Thrush

This fungal infection is caused by the yeast candida albicans that lives normally on the skin, inside the bowels and the vagina but can grow unchecked, causing skin problems.

Ideal conditions for thrush include warmth and moisture which is why it can affect your child's mouth, the skin around the nappy area (nappy rash) and skin creases generally. In the mouth, it looks like creamy milk curds on the tongue or the insides of the cheeks while in the nappy area, it causes pinhead blisters and reddened skin, especially in the skin creases. It often occurs at the same time as nappy rash, making it difficult to distinguish the two problems.

You or your child may develop thrush during a course of antibiotics as they can upset the normal balance of flora and fauna, including candida albicans, in the bowels. Because of this, some people eat live yoghurt as a preventive measure when taking antibiotics.

What you can do

See your GP who can prescribe an anti-fungal cream for thrush affecting the skin or mouth drops for oral thrush.

For thrush in the nappy area, let your baby kick around for a while with nothing on at each nappy change until the infection clears up (it's good practice anyway!). Avoid using zinc and castor oil cream while the thrush is present.

If your baby has oral thrush and you're breastfeeding, clean your nipples carefully after each feed. Watch out for signs of infection and seek treatment quickly if they do become hot, reddened, sore and/or itchy.