Thrush: How to Care for Your Child

Thrush is an infection in the mouth caused by yeast (a type of germ). It usually goes away in a week or two with medicine. Follow these instructions to care for your child.

• Use the medicine as directed by your health care provider. Don't stop giving the medicine early, even if the thrush is better, or it could come back.

• Clean bottle nipples, pacifiers, and baby cups after each use with boiling water or in the dishwasher. If you prefer, you can replace them after the infection is gone.

• If your child uses a toothbrush, you can replace it or put it in the dishwasher every few days (if dishwasher safe). Replace the toothbrush after the infection is gone.

• You can continue breastfeeding as usual. But talk to your health care provider about whether you need treatment to prevent the infection from passing back and forth between you and your baby.

Your child:

• has thrush lasting longer than 2 weeks

• seems to have pain with eating or drinking or won't eat or drink

• has thrush that comes back after it went away

What causes thrush? Thrush is caused by a fungus (yeast) called Candida albicans. Often, kids with thrush don't feel any discomfort, but the white patches inside the mouth may cause pain with sucking, eating, or swallowing. When the patches rub off, raw red areas may bleed slightly.

Who gets thrush? Thrush is especially common in babies younger than 6 months old. Older kids who are on antibiotics, who have diabetes, or whose immune systems are weakened by illness or some types of medicines also can get it.

Is thrush contagious? Thrush isn't usually contagious, although a breastfeeding mother whose infant has thrush may get a yeast infection around her nipple that causes redness and soreness.