Other accompanying symptoms
Teething proceeds very individually from child to child. With some babies the process is very uncomplicated, so that the parents hardly notice anything of teething. In other children, teething becomes a nerve-wracking process.
Reddened and swollen gums are typical. A reddening of the cheeks is also possible. Since teething weakens the baby’s immune system, the child is more susceptible to infections.
These are most likely to manifest themselves as fever, which should be the reason for a consultation with the pediatrician. Due to the pain and the inflammatory reaction in the oral cavity, the baby may refuse to eat or at least greatly reduce its food intake. In this case, special care must be taken to ensure that the child absorbs sufficient fluid.
Since teething is a strain on the child’s body, there are often effects on the activity of the gastrointestinal tract.Some babies develop diarrhoea due to increased intestinal activity, while other babies are more likely to suffer from constipation. Another indication of teething in babies is increased salivation – the baby drools more. More frequent crying or whining is also typical of teething in babies.
A slightly increased temperature may also occur. However, the temperature increase should not last longer than one day. Febrile children should definitely be presented to a pediatrician as there must be another cause.
Other accompanying symptoms are more frequent waking and an increased urge to suckle by the baby. A skin rash on the face develops around the mouth during teething in most cases. This can be explained by the increased salivation caused by the irritation of the inside of the mouth.
The decisive factor in alleviating the rash is the constant drying of the mouth area. In the true sense of the word, however, it is not a rash, but rather a slight redness in the area of the cheeks. This is quite normal and occurs in many children in this phase.
If, however, fever or other symptoms should accompany the rash, it is more likely to be a disease. Especially at the age when teeth are growing, colds are not uncommon in babies. As a result of weaning, babies no longer have their mother’s nest protection and become more susceptible to mild infections.
It is therefore advisable to consult a pediatrician if a real rash appears on the face. Other skin diseases such as neurodermatitis in babies should also be considered, especially if the skin symptoms persist. Baby acne should be distinguished from rashes during teething.
It occurs in the first weeks of life (i.e. well before teething) and manifests itself by a purulent reddish rash. Chickenpox is also manifested by a rash on the face. Initially, small reddish spots appear in the mouth area, which develop into fluid-filled blisters within a short time (hours).
The pronounced itching is characteristic. The rash spreads rapidly from the face to the whole body. Herpes can also appear in babies’ mouths, and produces very similar sores in the mouth as in adults.
A skin rash on the back is completely untypical for teething in babies. Teething as such does not cause a rash on the baby’s back. At the most, slight reddening of the face may occur.
It is therefore likely that the rash on the back has another cause. However, it is often mistakenly believed that teething causes rashes. Especially in case of additional symptoms such as fever or fatigue, other causes should be considered.
Such causes can be childhood diseases such as rubella, rubella ringing or measles. Other infections can also cause a skin rash on the back and are very common at the age when babies are teething. Therefore, it is likely that the rash occurs at the same time as teething, but is not caused by teething.
Also, certain drugs (e.g. penicillin) may cause such a localized rash in some babies, which may be accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea. Shingles can manifest itself in the abdominal and back area and represents a secondary infection with the chickenpox virus. The band-shaped, very painful rash is usually preceded by a slight fever.
If a skin fungus is the cause of a skin rash on the back, it is usually a circular rash that increases in size over time. A rash on the belly is not caused by the baby’s teething. Rather, a rash on the belly indicates another cause, such as an infection or allergy.
In particular, the occurrence of other symptoms such as fever or itching speak for the presence of other causes. Constant mechanical (rubbing the diaper or clothing) or chemical (sweat, especially in the abdominal folds) irritation can also lead to a rash on the abdomen. If the skin rash on the abdomen is a round structure, the most likely cause is a fungal infection.
On the other hand, a band-shaped rash is more likely to indicate shingles, i.e. a secondary infection with the chickenpox virus. On the abdomen, for example, an infestation with scabies mites can manifest itself as a skin rash with itching.However, other diseases are also possible and should be clarified by a pediatrician. A skin rash on the entire body (exanthema) is not caused by teething.
It is often mistakenly assumed that teething can cause a rash. However, this is not true. Teething is a natural step in development and not a disease.
A skin rash on the whole body is more likely to indicate an infection or an allergy. A drug intolerance can also cause a rash on the whole body (drug exanthema). If a skin rash appears on the entire body, various causes must be considered. Also, since such a widespread rash is a great strain on the baby simply because of its large size, the baby should see a pediatrician in this case.
