Treating Yeast Infections in Infants

Yeast infection in infants is a tricky condition and parents should definitely pay attention towards treating it in infants as soon as they find it out. Parents can easily recognize yeast infections through its symptoms like oral thrush (white patches in the mouth), painful, bumpy, red diaper rashes among others. First of all, it is very important to avoid the causes of such infection in infants. To do so, one must know what are the causes of yeast infection in children?

Causes of Yeast Infections in Infants

• Infection through infected mother at the time of delivery.


• Antibiotics Intake


• Not keeping the vaginal area of female infants clean.


• Overused unchanged diaper.


• Inappropriate bathing of child with harsh soaps.

Internal Yeast Infections in Infants

Sometimes parents use OTC drugs to treat yeast infections in their infants. This generally treats the symptoms. However, sometimes internal yeast infection remains there and causes frequent recurrence of infections. Internal infections can result into whitish stools, diarrhea, etc. In fact, yeast is always present along with beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract. Both of them keep each other in balance. Problem begins when yeast overgrows and results into infection. Treating the symptoms will grant temporary relief and it is essential to treat the underlying imbalance between the intestinal yeast and bacteria in order to prevent recurring infection. Anti fungal drugs - pills, creams, suppositories, topical sprays, and oral liquid solutions can cure infections in adults but treating yeast infection in infants need much more than that.

How to Treat Yeast Infections in Infants

• Always keep the baby clean. Change wet and dirty diapers immediately as moist environment leads to growth of yeast.


• Do not use baby wipes on a yeast diaper rash- they feed the yeast. Instead rinse the diaper area with 1 tbsp white vinegar added to a cup of water.


• For treating yeast diaper rash, get an over-the-counter anti-fungal cream that contains clotrimazole or miconazole or get some anti fungal drug prescribed by a paediatrician.


• If you see thrush in your baby's mouth, go for oral medication. The anti fungal Nystatin liquid is generally prescribed to treat thrush. However, before administering any medicine, consult your doctor.


• Do not give too much sugar and refined carbohydrate if your baby has started taking solid food because they feed yeast.


• Give the baby meats, vegetables, unsweetened fruits and plain, unsweetened yogurt.


• If yours is a breast feeding baby, treatment should be given to both- mother and child- even if mother has no symptoms.


• Continue treating yeast infection in your infant by taking all the above precautions for 2 weeks even after symptoms are gone so that there is no chance of getting infection again.