If you are a new parent and still learning being a parent and understanding your little one, it is long and on going process. Every day is new, as each day your baby is growing and learning to acclimatize with the new surrounding of this new world.
Newborn babies have frequent urination and passing stools. It is important to change the diapers often and keep your baby dry and clean. One of the most common conditions seen in many babies is rashes in the nappy area. These are fine red rashes. Commonly called as diaper rashes, these pertain to the area of the diaper, and are very irritable too. One might notice your baby being very cranky, irritable. Diaper rashes are infections. These are yeasts infections caused by candida albicans.
Often seen in areas that are closed and not exposed, you can also see these rashes in folded areas of a baby like folds in the thigh, or in the skin folds of the neck. In most cases yeast infections in babies are cased due to these few prime reasons.
1. A recent infection with your baby exposed to antibiotic
2. Mother of the baby (breast feeding) on antibiotic
3. Baby is suffering from oral candidiasis.
The rashes are usually seen as fine mottled red spots. Sometimes these also are more severe like pimples and sometimes as blisters. Infections in the anal region are seen with softening of the anal orifice with redness and sometimes slight inflammation and redness too. The baby often cries while passing stools due to burning. In more sever cases these rashes also turn to become pustules (filled with pus).
Diaper rashes are irritating for babies. As an elder, one experience voluptuous itching, burning, and redness. The baby can hardly express their irritability except can cry. If you notice such rashes, it needs immediate medical advice and treatment. To avoid these fungal infections keep these areas dry and open as much as possible. Also take care to choose a diaper that is of the right size of the baby to avoid tight fittings. Change the diaper at regular intervals to avoid prolonged period of wetness and moisture for the baby. About 2 to 3 hours of interval is sufficient for changing diapers.
Treat these yeast infections with anti fungal drugs after consulting a pediatrician. On seeing reduction of these rashes within a day or two of application of anti-fungal creams, many parents withdraw the treatment, which is wrong. The treatment should be continued till the prescribed period, usually a week before discontinuation to avoid recurrence.