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What is thrush?

Thrush is a yeast infection predominantly produced by Candida albicans , causing mouth infections in young infants.

What are the signs or symptoms?

White patches on the insides of cheeks and on the gums and tongue
Usually causes no other signs or symptoms

What are the incubation and contagious periods?

Incubation period: Unknown.
Contagious period: The yeast that causes thrush normally lives on the skin, in the mouth, and in stool. Mild infection of the lining of the mouth is common in healthy infants. Thrush can occur during or after antibiotic use. Repetitive or severe thrush could signal immune problems.

How is it spread?

C albicans is present in the intestinal tract and mucous membranes of healthy people.
A warm, moist environment (eg, mouth) fosters growth and spread.
Person-to-person transmission (although very rare) may occur from a mother to her baby when the mother has a vaginal yeast infection and from breastfeeding babies to their mothers when babies with thrush infect their mothers’ nipples.

How do you control it?

Use good hand-hygiene technique at all the times listed in Chapter 2 of Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools: A Quick Reference Guide, 7th Edition .
Treat infected individuals.
Wash and sanitize mouthed toys, bottle nipples, and utensils and do not let other children use them before sanitizing. Do not allow sharing of mouthed objects between children without first washing and sanitizing them.

Thrush ( Candida albicans ) infection in the mouth of a 1-week-old

Infant with an open mouth, revealing a toothless, gummy interior and a tongue with white, irregular-shaped patches.

What are the roles of the educator and the family?

Report the infection to the staff member designated by the early childhood education program or school for decision-making and action related to care of ill children. That person, in turn, alerts the parents/guardians for treatment of the child.
Administer prescribed medication as instructed by the child’s health professional.

Exclude from educational setting?

No.

Disclaimer

Adapted from Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools: A Quick Reference Guide , 7th Edition.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.

Any websites, brand names, products, or manufacturers are mentioned for informational and identification purposes only and do not imply an endorsement by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP is not responsible for the content of external resources. Information was current at the time of publication. The information contained in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

The latest version shifts from a brief, text-heavy public health handout to a more polished, current educational resource with clearer wording, updated terminology, and a more caregiver-centered tone. It retains the same core clinical message—thrush is usually mild, common in infants, and does not require exclusion from group care—but modernizes language, adds a visual example, and aligns the content with the current standard of early childhood education terminology and the 7th edition reference source. The emphasis is less on transmission detail and more on practical management, hygiene, and communication with families. - “Teacher/caregiver” is updated to “educator,” and “child care program” to “early childhood education program,” reflecting current terminology. - The control section is streamlined: “Treatment of individuals who have an infection” becomes “Treat infected individuals.” - Hygiene guidance is expanded to include “mouthed toys, bottle nipples, and utensils,” with explicit instruction not to let other children use them before sanitizing. - The latest version adds a clinical image with caption and alt text, improving educational value. - The disclaimer now cites “Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools: A Quick Reference Guide, 7th Edition” and includes a fuller AAP organizational description.

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