Nasal congestion during teething


How to understand that the temperature is on the teeth?

Now it’s worth considering in detail each of the reasons for this phenomenon in order to figure out what exactly you are dealing with at the moment.
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First, the heat that comes with teething. The most common symptoms are:

  • the desire to put everything in your mouth and try it on your teeth;
  • excessive salivation;
  • a slight increase in temperature, sometimes there is a sharp increase and decrease in temperature several times a day;
  • refusal of food;
  • lethargic state of the baby, apathy;
  • insomnia;
  • constant crying.

It is quite difficult to distinguish a fever from a cold, however, this can be done if you take a close look at the child’s condition, his experiences and emotions. As a rule, experienced mothers quickly determine what is happening with their children, as a result of which they take the necessary measures to eliminate unwanted symptoms.

When teething, the baby often cries, suffers from insomnia, and refuses to eat.

Symptoms of the process

In addition to the fact that the baby may have a runny nose during teething, other unpleasant symptoms may be observed at this time, including the following:

  • the appearance of copious saliva;
  • the child puts everything in his mouth;
  • restless sleep;
  • swelling of the gums;
  • refusal to eat;
  • tearfulness;
  • bowel dysfunction (diarrhea, constipation);
  • cough;
  • elevated body temperature.

If the baby develops an elevated body temperature, it is necessary to ensure that it does not exceed 39 degrees and does not last more than 2 days. This condition is due to the fact that during this period of time a sufficiently large amount of biologically active substances is released into the body.

In most cases, a runny nose can be accompanied by a cough. This is due to the fact that mucus flows into the throat, causing irritation. The cough must be wet and infrequent, otherwise it may be a manifestation of a cold.

The duration of a runny nose during teeth growth should not exceed 5 days. If such a symptom is observed for quite a long time, and the discharge changes color and consistency, then it is necessary to show the baby to a doctor.

The eruption of baby teeth is often a real test for children and their parents. In most cases, this is accompanied by many unpleasant symptoms:

  • redness and swelling of the gums with the greatest intensity in the eruption zone;
  • pain that gets worse at night and in the morning;
  • increased temperature;
  • moodiness, anxiety;
  • runny nose and nasal congestion;
  • cough;
  • diarrhea.

We suggest you read: How to relieve teething pain in babies, help for infants

It is extremely rare for children under one year of age to experience the teething process easily. Even if the first teeth come out asymptomatically, you cannot be completely sure that unpleasant signs will not appear in the future. Therefore, parents need to know how to alleviate the child’s condition.

A sign of this condition in a baby may be excessive salivation.

  • clear nasal discharge without change in color or consistency;
  • free flow of snot without the need to blow your nose;
  • periodic nasal congestion due to swelling of the mucous membranes;
  • increased salivation;
  • redness, swelling and itching of the gums;
  • mucus draining into the throat and an infrequent cough;
  • increased desire of the child to gnaw and chew;
  • increased excitability, moodiness, sleep disturbances;
  • refusal to eat;
  • stool disorders;
  • slight increase in temperature.

When a child reaches 16-18 months of age, the upper canines begin to erupt. Due to its anatomical location and deep root system, the process is accompanied by additional symptoms and deterioration of well-being. Wisdom teeth in children are accompanied by negative manifestations.

  • elevated temperature up to 39 °C lasting up to 3 days;
  • loose stools;
  • heavy salivation;
  • the appearance of irritation and rash on the chin.

Vitamins

Flu or cold – Question: Do vitamins help strengthen the immune system? How do you feel about the widespread advice to take loading doses of vitamin C during illness? Answer: In general, vitamins are useful because, unfortunately, we cannot control what and how much we get with food, we don’t know how natural the products are, whether they contain GMOs, etc.

Therefore, we have a lack of vitamins, and their additional intake is to some extent justified. Immune cells also use vitamins for their activity. And regarding vitamin C, there have been many studies showing that it increases immune protection. But there are many other studies that talk about many side effects, for example, the appearance of kidney stones and other negative consequences. Therefore, in principle, we treat this quite cautiously.

Medical mask

Flu or cold – Question: When many people around are coughing and sneezing, will a medical mask help? And who is better to wear it - the one who is afraid of getting infected, or the sick person himself? Answer: Of course, it is more appropriate for a sick person to wear a mask so that he does not spread the infection in the atmosphere.

The main way viruses spread is not the presence of the patient itself, but coughing and sneezing, when microparticles from the oral cavity fly several meters around, and they can remain suspended in the air for some time. And air conditioners or fans also spread these particles throughout the room.

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?

Treating snot during teething

If you are sure that the runny nose is caused by teething, you can try to alleviate the baby’s suffering.

First, you need to clear your nose of mucus and then moisten it so that the snot does not form a dry crust, which will further complicate the child’s breathing.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with wisdom teeth - malocclusion and teething

To clear mucus from your baby's nose, you can use a small bulb or a special nasal aspirator.

nasal congestion during teething

A runny nose is one of the problems that parents of young children often face. What do you need to know about this condition in order to effectively help your baby and not miss the development of serious complications?

The younger the child, the more discomfort he experiences when he has a runny nose. However, treating this disease is not easy. It is impossible not to treat a runny nose at all: it can be complicated by other diseases, for example, inflammation of the ear - otitis media. At the same time, too active and excessive treatment can lead to disruption of the nose and make it difficult for the child to breathe through the nose. Therefore, it is important to know how to help your baby correctly and quickly.

Important organ The nasal mucosa is lined with ciliated epithelium: the cilia make oscillatory movements and attach dust particles, viruses, and microbes to themselves. And the mucus secreted by the cells has a disinfecting effect. The nasal cavity has an abundant blood supply; the walls of the turbinates are intertwined with a network of vessels. This structure of the nose allows you to warm the inhaled air and clean it of dust and germs, so nasal breathing is very important for children. When breathing through the mouth, the defense weakens and the likelihood of getting sick increases. In addition, the nose is a powerful reflexogenic and perceptive zone; there are many sensitive, olfactory and nerve endings. It is closely connected with the work of many organs and systems, so it is important that the baby’s nose always works properly.

Features of a runny nose in infants

A runny nose, or rhinitis (from the Greek word rhinos - nose + itis - meaning inflammation) is an acute or chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa, which occurs both as an independent disease and as a symptom of many colds and non-infectious diseases. If for adults a runny nose, although unpleasant, is most often not dangerous, then for children it is by no means a harmless problem. Rhinitis in children occurs differently than in older children or adults.

It is especially difficult for infants and children of the first years of life. Firstly, they do not know how to blow their nose to remove mucus buildup and make breathing easier. Secondly, babies have very narrow nasal passages, and due to the abundant blood supply, any irritation causes severe swelling, which aggravates the difficulty breathing through the nose. Thirdly, the nasal cavity in an infant has a small volume, so it quickly becomes clogged with mucus, practically eliminating breathing through the nose, and this, in turn, does not make it possible to suck the breast or bottle normally, which leads to refusal to eat. Fourthly, disruption of the normal outflow of mucus leads to stagnation and proliferation of microbes, to inflammation and its spread to the ears or throat. In addition, the baby’s immunity is still incomplete, so the infection activates quite quickly, causing a general reaction of the body - fever, intoxication, lethargy.

However, in young children, unlike adults, there are also physiological, “dental” and false rhinitis , which develops with excessive salivation.

Physiological runny nose

Parents often notice a “squelching” sound in their baby’s nose during the first 2-3 months. Most often, it’s not a matter of a cold, but a matter of physiology. In babies, the nasal mucosa begins to adapt to a new regime, because before birth the baby’s habitat was water, and after birth it was air. By about 10-12 weeks of life, the mucous membranes of the nose and pharynx are adjusted to full function. Until this moment, the body tests the condition of the nasal mucosa - either dries it out, which may not be noticeable due to the child’s condition, or overly moisturizes it, which is manifested by nasal discharge. Usually, parents mistake these very phenomena for a cold and intensively treat them, although in fact this is a normal stage in the development of the baby’s nose. No intervention is required here: the body knows that excess moisture is being released, it adjusts the regulation mechanism. If you intervene and remove moisture, the body will increase its production, “deciding” that since the moisture is disappearing, then it is needed in an even greater volume. Thus, intervention can turn the physiological state of mucosal tuning into a problem.

If, apart from nasal discharge, there are no other symptoms, and the baby is under 2-3 months old, do not rush to drip drops - most likely, this is a physiological runny nose, it does not interfere with the baby’s life, mostly disturbing only the parents. In this case, it is optimal to maintain a cool temperature in the room - about 20-22 ° C - and a humidity of 50-70%, then the mucous membranes of the nose will not dry out, and its function will be restored by itself. You can instill salt solutions into your baby in the morning and at night, for example AQUAMARIS, AQUALOR, SALIN or pharmaceutical saline solution: they soften and moisturize the nasal mucous membranes. No additional procedures are required.

Also, infants have special conditions that do not occur in older children and adults. At about 3 months, with the beginning of the oral stage of exploring the world, when the baby puts everything in his mouth, increased salivation appears. In this case, episodes of “grunting” may occur, which is caused by the accumulation of mucus and saliva in the nasopharynx when the baby is lying down. This blockage of the posterior nasal passages causes nasal congestion. A slight leakage from the nose can occur when regurgitating: if part of the food gets into the nasal passages, in order to protect itself from aggressive stomach juices, mucus is intensely released, which neutralizes the acid, which is why a runny nose occurs. This is not dangerous to the baby's health.

Let us especially focus on the so-called “dental runny nose” . Sometimes, especially when the upper teeth erupt, due to irritation of the trigeminal nerve branch, excessive mucus secretion occurs and a runny nose occurs. However, it is not accompanied by any other symptoms. If there is a cough, fever, or stool problems, this is not a “runny nose,” but an infection that requires examination by a doctor.

Runny nose as a disease

Acute rhinitis, or runny nose, is the most common disease of children in the first years of life, including infants. Very often parents are interested: why, if breastfeeding protects the baby from diseases, does he still have a runny nose? In fact, breast milk does not ensure the complete absence of diseases, but their adequate and rapid progression. Therefore, a runny nose in a baby occurs much less frequently, is easier and goes away faster.

The urban environment and the presence of a large number of adults and children in the house provide frequent contact with viruses and germs and a greater likelihood of developing infection. However, an indicator of the active functioning of the immune system is a runny nose, which occurs without complications, fever and passes in 3-5 days: it trains the work of all levels of the body’s defense.

The causes of a runny nose can be infectious agents, i.e. viruses or microbes. The first place in frequency is occupied by viruses that cause various types of acute respiratory viral infections, the second place is occupied by microbes. Normally, the cilia of the nasal epithelium vibrate, capturing foreign particles, dust and microbes, neutralizing them and removing them from the body. When an infectious agent enters the nasal mucosa with inhaled air, it settles on the ciliated epithelial cells, paralyzing their work. There it begins to reproduce. This period, depending on the type of disease, lasts from 12 hours to 2-3 days. Infectious particles damage the epithelium, and it becomes swollen, and the walls of blood vessels become more permeable, hence the appearance of mucus. This condition is favorable for the addition of a bacterial infection, i.e. inflammation caused by microbes, which complicates the course of the disease.

Most often, a runny nose occurs during sudden changes in temperature: this changes both the infectivity of microbes and the body’s resistance. The risk of the disease increases when the baby’s legs are cooled, since the legs have direct reflex connections with the nasal cavity: when they are cooled, the active protection in the nose decreases.

Stages of a runny nose

During acute rhinitis, three sequential stages are distinguished. At the first stage, when the inflammatory agent penetrates the mucous membranes, dryness and tension in the nose, congestion and a feeling of swelling, and itching are observed. In babies, this is usually characterized by frequent sneezing. Then this stage smoothly passes into the second - wet. The nose becomes very stuffy, nasal breathing becomes difficult, copious transparent watery discharge appears - the nose “runs”. Swelling of the mucous membranes of all three nasal conchas occurs, mucus accumulates in the nasal passages - then, due to difficulty in nasal breathing, the baby begins to breathe through the mouth. For a baby at this stage, sucking on a breast or bottle becomes almost impossible; the child often stops sucking, gets tired, and breathes through his mouth. After 1-2 days, the process enters the stage of suppuration: the mucus becomes yellowish or greenish in color due to the accumulation of killed microbes and viruses absorbed by immune cells; in fact it is the same pus. Swelling of the mucous membranes decreases, nasal breathing improves, nasal discharge becomes viscous, mucopurulent in nature, as they usually say, “with greens.” Gradually the volume of discharge decreases. The whole process proceeds sequentially and is completed within about 7-10 days, sometimes some stages may be short or absent.

Special situations

If a child is weakened and has frequent runny noses, this indicates chronic rhinitis, which occurs in several forms. With constant discharge of mucous or mucopurulent nature, difficulty in nasal breathing, half or the entire nose is congested, they speak of chronic catarrhal, or simple, rhinitis.

The hypertrophic form of rhinitis is characterized by a decrease in the sense of smell, hearing, and nasal sound of pronounced sounds. This usually happens with an allergic cause of a runny nose. In addition, smoking in the family, especially with a child, and allergens at home - animals, birds, fish food, feather pillows, mold, dust or carpet mites - contribute to a runny nose.

The causes of a runny nose in children can also be injuries to the mucous membrane; foreign bodies, such as balls, beads, berry seeds, that are stuck in the nasal cavity; exposure to strong odors, environmental factors - dust, smoke, varnishes, paints, poplar fluff. Irritation of the mucous membrane by these factors is a favorable environment for the attachment of microbes and inflammation.

Why is a runny nose dangerous?

A runny nose is most dangerous for children in the first year of life, since it rarely occurs in isolation; it is usually accompanied by inflammation of the pharynx - pharyngitis, inflammation of the ear - otitis media, inflammation of the sinuses - sinusitis, inflammation of the tonsils - tonsillitis or other diseases. This occurs due to the addition of a secondary infection or activation of one’s own opportunistic microflora in the oral and nasal cavity. In addition, in babies, a runny nose disrupts normal sucking, which leads to impaired weight gain or even weight loss due to refusal to eat. Significant discomfort is caused to children by irritation and ulceration of the area around the nose due to the constant flow of mucus: children rub their faces, causing infection. The crusts itch or sting, causing discomfort to the child; in this case, the baby refuses to wipe or clean his nose.

When should you see a doctor?

You need to know that a runny nose is a protective mechanism against the development of infection, since when mucus drains, harmful microbes and viruses are removed. Therefore, a short and uncomplicated runny nose does not require intensive treatment - you can cope with it on your own. However, a prolonged runny nose or complications can be dangerous for the baby, so you need to know when to seek help from a doctor, especially if we are talking about a baby in the first year of life.

Consultation with a doctor is required in the following situations:

• with a runny nose, the temperature rises to 38°C and above, the disease is accompanied by pallor, regurgitation, diarrhea;

• along with a runny nose, redness of the throat and shortness of breath appear;

• for a baby under 2-3 months of age, a runny nose prevents him from sucking,

• sleep; • the baby abandons or does not take the breast;

• runny nose lasts more than 2 weeks;

• the disease is accompanied by pain in the face and headache (when pressure is applied to the eyebrows, the child screams sharply under the eyes), the baby is lethargic or excited, blue discoloration is visible around the mouth;

• there is abundant purulent discharge from the nose with an unpleasant odor;

• nosebleeds occurred due to a runny nose;

• a runny nose appears after contact with animals, pollen, or contact with chemicals.

Treatment

First of all, before starting any therapeutic measures, it is necessary to alleviate the baby’s condition using available non-drug means. Sometimes this is enough, and the runny nose quickly goes away on its own. To sleep, raise the head of the child's bed to about 40-45°, thanks to this the mucus that accumulates in the nose will be easier for the baby to secrete or swallow.

Ventilate the apartment often, do wet cleaning, humidify the air: it’s easier to breathe with cool, moist air. Offer your child to drink little by little and feed him according to his appetite. If the baby refuses to suck or cannot do so because of mucus in the nose, it is necessary to toilet the nasal passages. To do this, prepare wicks rolled from cotton wool; There is no need to use chopsticks, as the child may jerk sharply and get injured. Drop 2-3 drops of saline solution into each nasal passage: AQUAMARIS drops, AQUALOR, SALIN, physiological is required if the temperature rises to 38°C or higher during a runny nose. Pharmaceutical solution - or chamomile decoction. Then, using a twisting motion, clean the baby’s nose with a twisted wick, removing mucus and soggy crusts. You can remove mucus with a small rubber bulb by carefully inserting its tip into the nasal passage, pressing the second wing of the nose against the septum. In addition, there are special pharmacy systems for cleaning the nose of infants - aspirators. This is usually a thin tube connected to a soft rubber or plastic balloon.

You should not use oil to soften crusts: it disrupts the normal functioning of the epithelial cilia and can cause swelling and allergies. If there is swelling in the nose or mucus is released very abundantly, disturbing the child, you can use vasoconstrictors, but these should be special children's drops with reduced dosages of medications.

The main ones in childhood are CHILDREN'S NAZIVIN, VIBROCIL, OTRIVIN BABY, CHILDREN'S NAZOL. For children under 3 years of age, it is allowed to use only drops, since sprays can provoke laryngeal spasms; from 3 years of age, the use of nasal sprays is permissible. Do not overuse drops or sprays, exceed the dosage or use them for more than 3-4 days. Before the doctor arrives, you can use regular saline or baby drops so that the child can eat. In addition, you must remember that vasoconstrictor drops act on the mucous membrane, which means they will help if they are used only after thoroughly cleansing the nose, otherwise, due to the abundance of mucus, they simply will not reach the site of their action. To use the drops, you need to warm them up a little in a water bath or in your palms. Place the baby on a flat surface, tilt his head up a little, drop 1-2 drops of the solution into the nasal passage and immediately tilt his head down, pressing the nostril to the nasal septum. Then the drops will not be swallowed and will be evenly distributed throughout the mucous membrane. Repeat the same with the other half of the nose.

When bacterial inflammation occurs, antibacterial drops are used as prescribed by a doctor, for example SODIUM SULFACYL, or ointments - BACTROBAN. DERINAT drops can be used to stimulate local immunity; when used in the first hours of illness, a runny nose can be prevented or its course halved. Homeopathic remedies such as EUPHORBIUM COMPOSITUM and OCARIZALIA are also successfully used to treat the runny nose.

What not to do when you have a runny nose

There are activities that should not be carried out during a runny nose, especially in children in the first three years of life.

• Do not rinse your child's nose with a syringe or rubber bulb: this can cause otitis media. The fact is that the nasopharynx cavity connects to the Eustachian tube of the ear, and the tube itself is wide and short. When fluid is forced into the nose under pressure, infected fluid will be thrown into the ear cavity and inflammation will develop. However, this does not happen when instilled - then the liquid only enters the nose.

• It is unacceptable to drip antibiotic solutions into a child’s nose on your own.

• It is forbidden to use vasoconstrictor drops constantly - their use is permissible only in case of severe congestion, before bedtime and for no more than 3-4 days. In addition, children under 3 years of age are prohibited from putting plant oils, aloe juice, Kalanchoe or vegetables, such as beets or carrots, into the nose, especially undiluted. The components they contain cause severe burns to the nasal mucosa.

• You should not put breast milk in your baby's nose, as it is a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria.

Prevention

A runny nose can be prevented by following hygiene measures: visit crowded places less during the cold season, wash your hands and face, irrigate the nasal mucosa with saline solutions after visiting crowded places - this washes away germs and viruses from the mucous membrane.

It is necessary to dress your child according to the weather and ensure that his feet are always warm and dry. The baby benefits from hardening activities, frequent walks in any weather, and proper nutrition.

Features and differences between a “dental” runny nose and an infectious one

Why is it not always possible to determine the nature of rhinitis? A runny nose can be a consequence of a cold or allergic in nature - the symptoms of these conditions are similar. Pediatricians usually talk about “dental” rhinitis in the following cases:

  • nasal discharge is clear and has a liquid or slightly viscous consistency;
  • runny nose does not go away for a week or longer;
  • there is no tendency to worsen the condition;
  • other signs accompanying teething are noted (gums hurt and itch, sleep deteriorates, increased salivation appears);
  • no high temperature;
  • the baby is between 3 and 12 months old.

What is snot like when teething, and how long does a runny nose last?

Inflammation and redness of the gums, swelling of the soft tissues of the oral cavity, and the appearance of pain almost always affect the condition of the nasal mucosa, because they are closely interrelated. Therefore, moderate or occasional nasal congestion is considered a fairly common symptom of the growth of baby teeth.

During the period of active teething, clear, watery mucus begins to secrete from the baby’s nose, which brings him virtually no discomfort. In this case, there may be slight congestion and a wet cough. The symptoms are caused by increased blood circulation in the nasal mucosa and nasopharynx.

Additionally, salivation is activated: mucus flows down the back wall of the nose and accumulates in the throat, causing periodic coughing. Read more about teething cough→

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It is important to distinguish between signs of teething and symptoms of the disease.

SymptomDuring
teething
For a viral infection
Runny noseSlight, mucous, transparent nasal discharge that does not cause discomfort to the child. In most cases, they stop after the teeth erupt. May be present for a long time during active tooth growth Copious discharge of mucus from the nose, which changes in character after a certain time. Thickening of the mucus is noted, its color changes - the discharge becomes yellow or yellow-green
Nasal congestionModerate or intermittent nasal congestion may occur due to slight swelling of the mucous membrane. Congestion is caused by the accumulation of mucus in the nasal passages and their slight swelling as a result of increased blood circulation There is severe nasal congestion, which intensifies as the production of thick mucus is activated, with little relief after clearing or suctioning the secretions. The appearance of constant sniffling and grunting. The child becomes restless and sleep is disturbed. Removing mucus provides only short-term relief
CoughRare coughA dry, persistent cough, which in most cases is caused by redness of the throat and/or swelling of the vocal cords. Possible occurrence of hoarseness, distant wheezing, cough, shortness of breath
Temperature increaseOnly during the period of active tooth growth, decreases after eruptionPersistent temperature reaction up to febrile levels
Presence of other signs of diseaseThere may be a slight looseness of stool, moodiness, sleep disturbances and decreased appetite during the period of active teething.The baby is lethargic, drowsy, refuses to eat and drink, and all clinical signs of the disease are worsening

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.

Differences between a “dental” runny nose and an infected one

What can cause diarrhea in a baby?

To distinguish snot in a child from teeth from a runny nose during an infection, you need to know three things:

  1. During teething, the snot is clear and watery, and during infection it is thick and green.
  2. A “tooth” runny nose can last up to a maximum of 5 days, and if infected, it continues until the end of treatment for a cold or ARVI.
  3. If the body temperature exceeds 38 degrees and is accompanied by a strong cough and copious discharge of thick snot, then this indicates a viral infection. A slight increase in temperature caused by teething is usually accompanied by a runny nose that goes away quickly.

On a note. If the cough intensifies, the heat lasts for a long time and the appearance of snot changes during the appearance of teeth, you should definitely consult a doctor and not try to cure your baby with home remedies.

Prolonged rhinitis in a baby is a sign of infection

Increased body temperature

Many children cut their teeth against the background of a slightly elevated temperature - up to 37.0–37.3 degrees. However, a similar symptom is also observed with a mild cold, so it is not always possible to distinguish between these conditions.

If the temperature does not go beyond these limits, and the child feels satisfactory, the temperature should not be lowered. It is better to give your baby water in sufficient quantities and limit active games.

However, if you have a fever that lasts more than three days, you should not ignore it; it is advisable to consult your pediatrician.

Causes of “dental” rhinitis

Why does a child often develop rhinitis during the dental period? There are reasons for snot and they are obvious:

  • decreased immunity;
  • connection of the oral cavity with the nasopharynx.

The body's defenses weaken when the baby is teething. Some pediatricians believe that this is due to mechanical damage to the gums, which become inflamed and itchy when the top of the tooth approaches the very surface. Favorable conditions appear for the proliferation of bacteria, which cause swelling and inflammation in the pharynx and nasopharynx.

READ ALSO: How many months do babies start teething?

Other doctors argue that during the period of dentition, all the body’s forces are aimed at growing teeth, and other systems remain “unattended.” In this regard, any infection easily clings to the baby. As soon as the child cools down a little or walks down the street with his mother, he immediately begins to sneeze and show other signs of a cold.

READ ALSO: step-by-step order of teeth growth in children

How can I help my child?

If nasal discharge is a consequence of teething, then you should not resort to using special medications to treat a runny nose. To alleviate the child’s condition, it is enough to follow simple rules:

  1. Optimal humidity in the room will ensure normal breathing for the baby and prevent the mucous membrane from drying out.
  2. Rinsing can be used as an additional means to ease breathing. This can be done using a special solution that is sold at the pharmacy.
  3. If the baby does not know how to blow his nose, then special aspirators or nasal bulbs can be used to remove accumulations of mucus.
  4. Dried crusts that remain inside the nose should be removed using special cotton wool, pre-moistened in saline solution.
  5. During this period of time, it is necessary to give the baby as much fluid as possible. The extra fluid helps remove mucus from the body.
  6. If severe congestion is observed, then it is necessary to use special nasal drops.
  7. Special medications will help relieve symptoms.

We suggest you read: How the upper teeth erupt in children

Such symptoms do not require special treatment during this period. Even without using any special means, all symptoms will go away on their own as soon as the tooth appears on the surface of the gum.

In addition to traditional methods, you can use traditional medicine to help the baby alleviate the condition during a given period of time. Among the most common recipes are:

  • instillation of aloe juice;
  • inhalation with fir or eucalyptus oil;
  • softening mucous membranes with honey.

Recipes containing honey should be used with caution, as many babies may have allergic reactions to this product.

Causes of fever during teething

But first, it’s worth understanding why this happens to those babies who are faced with the first appearance of teeth:

  • It turns out that a certain amount of active substances are released in the area of ​​tooth growth that reduce the child’s immunity.
  • This is a kind of response of the baby’s body to the occurrence of an inflammatory process in the gums.

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Many parents are afraid of this period, as the child becomes restless, anxious, constantly screams and is capricious. However, you should not be afraid of such a phenomenon, because everything will go away on its own. The temperature in such situations stays around 37-38 degrees and lasts no more than 2-3 days, after which it subsides on its own.

It is important to distinguish fever from teeth from colds and other infections that can occur in a small child at any time in his life.

During teething, the temperature may rise due to the inflammatory process occurring in the gums

Causes of runny nose during teething

When children are teething, a runny nose appears due to two reasons:

  1. Decreased immunity. Typically, an infant's first teeth begin to grow after six months of life. By this age, antibodies to viruses and bacteria transmitted to the baby in the womb from the mother begin to disappear and the body’s defenses weaken. Therefore, a child can easily get a cold accompanied by a runny nose.
  2. Physiology. When teething, inflammation of the gums occurs, which is considered physiological. Blood begins to actively circulate through the vessels not only in the gums, but also in nearby tissues, which include the nasal mucosa. Due to this process, swelling of the nasal cavity occurs, which begins to produce more mucous secretions. The appearance of snot during such a period is considered normal.

How long does a runny nose last during teething? If the snot is caused by a physiological factor, then normally it disappears after 3-5 days, but may appear periodically while the tooth is growing.
This condition does not cause discomfort to the baby. The discharge is clear and watery.

But if teeth are being cut and a runny nose is accompanied by copious discharge of snot, which does not go away for a long time, and also turns yellow, green or white, then this indicates a cold that needs to be treated . Otherwise, there is a risk of developing negative consequences for the child’s body.

Attention! Most often, children fall ill with ARVI and influenza during the eruption of fangs and molars, mainly in the cold season.

Teething, accompanied by a runny nose, which appeared due to the physiological characteristics of the child’s body. It occurs with the following symptoms:

  • the presence of clear watery discharge from the nasal cavity;
  • increased salivation;
  • slight loss of appetite;
  • tearing eyes;
  • irritability, tearfulness, restless sleep;
  • attempts to scratch the nose, gums, ears;
  • a slight increase in body temperature up to 37 degrees;
  • the appearance of loose stools;
  • in rare cases, the appearance of cough.

Flu symptoms

Influenza is an infection caused by viruses or other microorganisms. The rapid, sharp progression of the disease, acute symptoms, and airborne infection are the differences between influenza and a cold.

Provoking factors are the peak of epidemics, large crowds of people, and the cool season.

In a person with a strong, hardened immune system, the flu occurs in a mild form, without complications.

Flu symptoms:

  • High body temperature up to 39-40 degrees.
  • Pain in the muscular part of the body, aching bones.
  • Lethargy, powerlessness.
  • The flu is often accompanied by vomiting.
  • Headache.
  • Cough.

The general condition may worsen throughout the day. It is important to determine the specific type or strain of the virus to prescribe effective treatment.

Symptoms of teething in children

The symptoms characteristic of the eruption of the first teeth in a child do not differ from the signs. However, signs do not always indicate eruption, and symptoms accompany the eruption process itself.

Active teething occurs in a period of four to eight months, however, these periods are quite arbitrary. The most common symptoms associated with teething are:

  1. inflammation of the gums;
  2. itching;
  3. searching for hard objects and the desire to chew them;
  4. sleep disorder;
  5. rash on the body;
  6. vomit;
  7. cough;
  8. colds and characteristic cold symptoms;
  9. temperature up to 39.5 degrees.

You can help your child by giving him more fluids to drink and preparing safe objects for him to use to scratch his painful gum. For this purpose, it is best to use special teethers filled with liquid and pre-cooled.

Under no circumstances should you lower your child’s temperature with an antipyretic during teething, unless it is accompanied by a real cold. For this purpose, it is better to call a doctor to determine what exactly caused the high temperature.

Typically, the temperature during teething in a child can remain high for several days, and then drop sharply.

Signs of teething

The following symptoms help you understand that your baby’s first molars are erupting:

  • Swelling of the gums, redness - especially in the area where a new tooth appears. First these are the central incisors, then the lateral, first molars, canines and second molars;
  • Increase in body temperature to 38.5 - 39 degrees Celsius (no more than two days);
  • Increased salivation;
  • Decreased appetite;
  • Poor sleep due to teething, moodiness, restless behavior;
  • Redness around the mouth;
  • Loose stools.

In this case, the child can put various objects in his mouth, chew them, trying to alleviate his condition. It happens that this begins the day before or even a few weeks before the event; this is an individual parameter. Joint teething and runny nose leave no doubt about what is happening. So the main task of parents is to combat this factor so that the process becomes more comfortable for their child.

Relationship between the nasal and oral cavities


Snot during teething in children appears due to the close proximity of the components of the two cavities. The mucus that appears should be transparent and watery; it usually makes itself felt for about three to four, sometimes six days, then disappears. The amount of discharge should not be excessively abundant, otherwise there is reason to suspect an infectious disease. The fact is that gum inflammation naturally spreads to the sinuses. And since this increases the blood supply to the cavities, the production of mucus increases and the result is a runny nose during teething.

The immune system

During gestation, antibody cells enter the mother's body through the placenta, which help the child cope with any threats. Then, during feeding, he receives all the necessary substances that prevent pathogenic microflora from having a negative effect and causing a runny nose in the baby or a viral disease.

To strengthen the immune system, an infant should receive foods enriched with vitamins A, B, C, carotene - fermented milk, as well as cottage cheese and cheese.

With the introduction of the first complementary foods, the onset of which usually coincides with the time when the first molars begin to emerge, the portion of breast milk in the diet is significantly reduced. Therefore, a child may experience a runny nose, cough and other symptoms of an infection affecting the body.

Cold symptoms

A cold is a disease of the body associated with hypothermia. Wet feet, walking in the rain or in the cold later manifests itself as corresponding signs.

To determine a cold, the symptoms are similar to ARVI, and in an advanced stage the disease is aggravated by complications. Some people confuse flu and cold symptoms, so it's important to differentiate between the two diagnoses.

The difference between a cold is hypothermia, and not the entry of viruses into the body. Signs appear more slowly and gradually.

Signs of a cold (symptoms):

  • Runny nose with thin, watery discharge.
  • Sneezing, nasal congestion.
  • Cough.
  • The temperature is not higher than 37.5 degrees.

An increase in body temperature is considered a normal reaction of the body to irritants. Respiratory diseases are viral diseases that affect the upper respiratory tract. The causative agents are microorganisms that cause infections: parainfluenza, rhinovirus, enterovirus, reovirus and others.

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.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the first signs of teething in a baby up to one year old: how to understand that they are creeping

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.

Symptoms of teething and colds are very similar

Symptoms and relationships

The baby experiences irritation, itching, and pain. Sometimes a red throat during teething causes fear in mothers. Sometimes the baby experiences vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, fever, cough and runny nose. All this makes new parents almost panic. How to deal with such unpleasant moments as a child grows up?

Consider a case where a child has a runny nose during teething and it is necessary to treat it. Snot during teething in children is not a rare phenomenon, it is very simple to explain. The mucous membranes of the nose and mouth in children are connected by the same blood vessels, therefore, when the gums are irritated due to teething, the nasal mucous membranes become irritated and swell, which leads to a runny nose. A cough and redness of the throat may also occur.

This is due to snot getting into the throat and subsequent irritation of the throat. But there is a very important point here. You need to be able to distinguish a runny nose during teething from the symptoms of a cold.

runny nose during teething

How long does a runny nose like this last?

New mothers often turn to doctors with the question: can there be snot during teething and how long can it last? The duration of preservation depends on what caused their appearance. An important role is played by the volume of mucus contained in the nose, the degree of viscosity and color. A liquid of thin texture and transparent shade does not always require the initiation of therapeutic measures. Most often it takes time and patience.

The volume of mucus can change. Often the problem can be resolved on its own. Basically the process takes 3-4 days. When several teeth move along the gums at once, the duration of a runny nose is about one week. A sign of a child’s illness is a change in consistency from transparent (resembling water) to thick and white. In this situation, recovery takes from 5 days to one week.

Weightless *** (Galya)

Snot and teeth

We are 6.5 months old. We have been suffering from sniffles since November 1st, at the same time the gums below have swollen, sort of like teeth. The doctor also suggested teeth and said not to heal the child.

For two weeks now I have been rinsing it with saline solution, then aquamaris, then Otrivin and sucking out the nozzles 4-5 times a day. My daughter didn't care. t no. The teeth still won’t come out. It manifests itself as squelching, grunting somewhere deep in the nasopharynx.

How and what to treat a runny nose and snot in a teething baby

A runny nose that occurs in children when teeth appear most often does not require drug treatment. To help babies survive the teething process more easily, you need to:

  • Periodically clear the nasal cavity of mucus using an aspirator. This should be done as snot accumulates in the nose.
  • Rinse the nose with herbal decoctions or saline solutions.
  • Monitor the child's water balance - the baby should drink a lot of warm water.
  • Humidify the air in the room. This can be done either with a humidifier or with improvised means (a bowl of water, damp laundry).
  • Ventilate the room at least 4 times a day for 15 minutes.
  • Make sure your baby stays in bed.
  • The following folk remedies help get rid of nasal congestion:

    • steam inhalations with medicinal herbs, salt or soda solution;
    • instillation of diluted aloe juice into the nasal cavity;
    • mustard foot baths.

    Dr. Komarovsky claims that when teething and snot appear, it is first necessary to treat swollen gums. To do this, you can use a chilled teether, anti-inflammatory gels and antiseptics.

    If nasal congestion is severe and makes breathing difficult, and “tooth snot” is green in color, the use of nasal drops is acceptable. Many parents try to cure such a runny nose with vasoconstrictors, but their use can result in the body getting used to them and constant swelling of the nose. Therefore, only a doctor should decide how and with what to treat snot during teething.

    Snot during teething: how to treat a runny nose for up to a year (Komarovsky)?

    Often, parents of a baby notice that the baby has a runny nose. Sometimes this situation is the body's response to teething.

    How to make sure that rhinitis is “dental”, and what to do in this case? How to help your child cope with an unpleasant problem? We will talk about the causes of rhinitis against the background of the dental process, the main symptoms of this phenomenon, and also tell parents how to competently approach the solution of the problem.

    Often teething in a child is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms, for example, a runny nose.

    Can a baby have a runny nose when teething?

    For the first year after birth, a newborn baby or newborn baby experiences a series of stresses associated with changes in the body. The most difficult period is when the baby begins to cut teeth. Usually parents look forward to this moment, not always knowing how long and difficult it can sometimes be. There are rare cases when a baby easily tolerates this process. Most often it is associated with a number of unpleasant consequences for the baby. Moms and dads begin to worry, suspecting the child has a virus or a cold, and treat the baby. In order not to make mistakes, you need to know about all the signs that indicate the appearance of the baby’s first tooth.

    Baby's first long-awaited tooth

    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.

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