Teething may cause vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, fever, and skin rashes in babies, but the cause is not clinically proven. Theories include stress, stomach enzymes, and viral or bacterial infections. Monitoring vomiting rates can help establish a baseline for individual babies.
While not clinically proven, many parents have drawn a correlation between teething and vomiting in babies. Babies seem to vomit more often during teething, as well as have other side effects, such as diarrhea, stomach pain, fever, and skin rashes. Multiple theories have been proposed as to why babies vomit more during the teething stages. These theories range from stomach enzymes to viral infection or stress.
The stress theory links teething to vomiting through the pain, confusion, and aggravation a baby suffers while teething. Some suggest that when your child becomes too upset, she may become stressed and throw up. The more painful the teething stages, the more likely the baby is to get sick. Children may also show lack of appetite.
As another possible cause of vomiting, stomach enzymes are linked to diarrhea and salivation. Many believe that excessive salivation during teething builds up acidic enzymes in the mouth and stomach. When these enzymes aggravate your baby’s digestive system, they can cause diarrhea. Further buildup and irritation in the stomach is supposed to lead to vomiting and stomach pain.
Another theory cites viral or bacterial infections as a link between the two. During teething, babies are very likely to put their hands or foreign objects into their mouths. This is a knee-jerk attempt to relieve gum pain by chewing on your fingers, teething rings, and even living room furniture.
If these items are not clean, they can transfer viruses or bacteria into your child’s mouth. If infectious matter is ingested, it can cause colds, flu, or any number of ailments with symptoms such as fever and vomiting. Although teething does not directly cause vomiting, it can still be considered an indirect source.
Still other theories state that there is no connection. Very young children are likely to regularly vomit, and normal vomiting can occur in tandem with teething to make it look like a false symptom. Monitoring the rate of vomiting before and during teething can help establish a baseline for an individual baby.
Babies experience different symptoms when teething, so what may be normal for one baby may be abnormal for another, making it difficult to confirm a connection between teething and vomiting. Some babies may vomit excessively while teething, while others may not at all. Regardless of the cause, if a child begins vomiting more than normal, the parent should seek medical help.
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