Many parents seek pediatric care for teething and diarrhea during their baby’s teething period. Most babies begin teething when they initiate complementary feeding while weaning from breast milk and infant formula. Although it can be exciting to see your little one getting their teeth, many babies experience discomforts such as gum pain, drooling rash, and sleep disturbances. In addition, some babies get diarrhea during teething. Read on to know more about the causes and treatment for teething and diarrhea and when to see a doctor.
Is There A Correlation Between Teething And Diarrhea?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), teething does not cause diarrhea (1). Teething and diarrhea are often coincidental since teething usually begins around the same time when babies start consuming solids. The transition from breast milk or formula to solids may lead to diarrhea as the baby’s sensitive digestive system adjusts to the dietary changes. Also, around the age of six months, babies lose their maternal antibodies, making them vulnerable to infections, which may cause diarrhea. The watery stools or diarrhea in such cases can be a sign of severe infection (2) (3). All these simultaneous events could make the parents or caregivers assume that teething causes diarrhea.
What Are The Symptoms Of Teething And Diarrhea?
Babies display specific symptoms of teething and diarrhea, as elaborated below (2).
Symptoms of teething
If your baby has a fever and they are pulling their ears, it may be a sign of an ear infection and not merely teething. Many of the teething signs and symptoms could also occur in other serious conditions or diseases. Consult a pediatrician to find out the precise cause.
Symptoms of diarrhea
A breastfed baby usually passes soft, lumpy stools that are light yellow. A formula-fed baby passes yellow to tan-colored stools similar in appearance to peanut butter (5). In healthy, growing babies, a greenish tinge to poop is normal, and the color may further vary if the baby eats solids. Babies with diarrhea will have loose stools that may cause the diapers to leak. A baby may pass watery stools many times a day, depending on the underlying cause. One or more of the following types of stools may indicate a underlying problem:
Whitish or clay-like stools Stools with mucus or blood Large watery stools Frequent soiling Defecation immediately after each meal (after 6 months of age) Unusually foul smelling stools
Fecal matter containing worms With associated problems like abdominal pain, excessive crying, fever, vomiting, poor appetite, redness around the anal region
What Are The Possible Causes Of Diarrhea?
Diarrhea during teething may occur due to the following reasons. Some babies may have occasional diarrhea for no apparent reason. If the baby is healthy, eating well, and gaining weight, there is nothing to worry about. If the diarrhea is persistent and the baby has other symptoms, such as fever, consult a pediatrician to avoid complications, such as severe infection, dehydration etc.
How To Treat Diarrhea And Teething Pain In Infants?
The following are the treatment measures for teething and diarrhea, respectively. The US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) discourages the use of homeopathic medicines and teething jewelry to relieve teething pain since these products could be harmful (8).
When To Call A Doctor?
See a pediatrician urgently in the following situations (9). Diarrhea often resolves on its own with home care especially in older babies (more than six months old). But if the character of the stool is as described above or if it is associated with any condition mentioned in the article or if the diarrhea for a long time, do not hesitate to see a doctor to determine the precise underlying cause and get appropriate advice.
