Scan the newspaper, listen to the radio or tune into a television program. If you pay attention long enough, you hear about the lack of flu vaccines, the renewed threat of whooping cough and the biohazards lurking on the surface of our fruits and vegetables.

For concerned parents, there tends to be a heightened sensitivity to the potential for hazards and threats to the health and well-being of our children. Even the simple act of Baby dropping a pacifier or bottle causes concern.

Did you know, however, that we also have a common presence in and on our bodies that can pose a hazard to our infants? It is a yeast called Candida albicans, and it can cause a condition known as oral thrush.

Oral thrush is a yeast infection that commonly occurs in the mouth, throat and on the tongue in infants and toddlers, though it can occur at any age. Thrush can appear as white patches or spots. Similar in appearance to cottage cheese or milk curds, it can easily be mistaken for formula in a baby's mouth.

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