How to distinguish teething from a cold or other inflammatory diseases?

Young children are susceptible to many diseases and ailments, which are sometimes difficult to understand even for the most experienced pediatrician. Unlike an adult, a baby cannot explain what exactly is bothering him or which area of ​​the body needs attention, so young parents often confuse one problem of his well-being with another.

For example, there are regularly cases when a baby is brought in for examination complaining of a cold, when in fact he was worried about the eruption of baby teeth. But how to distinguish one from the other?

Etiology of teething

In some cases, the process of teething in children is asymptomatic, but sometimes the baby experiences discomfort and even unpleasant sensations due to pain when teeth move out of the gums. Teething is sometimes accompanied by a number of other symptoms, which may not necessarily appear all together, but their combination indicates quite clearly the cause of the problem:

• swelling and redness of the gums;
• disrupted eating and sleeping patterns;
• sudden changes in mood;
• a pronounced desire to put foreign objects into the mouth;
• slight redness of the ears and cheeks;
• excessive salivation, sometimes leading to coughing;
• occasionally small hematomas on the gums;
• slightly elevated temperature.

Teething often brings serious discomfort to the baby.
Individually, each of these signs may not indicate teething, so if a child has any of the described symptoms, it is necessary to conduct a diagnosis in order to detect others. The primary one is an increase in temperature, which is why it is sometimes difficult to distinguish an erupting thrush from a cold. This also includes spoiled appetite and sleep.

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Don't rush with complementary foods

As you know, a child’s first molars begin to appear at the age of 6 months. This period in life is also associated with a change in eating habits. It is important that during this period complementary foods are not introduced abruptly or in large quantities - this is a stressful situation for the child, which will provoke a decrease in immunity.

In addition, at the same time, a change in “antibodies” occurs in the baby’s body. While in the womb and in the first months of life, the child’s immune system “works” with the help of antibodies from the mother’s body. And it is at six months that “maternal” antibodies begin to be replaced by “own-produced” antibodies, and the fragile immune system may not cope on its own.

If your baby's teething process is painful, delay introducing solid foods. Remember that breast milk meets 90% of a baby's needs up to the age of 1 year.

Monitor air humidity and take walks

If several teeth are cut at the same time or one by one, then a runny nose can last for a week. At the same time, if the color of the discharge does not acquire a pathological shade characteristic of infectious diseases, there is no need to be overly nervous about this. If there is no fever and the child is alert, he can be bathed.

If you have a runny nose due to the first teeth, fresh air and maintaining normal humidity in the room help. Frequent airing and walks in nature will help ease this period for the baby.

Use medications only when absolutely necessary

In such situations, taking strong medications should be avoided. Including those that affect vascular tone. The small body quickly gets used to them and in the future will not be able to cope with breathing without the constant use of medications. In critical cases, the use of vasoconstrictor drugs is allowed for 6 days, no more. In addition, they must be with a strictly “children’s” dosage of the active substance and used in the dosage prescribed by the doctor.

To relieve general pain syndromes, children are recommended to be given anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs. They will help get rid of unpleasant sensations, but, alas, will not affect the abundance of phlegm.

Cleaning baby's nose

You can remove mucus yourself, using baby syringes or nasal aspirators, which are produced, for example, in the shape of funny animals and will not scare the baby; on the contrary, they will make the procedure of cleaning the nose fun.

In addition, syringes and nasal aspirators have different operating principles. If, with the help of the first, a certain solution is poured into the spout, and then it is removed from the nasal sinus, then nasal aspirators gently suck out excess mucus without causing the child any unpleasant sensations. They are mechanical and electronic.

In addition, to clean the sinuses, you can use thick cotton or gauze swabs or special wet baby wipes rolled into thick soft tubes.

You need to get rid of snot several times a day, in a way convenient for you.

However, experts do not recommend using sprays to clean the nose, since in children they can cause spasms of the vocal cords or simply scare the child.

At the same time, while getting rid of mucus from one nasal sinus, the second one must be carefully closed. It is better to clean the nose periodically so that the snot does not irritate the throat or get into the bronchi, maxillary sinuses or ears.

The cleansing process may not always be pleasant. Delicate mucous membranes will react sharply to it - with coughing reactions or even nausea. But after 3-4 procedures, if there were any negative reactions, they will disappear.

Basic rules for dealing with a runny nose during teething in a baby

The process of the appearance of new incisors and molars is not always accompanied by a runny nose. For many parents, this process can go unnoticed. Experts have come up with several “general” rules, the observance of which is useful for the child as a whole, but during such a runny nose it will make life much easier for both the baby and adults:

1. Walks in the open air. The more time a child spends outside, in comfortable conditions, the easier it will be for him to breathe. Even in the cleanest house there is dust and similar irritants that aggravate a child's runny nose.
2. The air temperature in the house should not be lower than +17 or higher than +22.
3. The air humidity in the children's room should not be lower than 55% or higher than 75%.
4. Gently remove mucus from the baby's nose. Make sure that the mucous surfaces are not overdried.
5. Monitor the type of discharge. If they are opaque and thick, this is a reason to worry.
6. Give the child a lot to drink to compensate for the loss of moisture (excessive tears, snot, salivation reduces the level of water in the body, and this can lead to drying out of the mucous membranes, an increase in temperature and the onset of inflammatory processes).
7. Keep calm. If a runny nose is not a symptom of a disease, then it will go away on its own. You need to come to terms with it and only make this period as easy as possible for the baby.

Prevention of runny nose and cough during teething in a child

There are no specific measures to prevent these unpleasant symptoms. However, following general hygiene and feeding recommendations will help keep your baby's body healthy and able to resist infection.

Recommended:

• Exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months.
• If the child is bottle-fed, it is also not recommended to introduce complementary foods before six months.
• Gradual introduction of complementary foods focusing on the baby's nutritional interest.
• Maintaining the child’s personal hygiene, including oral hygiene. Asepta Baby finger wipes are great for this, helping to remove food debris and plaque from the baby’s gums and teeth.
• Correct daily routine, walks in the fresh air, cleanliness of the room and maintaining an optimal microclimate.

These rules will help support the child’s immunity, so that he can better cope with difficult trials for him, such as teething.

We hope your baby's teething process is painless and you get a good night's sleep. And if unpleasant sensations still bother your baby, ASEPTA BABY finger wipes for 0 to 3 years will help provide a gentle massage and relieve gum pain. Impregnation with plant extracts prevents inflammation and allows you to maintain the acid-base balance of the oral cavity.

Etiology of the common cold

From a medical point of view, a cold should be called directly only the cooling of the body, which led to one of the probable diseases, but in colloquial speech a number of diseases are called a cold. And although they all have a different nature of occurrence, based on such a provocative factor as hypothermia, they are usually combined into a common group:

• rhinitis;
• ARVI;
• pharyngitis (nasopharyngitis);
• laryngitis.

All these diseases have a different clinical picture with some common symptoms, and although in some ways they may resemble the symptoms of a malaise in which the baby is teething, there should be no problems with how to distinguish one from the other.

How is the virus transmitted among children?

The influenza virus is transmitted from child to child by sneezing, coughing and talking.

Among children, contact transmission of the virus is common through household items, children's toys, dishes, bedding and various surfaces. The fact is that a virus - for example, the influenza virus - can survive for 2 hours on tables, door handles, pencils, etc. After playing with shared toys or touching the table, the child then touches his face, nose and eyes with his hands.

During epidemic seasons, outbreaks of ARVI and influenza are observed in collective places, most often kindergartens, less often schools.

Differences from rhinitis

There are more differences than similarities between rhinitis and the teething condition. In the acute course of this disease, the nasal mucosa becomes inflamed, which is accompanied by active sneezing, tearfulness and general malaise. When entering the chronic stage, rhinitis provokes, on the contrary, nasal congestion with obvious swelling, as well as regular mucopurulent discharge.

As can be seen from the above, none of these symptoms are characteristic of those that accompany teething. The only common feature is an increase in temperature, but this coincidence is clearly not enough to diagnose rhinitis in an infant. It should be added that this disease is a frequent companion to more severe diseases such as measles and scarlet fever.

The only common feature is an increase in temperature.
Important! Rhinitis, unlike teething, can cause headaches, but it is impossible to diagnose it in the case of infants without special equipment.

How do you know if your temperature is a cold?

If it is quite difficult to determine from the symptoms, then it can be determined by additional factors:

• coughing;
• fever and chills;
• the temperature remains elevated for a long time;
• you know that the child froze during your last walk outside, from this it should be concluded that he could have caught a cold;
• temperature rises above 38 degrees;
• dehydration and exhaustion of the body.

Such signs should not be treated negligently, because if it is a cold, and not just teething, everything can end sadly for your baby’s health. Be attentive to all symptoms, do not ignore even the most insignificant moments that happen to your child.

In addition, you can contact your child's doctor, who will help determine whether your baby is actually experiencing tooth growth or a common cold. The specialist will conduct an examination, make a diagnosis and make a final diagnosis, and will also help reduce pain by prescribing appropriate medications or recommending effective measures.

Differences from ARVI

ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection) is what doctors call inflammatory diseases caused by pneumotropic viruses. This list includes pathogens such as:

• influenza and parainfluenza;
• adenoviruses;
• rhinoviruses;
• respiratory syncytial virus;
• reoviruses;
• coronaviruses;
• herpes simplex;
• enteroviruses;
• mycoplasma;
• pathogenic bacteria.

In general, this is a very broad group of diseases, the most common of which in terms of colds are influenza and herpes simplex. The first of them cannot be confirmed without laboratory tests, since influenza in its symptoms is very similar to any other disease from the list of acute respiratory viral infections.

But even with mild forms of this disease, doctors note a sharp rise in body temperature to 38 - 40 degrees, which is completely different from teething. Moreover, the flu is accompanied by chills and weakness, as well as a dry and tense cough: a baby with cutting milk mucus cannot have all of this (except for a cough, but even that is not dry, but very wet, since the baby coughs up excess saliva).

Note! Only in people with strong immunity does the flu go smoothly within a few days, while in people at risk (including infants) it often provokes pulmonary or extrapulmonary complications. In severe forms of the disease, vascular collapse and cerebral edema are possible.

Even with mild forms of this disease, doctors note a sharp rise in body temperature to 38 - 40 degrees, which is completely different from teething.
As for herpes simplex, its distinctive feature is the appearance of characteristic blisters on the skin and mucous membranes. It is sometimes called a “cold on the lips” because of the visible symptoms, but this disease has little in common with the common cold. It is very difficult to confuse herpes with signs of teething.

Symptoms that are similar

So, how can you understand why your temperature has risen - due to illness or due to teething? The child will not tell you about his feelings, so you will have to act on your own or contact an experienced specialist.

But initially you should consider the symptoms that can occur in both cases:

1. The thermometer readings reach 38 degrees. These numbers last for several days.
2. Increased salivation. Another symptom that can be observed both during a cold and during teething.
3. Runny nose. Yes, yes, it’s a runny nose, it can appear even when teeth are being cut. This is due to increased mucus secretion, but there are still some differences here, for example, with ARVI there will be nasal congestion and the appearance of purulent streaks.
4. Mild cough. It can also occur in both cases, so do not rush to draw conclusions as to why the child’s body temperature has increased.

It is recommended to carefully study all the existing symptoms to determine exactly what is happening to your child. This is extremely important as you will then take further measures to reduce the temperature.

Difference from pharyngitis

Pharyngitis can also act as a concomitant disease with ARVI, but being an independent disease, it is, first of all, an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth and throat. In its acute form, this disease is characterized by a sore throat, pain and a dry, painful cough.

A child with pharyngitis may also suffer from a slight (low-grade) fever, but it is the presence of a cough against the background of obvious redness of the throat that makes it easy to distinguish such a disease from the symptoms that characterize erupting baby teeth.

Diagnosis of colds in children

The most effective diagnosis of all viral diseases among children is timely contact with a pediatrician. The doctor has information about the epidemiological situation in the region, about outbreaks of the circulating virus in kindergartens and schools. It is very important to collect a detailed medical history of the child and obtain information about possible contacts with patients. All of the above factors will help determine the suspected pathogen.

Among children, virological or bacteriological testing is not recommended, since this does not affect treatment tactics. Most often, children quickly recover on their own, which does not require the use of special laboratory diagnostic methods. Exceptions include a rapid influenza test in children with a high fever and a rapid streptococcal test for suspected acute streptococcal tonsillitis.4

A general blood test, a general urinalysis and other laboratory tests are prescribed strictly by a doctor!

Difference from laryngitis

Laryngitis in its clinical picture is very similar to pharyngitis, while the main difference between them is the localization of the inflammatory process. Laryngitis affects the larynx, not the mucous membrane of the pharynx. Otherwise, the symptoms are similar: dryness and sore throat, dry cough (which then changes its character due to phlegm), headache and a relatively low temperature - up to 37.5 degrees.

A distinctive feature of laryngitis is the appearance of hoarseness or hoarseness in the voice, up to its loss, which is directly related to inflammation of the larynx. Obviously, baby teeth cannot erupt with such a set of symptoms, so this disease can easily be crossed off the list of probable causes of a child’s illness.

Immunity in children. Why do children get sick more often?

The immune system of children develops throughout childhood.

The immunity of infants is imperfect and this feature is a special mechanism that protects the body from too violent immune reactions to infections.

In the first weeks of life, the baby is protected by the antibodies that he received from his mother and then continues to receive them through breast milk. But such protection is sometimes not enough.

Moreover, while immunity is just developing, periods of maximum risk of developing infectious diseases arise; they are called critical periods:

First critical period

This is a period of vulnerability for newborns, which occurs in the first 28 days of life. During this period of time, the child’s body is protected only thanks to antibodies received from the mother through the placenta and breast milk. The risk of contracting bacterial and viral infections during this period is very high. Premature newborns are a special risk group.

Second critical period

Lasts from 4 to 6 months of life and is accompanied by a decrease in the amount of maternal antibodies.
Due to some mechanisms, which are also still poorly developed, the child’s own antibodies are produced, but they are not yet sufficient to protect the baby. Therefore, the body’s susceptibility to airborne and intestinal infections during this period is also high. Thus, in children under one year of age, all the basic mechanisms of the body’s defense against bacteria and viruses are weakened.

Third critical period

Occurs in the 2nd year of life. It is from this age that the child begins to have more and more contact with the outside world and various infections. The child's sensitivity to respiratory and intestinal infections is still high. The baby's immune defense mechanisms are not yet fully developed.

Fourth critical period

Appears at 6-7 years of age. Children of this age are also prone to infectious diseases, as some indicators of the immune system change.

Fifth critical period

Adolescence from 12-15 years, and the age may vary slightly for boys and girls. This is due to an increase in the secretion of sex hormones, which slightly weakens the immune system. Children of this age are characterized by high sensitivity to viral infections.2

Treatment of colds in children

The main method of treating ARVI and influenza in children is symptomatic therapy, that is, therapy that reduces certain symptoms such as high fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat:5

• taking antipyretics
• vasoconstrictor nasal drops
• rinsing the nose with saline solution
• gargling with antiseptic solutions
• local therapy in the form of sprays and tablets for sore throat (different formulations for different ages)
• physical methods to reduce temperature

In case of high fever, it is necessary to undress the child, remove excess blankets, and clothing should not make breathing difficult. It is also necessary to provide access to fresh air whenever possible. If necessary, wiping with water at room temperature is carried out, since wiping with water improves heat transfer. It is strongly not recommended to wipe a child with alcohol, as alcohol may be absorbed (especially in young children) and poison the child’s body.

Antiviral therapy is applicable only for influenza, but in children antiviral drugs are prescribed strictly by a pediatrician!

Antibacterial therapy is prescribed strictly according to indications. Antibiotics are justified only for severe bacterial complications, including ARVI and influenza. Antibiotics do not work against the virus!

General therapeutic measures:

• The child’s nutrition should be complete and rich in vitamins
• the child should drink enough liquid (water, tea with lemon, decoctions of rose hips, raspberries, black currants, strawberries, cranberries, lingonberries), since drinking plenty of fluids prevents dehydration and reduces intoxication at high temperatures
• bed rest
• ventilation of premises
• wet cleaning of premises

An increase in body temperature within 38-39°C does not require the use of antipyretic drugs. In this case, you can limit yourself to physical cooling methods. But age up to 2 months, severe diseases of the respiratory system, circulatory system, central nervous system, history of febrile convulsions are indications for the use of antipyretics, even if the temperature rises to 38°C.

In any case, the mother should first assess the child’s reaction to the increase in temperature by analyzing his behavior: is there lethargy, does the child refuse water and drink, what color is his skin and how does it feel to the touch. If the child is active, the skin is pink, and the limbs are warm, then you can limit yourself to physical methods of reducing the temperature. If white fever appears, then antipyretic medications should be given to the child immediately.

Despite a number of effective antipyretic drugs, paracetamol and ibuprofen remain the best drugs for children.

When should a sick person see a doctor?

A healthy body can and should overcome a mild ARVI that occurs without serious symptoms in 5–7 days. If within a week the symptoms do not go away or even worsen, we can almost certainly talk about a complication of a seemingly unimportant disease.

The patient may experience symptoms of laryngitis or pharyngitis, tonsillitis, rhinitis, signs of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses - sinusitis or sinusitis, otitis, tracheitis, bronchitis and even pneumonia. In this case, even if the temperature has not risen, you should definitely contact either your family doctor or a good ENT doctor in Moscow.

Doctors include dangerous symptoms:

• difficulty or increased breathing;
• the appearance of wheezing;
• long lasting cough;
• chest pain;
• significant increase in temperature;
• severe pain in the forehead;
• fainting state;
• confused consciousness, inability to navigate in space;
• severe vomiting.

Why do cold symptoms vary from person to person?

The manifestations of the disease depend on the combination of the above factors. As a rule, a person may initially have a sore throat, a runny nose and a fever. Most patients consider only a rise in temperature to be a more or less serious symptom, and in its absence, sore throat, runny nose and even cough are ready to endure on their feet. The idea that bronchitis and even pneumonia may be hidden behind a cough occurs to the average patient only at elevated temperatures. Why doesn’t the immune system respond by increasing it in all cases?

• The severity of the reaction is determined by the type of pathogen that has entered the body. Thus, the body almost always reacts to infection by strains of influenza and some other aggressive viruses with an elevated temperature.
• An increase in temperature means that the immune system has begun to do its job, producing antibodies. But in some patients with weakened immunity, an immune response is not formed, and there is no fever during ARVI. This may mean that the body is infected with a rather dangerous virus that it is not able to fight on its own.
• Modern “anti-cold” pharmaceutical drugs based on paracetamol, which people with colds like to prescribe to themselves, quickly relieve cold symptoms, especially quickly coping with elevated temperatures. But they do not destroy pathogenic viruses and do not strengthen the immune system, which means they do not help the body overcome ARVI.