Re: Toddler Yeast Infection

Posted By L.M.M.D.hfhs on July 21, 1998 at 20:04:36:

In Reply to: Toddler Yeast Infection posted by Cindy on July 20, 1998 at 20:32:19:






My granddaughter just returned from a two week visit away from home.
She came home with a yeast infection. She has never had this before
and I'm curious as to where it could have come from. She is two years
old. is it normal for a small child to get this type of infection?
                                    Thanks,
                                      Grandma
Dear Cindy :
Yeast infections are very common among infants and toddlers with diapers and who are just starting to toilet train simply because yeast ( most commonly known to be caused by a species of fungus called Candida Albicans ) enjoy growing and multiplying in wet skin folds like gluteal folds , groin and neck , armpits , mouth and nail folds.
Most doctors decide on physical exam that a rash on the groin or a thrush in the mouth is a yeast infection . But a definitive diagnosis is by examining scrapings of the yeast lesions under the microscope .
Do you need to treat a yeast infection ? yes , with antifungal cream if the infection is mild . But there are patients suffering from a problem in their immune system that may have far more serious yeast infections , including infections in the blood and urine , those patients are usually very sick and for long periods of time .
What can you do to prevent this ? the best advise is to avoid using antibiotics unnecessarily since antibiotics tend to kill the normal skin bacteria allowing the yeast to flourish with no competition , otherwise taking simple measures of keeping the diaper area dry and clean especially if you have a wound or a diaper rash or any broken down skin around there would suffice .
I hope this information was helpful and we thank you for your question
L.M.
Disclaimer : This information is for educational purposes only .
Keywords : fungal infections* , Candidiasis* , yeast infection*