Usually babies that get thrush do not need to be treated as it does not overly bother the baby. But if he or she is fussy at feeding time, not wanting to nurse, then medical intervention may be required to make sure your baby is getting enough milk. An anti-fungal ointment may be prescribed by the pediatrician, which is used on the white patches inside the baby’s mouth. Of course the mother also needs to get herself treated too so that she doesn’t re-infect her baby. If you would rather use a home treatment than medicated ones, you can use a sterilized absorbent cotton to wipe the inside of the baby’s mouth. Also cool down a boiled ounce of water and then feed this to the baby after every nursing session to flush out any yeast left in the baby’s mouth. The baby’s mouth is a great environment for yeast to thrive as it is sweet, wet and warm and the yeast will reproduce every three hours. So repeat this procedure regularly for it to be effective.

Prevention

With the right care and precaution thrush in babies is easy to prevent, so here are some steps to guide you.

• If you are pregnant with a baby and have a vaginal yeast infection, have this treated at least three months before the baby is due to be born.
• Do not let others put their hands in the mouth of the baby.
• Have very high hygiene standards when it comes to anything that touches or goes into the baby’s mouth.
• Bottle nipple and pacifiers must be sterilized.
• After breastfeeding clean your nipples with water every time and let them air dry.

It is not a difficult thing to deal with should your baby get thrush so do not overly worry about it. it is quite likely to go away by itself. When the child grows up it will then become a thing of the past.

There are several reasons why babies get thrush. Some pick it up during childbirth from the birth canal, more common if the mother has a vaginal yeast infection. It is normal to have some yeast in the body it is only a health problem when that yeast is able to overgrow. If the baby or mother is on antibiotics the good bacteria in their bodies can be killed. It is those good bacteria that were controlling the growth of the fungus. Also babies have an immature immune system still and it has not yet the strength to fight a yeast infection.

The obvious symptom of thrush in babies is the white milk like scum in the baby’s mouth on the tongue, cheeks, palate and gums. To see if it is just milk or not rub it. If it is milk it will come off easily but if you see that underneath the scum it is inflamed and red and possibly bleeding, then this is thrush. Other symptoms vary from baby to baby but can include fussiness particularly when nursing. This is because the baby’s mouth may be sire and it might hurt them to try and suck properly to feed. If your infant is very fussy and cries when feeding check for the milky scum in their mouth.

For a look at what treatment options there are and how to prevent it, please read part 2 of this article.

Causes

There is not one obvious cause of this infection. There are factors that come in to play such as eating disorders, low white blood cells(granulocytopenia), a weak immunity, lack of care in the early stages, poor diet, tight clothing, antibiotics, stress, birth control pills and drug taking. The fungus prefers the moist areas of the body such as the mouth, vagina or intestines. It needs to be dealt with as soon as possible as it can spread rapidly and affect the whole body.

Risk Factors

Since this infection can spread across the entire body the sufferer is a lot more vulnerable. With Candida comes the risks of:
• Autoimmune – scleroderma, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, myasthenia gravis, sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, hemolytic amenia.
• Dermatological – hives, eczema, acne, chafing/intertrigo.
• General – weakness, breathing problems, sensory disturbances, hypoglycemia, lethargy, chemical sensitivities, dizziness, fatigue, muscle pain, migraines.
• Gastrointestinal – inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rectal itching, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, oral thrush, food allergies.
• Genitourinary – premenstrual and menstrual issues, systemic yeast infection of the genitals like yeast vaginitis, chronic urinary tract infections, bladder inflammation, cyctitis.
• Psychological – irritability, lack of focus, learning disability, insomnia, confusion, poor concentration, short attention span, memory loss.

Symptoms

• Genitals – itching, pain when urinating. For women, pain during sex, inflamed mucus membranes and a white discharge. For men, patent urethral discharge, white red glans skin with a layer that’s white and discomfort.
• Anal region – itching, weeping, soreness (varies from case to case).
• Oral – bad breath, tongue has a white coating, corners of the mouth are cracked, thrush, pain, sore mucous membranes.
• Urinary bladder – bleeding when urinating, urinating more often, pain when urinating, pain over bladder area.
• Esophagus – heartburn, pain when swallowing, sore throat.
• Intestinal – gas, diarrhea, indigestion. craving for sweets, bloating, bloody diarrhea.

For a look at diagnosis and treatment please refer to Part 2 of this article.

Lifestyle changes

1. Drink plenty of fluids, in particular water. Drinking eight or more glasses of water daily helps flush out toxins which means the body can fight off infections like yeast infections more effectively.

2. Eat anti-fungal foods such as oregano oil, garlic and olive oil and eat lots of foods rich in fiber.

3. Look at the clothing you are wearing. If it is tight and made from synthetic materials change that to loose and breathable materials like cotton. Yeast thrives in warm, damp areas and tight, synthetic clothing keeps those areas in a perfect state for the yeast to grow. Cotton and loose clothing lets air get to the skin.

4. Cut out some foods from your diet such as sugar. The yeast eats sugar, so if you keep eating it you are feeding the yeast and allowing the infection to stay and grow. Carbohydrates turn to sugars so avoid these too as well as alcohol. Remember that sugar comes in a variety of products, cookies, cakes, fruit juices, white bread, ketchup. Read labels and educate yourself so you can make informed choices.

Natural Cures

5. Garlic has great healing properties and is anti- fungal. Not only can you eat more of it you can use it directly on the infection. Either mash it up and apply or wrap some peeled cloves in gauze and push it up the vagina for 30 minutes.

6. Yogurt is a very popular treatment as it can not only help cure it but soothes the symptoms too. Use plain sugar free and fruit free probiotic yogurt. Eat it but also apply it to the affected area.

7. Small amounts of tea tree oil can be used on a tampon and then inserted into the vagina. It is an antiseptic and antibacterial treatment.

8. Finally Aloe Vera can be used when put on externally. It soothes burning and reduces swelling. This is another cure you can also drink as there is aloe vera juice you can get to raise the efficiency of your immune system.

Many find it embarrassing to admit they have a yeast infection but you shouldn’t. Most women will have it so it is important to get to the root of the problem. Symptoms make you miserable and anti social and include rashes, depression, itching and pain. Though your doctor may prescribe all sorts of medications for it these tend to just treat the symptoms not the cause. It is the same with over the counter treatments from your local pharmacy. Here are some suggested natural cure yeast infection that work.

Apple cider vinegar
Put about a cup into your bath and soak yourself in it for a good few minutes. Then rinse and wash with a non-medicated soap.

Probiotic drinks
These are good at treating yeast infections inside the body as they balance your body’s pH.

Honey
This is another probiotic, just apply it directly onto the infected area. It will encourage the good bacteria to grow which are what keep the fungus under control and stops it turning into a yeast infection.

Garlic
Is an anti-fungal remedy so fights the fungus that causes yeast infections. Slice up a fresh clove, wrap it in gauze and place it up the vagina.

Other things you can do to avoid yeast infections is to consume less sugar so eliminate cookies, cakes, sweets etc. Sugar is a food supply for the yeast so it helps it grow. Since carbs turn into sugars in our body this is true for them too. Try to eat a healthy balanced diet of fresh unprocessed foods.

Some of the reasons for an imbalance that leads to a yeast infection include:
1. Lowered immune system (from long term drugs use, HIV or other sicknesses)
2. Diabetes (high sugar levels in the blood are bad as the yeast feeds on the sugar.)
3. A carbohydrate rich diet (carbs turn to sugars.)
4. Antibiotics use (antibiotics kill all bacteria, good and bad.)
5. Stress
6. Sex with an infected partner (though not classed as an STD the yeast can be passed on during sex.)
7. Using a spermicidal lubricant like Nonoxynol-9

It is vital that whatever you choose to treat yourself with is safe for your health. Do not let the discomfort of the symptoms encourage you into using a medication for yeast infection that may not be a wise choice for your body. There are ingredients in some over the counter treatments that you would not want anywhere near you and cause unwanted side effects. Other options like antibiotics are the very thing you want to avoid as it is a cause, and only gives you a temporary relief.

Perhaps you are one of the people who would benefit more from a natural medication for yeast infection or homeopathic ones. There are several effective ones out there as well as supplements to help lower the pH of your body. This can also be done via diet changes. For example coconut oil and acidophiles can be eaten or taken as supplements to help.

It may surprise you to know that two thirds of women who believe they have a yeast infection actually have something else, so you really have to make sure you know what you have before you start wasting money and using treatments that won’t work and could cause long term problems. If you have a bacterial infection and you use anti fungal treatments you can actually make your infection worse as it is essentially going untreated. Therefore even if you intend to use natural treatments it is advisable to visit your doctor first for a professional diagnosis, particularly if this is the first time you have experienced these symptoms.

For first time sufferers, there is no reason you cannot try an over the counter option. This does work for some people within a reasonably quick time and may be all that is needed. Two products out there are Monistat and Canestan which come in one, three and seven day courses. Which course you take is up to you; talk to your pharmacist they may have some good advice for you based on your own experience, though many women tend to advice getting the three or seven day course.

Though the prescripted yeast infection medicine and over the counter products work for some, they do not work for others, plus they are more expensive and come with their own side effects to deal with. For this reason more women are turning their backs on conventional treatments and looking at natural remedies. These usually involve changes in diet and lifestyle with a natural treatment for the symptoms such as garlic, yogurt or apple cider vinegar. Users of the natural treatments claim that these rather than medicated remedies get to the root of the problem, the cause of the infection, which means less chance of it reoccurring. Which ever method you choose, talk to people who have had experience and in particular talk to your doctor.