Infant Yeast Infections

As an adult, a yeast infection may appear in the form of a vaginal yeast infection for women, and also oral thrush (or Candida) in both adult men and women. For infants who are experiencing a yeast infection, more often than not it is in the form of oral thrush, or the bacterial infection caused from Candida, a fungus that causes a white coasting of "yeast" within the infant's mouth, on his or her tongue and also in the back of the throat (sometimes covering the tonsils).

Signs of oral thrush and an infant yeast infection

One of the main signs of a yeast infection in an infant is the growth of a white, creamy substance that covers the insides of the baby's mouth, causing the entire mouth to have a white tint.

Treating an infant yeast infection

For someone who has an infant with a yeast infection, it is important to clean all toys, including pacifiers and bottles that the baby uses on a daily basis, to get rid of the bacteria. Additionally, it is also important for the mother of the baby to clean her nipples and breasts frequently, if breastfeeding, to ensure the bacteria is not present and continuously passing to the infant, causing additional yeast infections.

For those who have had an oral yeast infection before, they may choose to treat the infection at home using home remedies and the proper foods. However, for an infant, it is also advisable to visit a doctor to start antibiotics, in order to ensure the infection is properly treated entirely, as the baby's immune system is still developing.