One of the common infections know to occur in adult women can irritate your little ones too. Yeast infection in babies is common but sometimes very hard to determine because of the inability of toddlers to communicate about the problem. In this article let us understand yeast infection causes, its nature, symptoms, and possible remedies.
What is Yeast infection in babies?
All human beings have a harmless amount of a yeast called Candida. If due to some reason its growth gets out of control, Yeast infection is bound to occur. It can happen to adults too but small babies are more susceptible to it.
Areas where it could happen
Warm and moist places are a perfect environment for Candida’s growth. Therefore skin folds in toddlers are more prone to the infection. Meanwhile, the most commonly found areas of yeast infection are:
- Diaper area
- Mouth
- Armpits
- Neck
Are diaper rash and yeast infection the same?
Though physically both infections are hard to distinguish, they are totally different. Diapers are a significant cause of rashes. Parents still hesitate to use diapers for babies because of this. Following are the major differences between the two:
| Yeast Infection | Diaper Rash |
| Painful | Not painful |
| Occurs in folds | Occurs in plain surface |
| Can occur in mouth with thrush infection | Occurs only in diaper area |
| Can spread | Localized |
| Doesn’t respond to diaper rash creams | Cured by diaper rash creams |
Symptoms of yeast infection
- Reddish skin with scattered pimples, listers, and ulcers filled with pus
- Lasts longer than two days
- Doesn’t respond to diaper rash creams
- Well defined bright red raised borders
- Found generally in the skin folds
- It has scales
- It has additional irritation around the main infected area
- Itching and burning
- Thrush: White patches in the tongue and inside the mouth. It can often be confused with milk or formula and often gets ignores
- Cracks at the corner of the mouth
- Loss of appetite due to thrush
Prevention and remedies
Prevention is the key remedy for yeast infection. Follow the steps shown below to avoid this infection.
- Change the diaper every 4 hours, even if the baby has not soiled it
- Use diapers with fill indicators
- Pat the diaper area dry and let it air dry
- Avoid using wipes having perfumes or alcohol
- Use diapers of the correct size. They should not be tight
- Keep the baby sweat-free
- Do not use talcum in the diaper area
- If you use cloth diapers, do not cover it with elastic pants
- Wash the cloth diapers properly for reuse
- Meanwhile, allow for some diaper-free time for the baby
- Maintain proper hygiene
- Sterilize pacifiers and nipples before use
- Sterilize teethers before giving them to babies
Consult your pediatrician
If after following the preventive steps, the infection still occurs, consult your child’s doctor. Look for the following symptoms:
- Spreading of infection
- Deepening of red sores
- Increased irritation
- Fluids oozing from pimples
- Newer symptoms
Home remedy
- Apple cider vinegar bath
- Spread garlic paste over the affected area of skin.
- Clean the affected area with tea tree oil
- An oatmeal bath can help to ease the symptoms of a yeast infection
References
- https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/toddler-yeast-infection#prevention
- https://www.verywellfamily.com/recognizing-and-treating-a-yeast-diaper-rash-284385
- https://www.babycenter.com/0_yeast-diaper-rash_10913.bc
- https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=90&ContentID=P01888
- https://www.verywellfamily.com/what-are-the-symptoms-of-a-yeast-diaper-rash-284384
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322378#seeing-a-doctor
- https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/yeast-diaper-rash#symptoms
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322378#natural-and-home-remedies
