Signs & Symptoms of Yeast Infection in Toddler

Yeast is a fungus present in all humans regardless of gender or age. Toddlers, teenagers, adult women and men can all get a yeast infection. The way to identify and treat this infection will vary for each patient, and a physician should be consulted.

Yeast Infection

• Yeast lives in various parts of the human body and can be found in the skin, digestive system, oral cavity and vagina. Typically the yeast survives in harmless amounts, enjoying warm and moist body areas. For toddlers, a diaper presents the perfect environment for creating yeast overgrowth that typically becomes an infection. In addition, antibiotics that are taken or received via mother's milk will destroy body bacteria that keep yeast under control. Toddlers are also susceptible to getting oral yeast infections.

Signs and Symptoms

• A toddler yeast infection sign can be a bottom that seems darker red in color than a diaper rash. Another sign of a yeast infection can be some white dots on red spots or lesions in the genital area. Additional signs and symptoms may include discomfort, redness and itching. If the toddler has something that looks different than a typical diaper rash, it could be a yeast infection. Be sure to visit a pediatrician to diagnose the toddler's condition. Besides a genital yeast infection, toddlers are known to get oral yeast infections that can be identified by red spots, itchiness or several white dots on the tongue and in the mouth.

Treatments

• First consult with a pediatrician. Yeast infections can quickly turn into nasty, bigger infections in a few days. Once diagnosed as a yeast infection, most pediatricians will prescribe an antifungal cream that should be applied after every diaper change. If the yeast infection is in the mouth, typically an oral prescription taken daily is prescribed.

Tips

• In addition to medications, keeping a toddler's bottom clean and dry will be helpful to clear the infection. One suggestion is to let the toddler be diaper-free for 30 minutes to an hour daily to help air get to the infected area, helping the infection clear faster. Changing diapers frequently to keep the toddler's bottom dry will help with healing.

Hygiene

• For caregivers treating a toddler's yeast infection, be sure to use good hygiene practices such as wash hands frequently after diaper changes. Yeast loves warm, wet areas and infections can easily occur in these environments.