Epidemiology of infant oral candidiasis among infants attending Tikrit teaching hospital

Abstract

Back ground  :
A thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth that is caused by a fungal microorganism called Candida  albicans.  Oral thrust  is most  common  in infants and  is generally  not  a serious condition  in  itself.  50%  of  the  population  has  candida  in their  mouths.  Under  normal circumstances    Candida   albicans   is kept under  control  by bacteria.   Candida   albicans   can  also cause a yeast or thrush  infection in the vagina, resulting in the exposure of an infant to the infection  during the  vaginal birthing  process. It can also cause an  infection  in a woman's nipples,  which can then be transmitted  to an  infant's mouth during breast  feeding. Thrush appears as whitish, velvety lesions in the mouth and on the tongue. Underneath the whitish material, there is red tissue that may bleed easily. The lesions can slowly increase in number and size.
Objectives  of the  study:  To determine the epidemiological  factors of infant oral candidiasis among  infant  attending  Tikrit  teaching  hospital  out-patient   clinic.
Patients and methods: A descriptive study was conducted on infant attending Tikrit teaching hospital. The sample includes (115) infants. The information was obtained according to well-prepared questionnaire. The demographic information in addition to other epidemiological data was obtained by the interviewing with infant mother. The study period start from 1/2/207 to 1/4/2017.
Results:
The  results  of current   study  showed  that  more  than  (61%)  were  males  and more  than half  of the cases  within  the age  first three  months.  About   (98%)  of cases with  low  level  of maternal education.  Regarding  delivery method of infants, it has been shown that (46%) by cesarean section.  A maternal   history  of birth  canal  infection  was  about  (59%)  and  a maternal   history of breast  infection  was (18%).  Artificial  feeding  of infant  cases  were  (43%).
Conclusions:   Thrush  of  infants  is prominent  in  1% three  months  of age  and  it is  more frequent with those of certain risk factors as maternal breast and birth canal infection..