Teething for an infant can be a time of joy but also concern and stress for the parents. Those first teeth erupting can bring with them many signs of discomfort and irritability for the infant. Drooling and excessive chewing are also common symptoms signaling these times in your baby’s life.
But what about a fever? A high temperature is often cited as a sign of teething. But is it really a co factor or does it mean there is also an infection?
Most pediatric dentists agree that a slight fever for a very brief period of time can sometimes accompany this process in the development of your baby’s mouth. However, it is not as common as the other symptoms. Additionally a fever should never be ignored. If the fever is slight and only lasts a few hours when the first eruptions are occurring, it may be a factor of the eruption.
However, it it is a couple degrees or lasts more than several hours – it is our suggestion to call your pediatrician immediately. Better to be safe than sorry in regards to a fever.
A recent article in lifehacker highlights this issue as being a common concern for parents:
Don’t Overlook Fevers When Your Child Is Teething | Lifehacker Australia
Fever is one of the oft-cited symptoms of teething — not always by doctors, more often by parents sharing advice. But a new analysis of the actual symptoms of teething shows that fever probably isn’t one of them. In other words: If your kid is teething and has a fever, chances are they’re also sick.
Photo by danibabii08.
So if fever isn’t a sign of teething, what is? The new analysis, published in the March issue of Pediatrics, agrees with what folks like those at the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry have been saying for years: Mostly drooling and crankiness.
That means that if your baby has a true fever (38 degrees Celsius or more), or other symptoms of illness like diarrhoea or a runny nose, consider calling the doctor. (Fever lasting longer than 24 hours is usually something your pediatrician wants to hear about.) Use your judgment, as always — just don’t overlook real symptoms because you’re chalking them up to teething. Don’t Overlook Fevers When Your Child Is Teething | Lifehacker Australia
As lifehacker.com has stated, it is strongly advisable to never ignore a fever. This cannot be repeated too much for new parents.
The job of the parent at this time is to help the child deal with the discomfort and just get through it. These symptoms of irritability, drooling and chewing may last for 3 to 5 days and then subside. A slight increase in temperature that is temporary may occur as well.
However, if the child is in significant discomfort, will not eat or drink much for a few days or develops a fever that is significant – these are true concerns. Please call you pediatrician immediately if these occur. If the symptoms are much less than these, a parent should just ensure the baby is eating and staying hydrated.
The following article from medicaldaily.com takes this a step further providing good advice for parents during this time:
Your Baby’s Fever May Not Be A Normal Teething Symptom: Correctly Identifying Potential Illness In Infants
Teething, like crawling and talking, can be an exciting sign of healthy development in children, but it also comes with a slew of unique symptoms, some of which may mask real health concerns. A new analysis, published in the journal Pediatrics, warns parents to watch for the differences between ordinary teething-related fevers and symptoms and signs of more serious problems that extend beyond the teething phase.
It’s common for parents to confuse teething symptoms with symptoms of a more serious condition or illness, which is why Casamassimo emphasizes the importance of paying attention. By attributing fevers and infections to teething and not following up with a doctor, parents risk not properly treating a real ailment in their child.
Teething babies may develop a fever, but if it gets too high, something else is wrong. Photo courtesy of Flickr, Bryan Anthony. Your Baby’s Fever May Not Be A Normal Teething Symptom: Correctly Identifying Potential Illness In Infants
So what about giving your baby something for the pain? A better option is to give him or her something to chew one. A cold chew ring may be ideal in this situation. As for pain medication – this can be a potentially dangerous thing to do. The previously cited article goes on to further empathize this point:
Casamassimo warns that giving the baby a mild painkiller day after day to keep their fever and pain at bay is dangerous and should be followed by a visit with a pediatrician. Aside from a high fever, other worrying symptoms include persistent sores or blisters in the mouth, complete appetite loss, and diarrhea.
“Just comfort your child and get through it,” Casamassimo said. “Every kid is going to have it in slightly different ways. Pay attention to the symptoms. Ameliorate the symptoms. If things get out of hand, contact you pediatrician.” Your Baby’s Fever May Not Be A Normal Teething Symptom: Correctly Identifying Potential Illness In Infants
This is a time of excitement in the life of a parent. Often it is the cause of phone calls to family with numerous pictures and video calls. It is often a bit disruptive for infant and parent alike.
However, it should not be a time of stress or extreme discomfort. Keep some cooled chew toys handy.
Our pediatric dentists at Greeley Front Range Dental are trained for these types of teething issues. Their advice: Plan on a little less sleep. Then enjoy this time. It only happens once.
waamhva6uhc3dqilmil0.png image from lifehacker.com.au
teething-baby.jpg image from medicaldaily.com
Originally Published Here: Greeley Pediatric Dentists Discuss Fever During Teething
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