What to do if your baby has a fever during teething

What reaction is possible for a baby when teething?

What reaction can a child have when baby teeth appear? During this period, children may react in different ways:

1. Some children tolerate this period quite normally. The only symptom that worries them is itching in the gums, increased salivation and a slight increase in body temperature.
2. Other babies react very hard to teething: the temperature may rise to 38-39 degrees, they do not sleep at night, and refuse to eat.
3. There are also little ones who are luckier than others: their teeth appear without any problems and almost imperceptibly.

Why does the temperature rise after tooth extraction?

The following pathological conditions are usually the reasons for surgical intervention:

• periodontitis with obstruction of root canals;
• complete tooth destruction;
• periodontitis, which causes mobility of the dentition;
• damage to the dental canal;
• abscess, phlegmon, etc.

These diseases themselves are inflammatory in nature and are associated with infection. Can body temperature rise after tooth extraction (hyperthermia) in this case? Of course yes. And this is not even a bad sign, but a normal sign, especially if it lasts a day or two. This means the patient’s immune system is working perfectly.

But there are other reasons for the appearance of hyperthermia. Perhaps part of the tooth remained in the socket, which caused such a violent reaction in the body. The resulting granuloma then develops into a cyst - the situation worsens. Fever may be associated with the development of alveolitis - inflammation of the socket, osteomyelitis as its consequence, damage to neighboring healthy tissues due to the carelessness of the doctor, suppuration in the socket due to the presence of a foreign body (tampon, for example). If a tooth in the upper jaw was removed, then the wall of the maxillary sinus may have been damaged, which led to inflammation in the corresponding area - sinusitis.

What causes the temperature to rise during teething in children?

When babies erupt their first teeth, 2 processes occur that are interconnected:

• In the oral cavity, local immunity decreases, which is why a secondary infection may occur. Stomatitis, sore throat, pharyngitis and other diseases can often occur.
• At the site of tooth growth, the production and release of many biologically active substances necessary for softening the gums occurs.
• Inflammation of the gums and reduced immunity often provoke a protective reaction of the body - body temperature rises to 37-37.5.

In infants, when teething, the body temperature should not be higher than 37.5 degrees (the so-called low-grade fever).

During this period, it is necessary to carefully monitor the general condition of the baby. There are children who tolerate this temperature quite normally. And for others, help is needed in order to survive such an unpleasant period. Sometimes children may be bothered by a slight increase in it, they may cry, be capricious, refuse to eat, or not sleep at night.

Important: keep in mind that if a baby experiences an increase in body temperature to 38-38.5 °C, consult a doctor immediately. In no case should you attribute everything to your teeth, as such a symptom may indicate an additional infection or inflammatory process.

How long during teething do children usually have a fever? Normally this is no more than 1-3 days. Most often it rises at night, does not exceed 38 degrees and is easily knocked down.

Important: if your little one has a fever for more than three days, the temperature is above 38 degrees and does not go down well, seek medical help immediately.

When and how is it necessary to lower the temperature?

If teeth begin to cut at the age of seven months and the temperature rises, the child’s body is already stable and strong enough to cope with such a situation. There are only cases when the first tooth suddenly begins its journey through the gums at the age of two months.

If a temperature of 38.5 may not cause much trouble for a six-month-old child, then at three months such a condition should cause you much greater concern. If such a temperature persists for several days in a row, you should definitely call a doctor at home.

If children under one year old have a fever during teething that lasts a long time, pediatricians recommend various remedies. These can be pharmaceutical preparations in the form of suppositories and syrups. Ordinary rubbing with vinegar diluted in water or vodka is also used. They should be done once every 2-3 hours. The effect usually occurs on the same day. While you are wiping, you can put a wet napkin on your baby's forehead.

1. Monitor the child's condition. Particular attention should be paid to the occurrence of seizures, as well as congenital diseases of the central nervous system, respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
2. Reducing the temperature sharply is also harmful. It is enough to reduce the value by a degree and a half.
3. At values ​​of 39-40 degrees, call an ambulance immediately. You need to react in the same way to paleness, cold extremities, suspicious passivity or loud screams.
4. In the room where the child is located, it is necessary to maintain a normal level of humidity. To do this, you can buy a humidifier or put buckets/basins with water. The temperature in the room should not be higher than 21-22 degrees.

5. Temporarily remove the diaper and any excess clothing. The baby's body should not overheat.
6. Lack of appetite in this state should not scare you. When the child feels better, he will begin to eat normally again.
7. To relieve the condition, give more fluids. Juice, compote or fruit drink with minimal sugar content is best. Liquids should be at room temperature.

Why is high temperature dangerous for a child and when should you sound the alarm?

High temperature (39-40 degrees) is extremely dangerous for children in their first year of life. Because of this, disruption of the central nervous system and heart, and convulsions are possible. A rapid increase over several hours and one that is difficult to bring down with antipyretics is very dangerous.

As a result of a sharp increase, the temperature center of the brain is not able to withstand such a load, which can cause seizures. Children with central nervous system pathology are at risk. They cannot be risked, and the temperature must be brought down as soon as it has already risen to 37.5 degrees.

What to do if your child has a fever?

If, when teething, the child is restless, asks to be held, or cries, there is no need to worry. All parents go through this, you are not the first and you will not be the last. It is much worse if the baby does not react to anything, constantly sleeps and behaves very calmly. When the temperature rises, this is an alarming signal.

In this case, monitor your child with special attention and measure the temperature every hour. This can be done in the crease near the groin or armpit. To do this, it is better to use an electronic thermometer: it will be able to show you the result much faster than a mercury thermometer, in addition, it is more accurate. It is also safer and cannot be broken.

If the child’s temperature cannot be measured this way, it can be done rectally. To do this, lubricate the tip of the thermometer with baby cream, then carefully insert it into the rectum. Pinch the child's buttocks and wait for a signal indicating that the measurement is complete.

Important: when measured in the rectum, the values ​​will always be higher compared to those in the armpit. The norm is a temperature within 37-37.5 degrees. Once you get a score of 38.5 or higher, be sure to shoot it down.

How do you know if your baby is unwell? There are signs that indicate a condition where high fever is dangerous:

1. The skin feels dry and hot to the touch.
2. Lips become dry.
3. Eyes sparkle.
4. Cheeks turn red.
5. The baby rarely urinates.

If you see them, remember that urgent help is needed, because this condition is extremely dangerous for the child’s body.

Why is the temperature rising?

Some parents may not be entirely clear why such a natural process as tooth growth is accompanied by so many problems. Now let's look at the question from a medical point of view.

The tooth doesn’t just “appear” in the right place. It passes through the bone, then through the gum, creating a “tunnel” in the flesh.

Believe me, this is not the most pleasant feeling. And given that this does not happen instantly, the suffering stretches out over a long period. The child’s body reacts with an inflammatory process. At the same time, various substances are released and immunity decreases. To “figure it out,” the immune system turns on protective mechanisms, after which the body temperature rises.

How many days does a child’s teething temperature last in such circumstances and what indicators should you respond to by calling an ambulance? No matter how strange it may sound and no matter how indignant fathers and mothers may be, a temperature in the range of 37-37.7 can be considered normal in such circumstances. You shouldn't knock it down. You can only do harm. And the drugs that are used against fever are often much more harmful and dangerous than what they are “treating”. They often add non-children's doses of paracetamol, which is more dangerous for a small organism than fever.

The temperature should be lowered when readings are 38 and above. If the thermometer scares you at 39 or more, it’s time.

As for the timing, the temperature can usually persist for up to three days, sometimes up to four. You need to measure it 3-4 times a day. If after four days nothing has changed, you should contact your pediatrician. After all, fever can be caused not only by a tooth, but also by some kind of infection. It is important to control this moment. After all, if the baby’s condition is caused by some other disease, this needs to be found out as early as possible in order to take timely measures.

How to help yourself at home with a hyperthermic reaction?

If a person has a fever, then he needs:

• drinking plenty of water;
• cool room (no higher than 25 degrees);
• minimum amount of clothing (no wrappings, blankets, etc.);
• fresh air (room ventilation).

Antipyretics can be given if the temperature is 38 or more after tooth extraction. Preference should be given to drugs based on paracetamol and/or ibuprofen. In pharmacies they are sold under different trade names, for example, Efferalgan, Panadol, Nurofen, Mig-400, Next, Ibuklin, etc. The patient should be given medicine only if a symptom is present. They are not used to prevent fever.

If the patient is a child, then before contacting a doctor, you can give a dose of an antipyretic drug in the form of a suspension, syrup, or soluble tablet, according to the instructions for the drug. Dosage forms for adults (not according to age) cannot be used (half a tablet, for example, or one fourth). It is important to use rectal antipyretic suppositories at night or during daytime sleep.

Both adults and children should not be given medications containing metamizole sodium (Analgin) and acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) to reduce body temperature. Can cause bleeding, agranulocytosis, electrolyte disturbances, etc.