- Newborns may also be exposed to yeast infections at birth. Many Moms experience yeast infection during pregnancy as a result of the hormone changes. A stressed newborn with its immature immune system can develop a yeast infection.
- Often infants because of the warm often moist conditions of diapers will develop a yeast infection. The yeast infection is most often seen as diaper rash. (Note: diaper rash can have other causes as well.)
Most yeast infections are caused by the fungus Candida Albicans. Most of the time yeast infections will resolve themselves except in people with weakened or immature immune systems. Infants are prone to suffering from yeast infections as their immune systems are fully developed.
Other situations can lead to yeast infections in babies, these include:
- Use of antibiotics. Though an antibiotic is useful when fixing a bacterial infection in the ear or throat, antibiotics are not specific to go just to the ear or the throat. As a result the normal bacteria in the body can be decreased with antibiotics leading to a yeast infection. Without the balancing of the bacteria the yeast will overgrow.
- In sensitive individuals a dietary imbalance with a die high in sugar or sweets can lead to an overgrowth of yeast. This happens since yeast's main growing food is sugar.
Oral yeast infections known as thrush in the US are a common reason infants do not want to drink formula or breast feed. Oral thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth. An oral yeast infection generally is seen as white almost cheesy patches on the tongue and gums. When a Mom is breast feeding a yeast infection will often show as sore or cracked nipples. Oral yeast infections in infants need to be treated by your healthcare provider.
Diaper rashes can be treated by keeping the skin dry. Using a liner to wick away moisture from the skin can help. During naptime place your baby on a open diaper and let the skin air dry. Check soon after they start dozing as many babies pass their urine soon after falling asleep. Replace the diaper with a dry one. When possible let your baby go without a diaper to let the skin dry out.
Avoid using creams with boric acid or phenols or methyl salicylate unless prescribed by your healthcare provider. Your baby is tiny and the doses in the creams can be harmful unless used carefully under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
Thanks to Aneta Blaszczyk for sharing her photo.
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No matter whether you call it chronic yeast infection or recurrent yeast infection, it’s a major life challenge for people who have them. Even with the numerous medications available, both prescription and over the counter, for many people it’s like a revolving door. One yeast infection stops and then when you least expect it another yeast infection starts.
There are many natural home remedies, which work fairly well with the occasional yeast infection. But with the chronic yeast infection or recurrent yeast infection you’re probably better off doing the one-two punch method. Combine the natural and medical methods for the best outcome.
The challenge is many people hear natural and think harmless. Not necessarily so. Every medication has an effect, as they are all chemicals-some man made and some not.
Why Do Chronic Yeast Infections Or Recurrent Yeast Infections Happen?
Chronic or recurring yeast infections happen for a number of reasons. It may be from a compromised immune system such as HIV infections. People with uncontrolled diabetes also have a tendency towards chronic yeast infections. Those using steroid inhalers for asthma and other lung conditions are also susceptible to recurrent yeast infections.
But by far the most common cause of recurrent yeast infections is taking antibiotics for another infection in the body. Most antibiotics are general type medications. The antibiotic kills not only the bacteria causing the infection but other bacteria as well.
Since the body keeps itself in a state of balance the antibiotic trying to correct the infection by eliminating the infection causing bacteria over corrects. As a result many people have other bacteria killed in their body leading to diarrhea and yeast infections.
The diarrhea and yeast infections happen because the helpful or balancing bacteria was killed along with the harmful bacteria.
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The usual treatment of bacterial vaginosis is antibiotics. The most commonly used antibiotics are Flagyl (metrondazole) either by pill oral or vaginal creams.
Metronidazole is not given during early pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. It also is not used when breast feeding because of the risk to the baby.
The challenge with using these antibiotics is antibiotics change the balance in the vagina leading to a yeast infection. Then you have not just one but two problems at the same time. Bacterial vaginosis is especially difficult to treat.
It can reoccur even with successful treatment. Almost 50% of al women treated have another episode within one year. It still is unknown as to why this happens.
What are complications of bacterial vaginosis?
If the symptoms disappear there is no special follow up needed.
pregnancy it is important to closely monitor the mother and the baby. Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy is much more serious. It can lead to premature labor, low birth weight babies, and infection of the amniotic fluids and uterus.
This is why if you have a history of premature births you will be screen for bacterial vaginosis during subsequent pregnancies.
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