Curious question about a baby infection

[Claudia1]

Let me state upfront: this is NOT about my DGD!!!

One the teen mothers that my DD met during pre-natal classes has a 6-month old baby with a yeast infection in the diaper area and possibly the mouth area. I'm not sure that it is confirmed but there is definitely an infection of some type. She had been ill will the flu a couple of weeks ago.

DD asked me how babies get infections. I will admit that I skirted around the issue because my first thought was that it could have been transmitted by an adult. I had some not-so-nice thoughts about how it could have happend, too. I know that I should not have jumped to such a conclusion and certainly did not share my thoughts with my DD.

I am probably overlooking soemthing simple, though. Does anybody have any ideas how a baby could get yeast infections?

 

[nativetxn]

Antibiotics can do that, they do it to me Has the baby been given antibiotics in the last couple of weeks?

 

[becka]

I am not a doctor (I don't even play one on TV) but I believe that a yeast infection in the mouth is called thrush and it is not totally uncommon. I don't remember exactly what causes thrush but it is not anything "not-so-nice".

The mouth and diaper area of a baby is a warm, moist environment and bacteria and other germies grow well in such environments.

In short, I would really not be too concerned.

**edited to add ** I would not be too concerned about HOW it happened but I am concerned that the baby in question will definitely need treatment for the infections.

 

[binny]

Yes babies can get yeast infection and it can show up in the mouth too, or perhaps the mouth infection is thrush?


Even boy baies can get yeast infections from what my doctor told me.

 

[janette]

I think both my girls had a yeast diaper rash at least once. It can be treated using athletic foot remedies. It is a fungus type, not sure why they get it but it isn't uncommon. Some kids seem to get it more than others.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Claudia-Is the baby breast fed? She could have gotten it in the mouth that way if the mother have an infection of the breast.
Also My DD, who is 18mo., had a yeast infection from Diarreah. It is caused by bacteria in the intestines. THe rash got very bad. She had sores around her bottom. It was hard to clean her off when she would poop and she was doing it all of the time because of the diarrea. It was a vicious cycle.

Here is a link that I found: http://www.drgreene.com/21_573.html

I hope this helps to clear up any doubts!

 

[nkjzmom]

All a yeast infection needs is a warm, moist area....just what the mouth and diaper area are. My 2 yo son had a mild one last year. Our ped. didn't act shocked that he had one....so I assume it's not uncommon. He gave us a cream to apply and it was gone within a few days.

 

[Claudia1]

Thanks for setting me straight! I am ashamed of my first thoughts and glad I asked for your info.

 

[RitaZ.]

Here is some additional info;

All humans have harmless amounts of yeast (actually a fungus) in their bodies. It tends to live in the mouth, bowels, skin, and, in women, the ****** — basically it thrives in warm, wet environments. A diaper rash left untreated can easily become infected with yeast — even if your child is a boy. Babies taking antibiotics or breastfed babies whose mothers are on antibiotics are more susceptible to yeast infections. That's because antibiotics kill the good bacteria in the body that keep yeast in check. Without these bacteria around, yeast can grow more abundantly.

If your baby recently had thrush (a yeast infection of the mouth), he may end up with a yeast infection in his diaper area, too. How? Yeast passes through your baby's digestive system when he eats, and it ends up in his stool, which eventually lands in his diaper right next to his warm, damp skin.

How can I be sure the rash is really a yeast infection?

You can usually tell a yeast infection in the diaper area (versus a plain old diaper rash) because the rash may have multiple red bumps, pus-filled bumps, or a scaling pattern on the infected skin. In addition, the rash may extend along the pubic area and onto the lower part of the abdomen. Another big clue: A yeast rash tends to hang around for more than two days and doesn't respond to any traditional diaper rash treatments. It also usually shows up in the skin folds of the groin area.

 

[jsmith]

They will commonly occur in the mouths of babies who are put to bed with a bottle rather than fed and then put down-the extra sugars in milk or formula make a great enviroment for the naturally occuring yeast and if a baby falls asleep with the nipple in there mouth it is like a food source for the little beasties.
They spread from child to child too-the only time either one of my kids had Thrush he got it from the neighbor kid who had it a lot-they were about 14 months and walking-the other kid always had a paci-my son snatched it out of his mouth and stuck it in his own mouth-bingo-Thrush!
Ick and to cure it I just spread the oral meds they gave me on his butt-it worked but was messy.