| Thrush
What it is and how to spot it:
- A fungal infection resulting in small white flakes in the mouth,
together with symptoms of appetite loss, difficulty swallowing,
vomiting and potentially dehydration.
Why babies are at risk:
- Thrush affects mothers and babies, but newborns have reduced
resistance due to their low serum AntiCandidal activity.
- Babies in special care baby units are also at increased risk
because the fungus thrives in warmth and humidity. They are also
more likely to be on antibiotic therapy.
It is caused by:
The fungus, Candida Albicans which is present in body cavities and
clefts - oral mucous membrane (30%), gastrointestinal trace (faeces)
38%, vaginal membrane (59%)
How it is passed on to baby:
Most commonly, during passage through the birth canal (81% of cases).
However, it can also be contracted from mother’s mouth and
hands during feeding or from soothers. Even bottles sterilised in
a steam or microwave steriliser can be re-infected by mum’s
hands.
How to reduce the risk:
- Sterilise all feeding utensils until baby is one year (Milton
will kill all Candida Albicans within 30 minutes)
- Wash hands thoroughly before after handling nappies, going to
the loo and before feeding baby (dip hands in a Milton solution
for a quick antiseptic rinse)
- Mothers should avoid putting soothers or teethers into their
mouths and then passing these to baby
- Prevention is better than cure. Strains of Candida Albicans
become resistant to anti-fungal treatments
What
is Gastroenteritis?
|
