Physical Wellness

Fever and Teething in Babies are not always related, Study Says

By Cheri Cheng | Update Date: Feb 22, 2016 11:34 AM EST

Fever and teething in infants are not always tied to one another, a new study is reporting.

According to the analysis, infant teething might not always lead to a high-grade fever. Instead, the symptom could be caused by another illness, which is why the researchers are urging doctors and parents to not ignore it.

"If a child has a really high fever, or is in significant discomfort, or won't eat or drink anything for days, that's a red flag for concern," said Dr. Paul Casamassimo, director of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's Pediatric Oral Health and Research and Policy Center, reported by CNN. "By and large, symptoms are not a chronic thing. They come and go, and the job of the parent is to comfort the child, and keep their finger on the pulse of their child. Is the child eating? Staying hydrated?"

Common symptoms caused by teething are a fever that is below 101 degrees Fahrenheit, decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, rash and difficulty sleeping. Treatments include non-medical options, such as a teething ring or a cold rag, and infant pain relievers. Casamassimo warned that using drugs everyday to soothe an infant's pain could end up being detrimental to the baby's health. He also advised parents to avoid topical pain relievers that contain benzocaine and lidocaine.

"Every kid is going to have it in slightly different ways," Casamassimo said. "Pay attention to the symptoms. Ameliorate the symptoms. If things get out of hand, contact your pediatrician."

The study was published in the journal, Pediatrics.

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