should be carried out in a hospital.

Medicated treatment

The first step in the treatment of the disease is the elimination of the causes that cause the development of the infection. The diet of a nursing mother is completely adjusted. More cereals, boiled vegetables and dairy products are introduced into it. Sweets, marinades, smoked meats, canned food and possible allergens (citrus fruits, red berries and vegetables) are removed from the diet.

To prevent infection, mom should treat her nipplesbaby soap before each feeding. Zelenka should not be used.

How to treat thrush in a newborn on the tongue? Therapy of the disease is carried out with the use of local or systemic antifungal drugs. It can be combined with the prevention or treatment of concomitant diseases that contribute to the activity of candida. These include regurgitation and disruption of the intestinal microflora.

Cure the disease helps:

1. Medicines and ointments of local importance ("Candide", "Pimafucin"). Treatment of the affected areas is carried out 4 times a day. For this, cotton swabs are used or they are processed with a finger wrapped in gauze. You do not need to remove all the white plaque, because under the influence of the drug, Candida colonies die on their own. Improvement in the condition of the baby can be seen after 3 days. On the 6th day, the signs stop, and the child recovers.
2. Antifungal drugs and ointments, they are prescribed by a specialist. They are connected to treatment if there is no improvement in their condition. They are most commonly taken by mouth as a suspension or by injection.
3. Antipyretic and analgesic drugs based on paracetamol and ibuprofen. These include "Efferalgan", "Panadol". Before offering a breast or bottle, lubricate the affected area with anesthetic gel with lidocaine.

Juices are excluded from the baby's diet. Fruit acids found in drinks irritate the oral mucosa and cause pain.

Folk Therapy

You can get rid of the symptoms of the disease by folk methods. However, all appointments must be made by a pediatrician. The specialist will examine the newborn and advise effective methods for treatment. If we talk about how to treat thrush in a newborn on the tongue, then the following methods are considered the best.

For the treatment of a fungal infection, use:

• Honey solution. It is prescribed in the absence of allergies in a newborn. To prepare a solution, honey with water is heated in a water bath. The mixture wipes the baby's mouth and candidal plaques. Honey is an excellent antiseptic that treats inflammation and soothes.
• Infusion of calendula and sage flowers. The mixture (1 teaspoon) is poured into 200 ml of boiling water, insisted for 50-60 minutes. Each time a new solution is brewed and the baby's mouth is treated with it.
• How to wipe the tongue of a newborn from thrush? A solution of baking soda. It is prepared from a glass of water and 1 teaspoon of the product. Using a gauze swab, wipe the newborn's mouth every 3 hours. You can dip a pacifier in the solution and give it to the baby. Soda neutralizes the acidic environment, prevents the spread and activity of candida.

In order for the child not to cause discomfort, mom needs to press her thumb on her chin - and her mouth will open.

Treatment in 3 ways is very effective. It all depends on the availability of a particular product and allergies to them.

If thrush has just begun, then parents should take the following steps:

1. After feeding, lubricate the nipple in a solution of baking soda or honey and give to the child.
2. Before feeding, mom can moisten the nipple in a solution of soda or honey. Give to a child if he does not know what a pacifier is.

For effective treatment, parents must process all items that the child uses. These are nipples, bottles, toys and more. To do this, they are placed in boiling water.

The opinion of a famous pediatrician

Dr. Komarovsky has his own opinion on the treatment of thrush. If we proceed from it, then in addition to internal and external factors, the occurrence of the disease provokes saliva. It contains a large number of beneficial bacteria that prevent the activity of the fungus. If their stat drops, their defense goes down. Saliva ceases to fight microbes, so the pathogenic microflora develops in full force.

Here you not only need to understand how to treat thrush in the tongue of a newborn. To prevent the development of pathology, Komarovsky recommends constantly wet cleaning, maintaining the air temperature in the baby's room at 20-22 degrees, and also cleaning the baby's nose. The doctor does not advise parents to wrap up the baby so that he does not sweat excessively. It is this environment that fungi love. If the mother follows these recommendations, then there will be no need to resort to drug therapy.

Can thrush return after treatment

Thrush on the tongue of a newborn can return at any time. Mom needs to keep an eye onthe he alth of the baby and all family members. You need to thoroughly wash pacifiers and bottles, toys and change diapers more often. A mother should treat her nipples with a weak solution of baking soda before putting her baby to the breast.

What drugs should not be taken

Some time ago, mothers used brilliant green, a solution of borax in glycerin, to treat thrush. Pediatricians are opposed to such drugs. The borax drug in glycerin is harmful to the fragile body, and the brilliant green solution dries out the delicate mucous membranes of the baby.

It is unacceptable to use a medicine such as Fluconazole for the treatment of thrush. This drug can be replaced by a specialist with a drug with a minimum of side effects.

Complications of the disease

Thrush should not be considered as a mild pathology. The fungi themselves are harmless, but against the background of a decrease in immunity in an infant, they begin to multiply. If the treatment of thrush in newborns on the tongue is not carried out, then the following complications arise:

• damage to internal organs;
• inflammatory process of the larynx and oral cavity;
• diaper dermatitis if the infection spreads to the genitals;
• the occurrence of synechia in girls;
• dehydration and weight loss when not eating;
• death in premature babies.

If a child is suspected of having candidiasis, they are shown to a specialist. It's pretty hard not to notice. And the later the treatment begins, the longer it will be for the mother andnewborn. Precautions must be taken to prevent thrush from returning.

Preventive measures

In order not to have to think about how to remove thrush from the tongue of a newborn, it is better to follow preventive recommendations. Careful observance of hygiene rules, mandatory sterilization of bottles and nipples will help prevent the occurrence of pathology. After feeding, the baby should be given a few tablespoons of boiled water. She will be able to remove food debris, which prevents the spread of pathogenic microflora. Other preventive measures include:

1. Strengthening immunity. This includes massages, outdoor activities and hardening.
2. Prevention and treatment of diseases that cause Candida activity.
3. Limiting contact with potential carriers of the disease.
4. Rational and balanced nutrition, proper introduction of complementary foods.
5. Strict diet for nursing mothers. Sweets, marinade and canned food are excluded from the diet.
6. Maternal hygiene. It includes daily shower, change of breast pads every 4 hours, nipple treatment with baking soda solution.
7. Mother's and baby's clothes should consist of natural fabrics.

Especially important is the prevention of thrush in babies who constantly spit up. Food from the stomach enters the oral cavity, where the necessary conditions are created for the development of the fungus. The baby must be properly attached to the breast, and after feeding it should be vilified with a column.

Thrush -a disease that can be quickly cured if the mother follows all the recommendations of a specialist. Be sure to use prevention and hygiene measures.