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Dental and Oral Health (Children)

Thrush

05/28/2009

Question:

can thrush be given from one baby to another through contact?

Answer:

Candida albicans, the yeast-like fungal organism that causes "thrush" is found in the mouths of many healthy adults, as well as infants. This is the same organism that causes vaginal yeast infections in women, and it is thought that many infants acquire the yeast during passage through the birth canal. Theoretically, one infant could transmit the yeast to another infant by mouth-to-finger-to-mouth contact.

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Response by:

The Ohio State University Carl M. Allen, DDS, MSD
Professor & Director, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Pathology
Dental Faculty Practice
Section of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
College of Dentistry
The Ohio State University
Carl M. Allen, DDS, MSD