Most people have heard of "frog", but few really know what that name stands for. This is the popular name for moniliasis (or oral candidiasis), an oral fungal infection.
Denise Bedoni, a pediatrician at Leforte Hospital, explains that the infection is caused by a yeast-like fungus, Candida albicans, which can also cause diaper rash and vaginitis.
It is worth mentioning that Candida is present in everyone's digestive system and does not cause disease in a healthy individual, but when there is an imbalance, this presence becomes infection.
According to doctor Denise, the frog is usually seen in children under six months. "It is very common in young children (infants) with sensitive immunity and in older immunosuppressed children (who have weak immune defenses and are easily infected by viruses or batteries) or with chronic diseases," he says.
The thrush is not restricted to children, it can also affect adults with chronic or immunudepressed diseases.
Causes of Thrush in Children
Denise Bedoni explains that the causes of thrush are: low resistance and oral contamination.
Remember that the thrush fungus, Candida albicans, is found naturally in the digestive tract of any human being without any complications. However, when immunity drops, the body cannot fight against these fungi that multiply and start acting, causing the infections. Because the baby's immune system is not yet mature enough to fight such fungi, the frog appears.
In the case of babies, it is very common, for example, that they contract thrush as a result of sucking improperly cleaned pacifiers or bottle nipples. Therefore, it can be said, in general, that the simplest and most practical way to prevent frog appearance is to care for hygiene.
Frog Symptoms in Children
The main symptom of thrush is the appearance of white dots in the oral region, such as the tongue, the inside of the cheeks, the roof of the mouth, the corner of the lips and even the lips.
Denise Bedoni points out that, generally, low intake and refusal to eat occurs when the frog affects children.
In the case of babies specifically, he may cry when he suckles or when he sucks on a pacifier. Other times, however, the little one may not give great indications of pain or irritability.
Frog Diagnosis
Denise Bedoni explains that the diagnosis is made by clinical evaluation and oral mucosa examination.
Therefore, if you notice white dots (characteristics of the problem) in your child's mouth and suspect that he has a frog, do not hesitate to see the pediatrician, who will diagnose the problem and provide all the necessary information to treat the infection.
Treatment for thrush in children
Pediatrician Denise explains that the most commonly prescribed thrush medicine is a liquid antifungal such as Nystatin given four times a day until the infection is cleared. You can brush your baby's mouth with this medicine or gently squirt the liquid in your mouth with a dropper or syringe. Can babies suck the medicine directly from a syringe?
"Due to the high sugar content of Nystatin, care should be taken when giving this medicine to a child who already has teeth," the pediatrician adds.
Some doctors may even recommend applying antifungal ointment to the mother's nipples if she is breastfeeding (so that the infection does not pass from baby to mother; from mother to baby).
Thrush in children: Can complications occur?
If the problem is not treated, can complications occur? This is a common doubt, especially among mothers who have small children (babies).
Denise Bedoni explains that if the problem is left untreated, the infection can spread to the entire oral and oropharyngeal mucosa and the child will have difficulty feeding, resulting in weight loss.
It is therefore important that the mother, when noticing any suspicious signs, seek guidance from the child's pediatrician.
How to prevent thrush in children
Breastfeeding. Pediatrician Denise emphasizes that it is important to stimulate breastfeeding to maintain antibody intake and prevent contamination.
Hygiene. Mothers should never underestimate the importance of simple and practical hygiene. You should never forget, for example, to clean your hands before taking care of your baby.
Dry breasts. The breastfeeding woman, according to doctor Denise, should keep her breasts from getting moist for a long time by keeping her breasts dry between breastfeeds and leaving them "airy". For some time. If you need to clean them, you should use water with a little hydrogen peroxide.
Clean pacifiers and bottles. Denise Bedoni points out that bottle-feeding babies sometimes contract thrush as a result of sucking improperly cleaned pacifiers or nipples (often as a result of dropping them and then putting them back in their mouths). "To avoid this, always have a large supply of clean rubber nipples, pacifiers and / or teething items on hand or wash them with hydrogen peroxide and rinse them in water before giving them back to your baby," he explains. .
Now you have some good tips on how to prevent frog in your child. But if the infection happens, remember to treat it until the end, following all guidelines given by the pediatrician.
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