A study of local and systemic disturbances due to teething in 6-36 month old babies in the city of Mashhad

Document Type : original article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Dept of Pediatric Dentistry School of Dentistry and Dental Research Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2 Professor, Dept of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Introduction:
The purpose of this cross sectional study was to evaluate the local and systemic disturbances due to teething in 6-36 month old babies in the city of Mashhad.
Materials & Methods:
In this cross- sectional study, 116 babies, consisting of 61 boys and 55 girls, 6-36 months old, were examined for local and systemic disturbances. Using SPSS software, Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test and Wilcoxon rank test were used for data analysis.
Results:
Among the systemic manifestations, fever was the most frequent disturbance (76.7%) and vomiting was the least frequent one (9.5%). Among local symptoms, swelling and redness of gums was the most frequent disturbance (63.8%) and eruption hematoma was the least frequent disturbance (0.9%). Frequency of local manifestations was higher than systemic ones (P=0.002%).
Conclusion:
Although teething is a physiologic process, it can be accompanied with some symptoms and disturbances which are mostly local (drooling, swelling and redness of gums…) as well as some systemic symptoms (restlessness, loss of appetite …). However, severe systemic disturbances such as high fever and acute gastrointestinal disorders may not be attributed to teething and should be evaluated for etiology and proper treatment. 

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