Diarrhea and constipation during teething: causes, how to treat?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Teething is a real challenge not only for children, but also for their parents. Each child is completely different, so adults should be prepared for anything. However, this process may be accompanied by pronounced symptoms. Some are worried about a strong pain syndrome, others have an increase in body temperature, and some may experience other clinical manifestations. In addition, many parents are interested in whether there can be constipation during teething. This question is very important, since a violation of the stool (diarrhea or, conversely, constipation) may indicate the presence of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or other digestive problems. Let's take a closer look at this and find out why constipation can develop, is there any reason to worry about this and what measures should be taken to help the baby and make him feel better.

What is the danger of prolonged constipation?

This question is worth reading in the veryfirst turn. Difficult or impossible bowel movements pose a threat to the he alth of not only infants, but also adults. If it lasts longer than five days, then a person may develop various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, there is a high risk of the following problems:

• deterioration of general well-being;
• stretching of the intestinal walls and pathological changes in it;
• intoxication of the body;
• liver dysfunction;
• prolapsed hemorrhoids;
• injury to the intestinal mucosa;
• metabolic disorder;
• the likelihood of polyps and other neoplasms appearing in the intestine;
• development of pathologies in the biliary system.

If you ignore the problem and do not take any action for a long time, then constipation can become chronic. This is a very serious pathological condition, which often causes the development of many unwanted changes in the body and a number of dangerous diseases. In addition, irregular bowel movements negatively affect the functioning of the immune system, as a result of which a person’s resistance to negative environmental factors decreases, and he begins to get sick much more often.

How do you know if your baby is growing teeth?

Let's take a closer look at this. Before we talk about whether there is diarrhea and constipation on the background of teething, let's first find out the main symptoms that occur during this physiological process. The very first signs appear a few months beforethe beginning of the growth of milk teeth. In infants, saliva begins to be produced in an increased volume, and they also constantly pull their fingers into their mouths. Shortly before eruption, the following symptoms appear:

• appearance of tubercles on the gums;
• redness and inflammation of the oral mucosa;
• a white line is visible on the gum.

Over time, additional clinical manifestations may be added to the above symptoms. Among the most common are:

• sleep disorder;
• deterioration or complete lack of appetite;
• runny nose;
• cough;
• fever;
• regurgitation of food or vomiting;
• capriciousness;
• constant change of mood;
• nervousness;
• general weakness.

If you have these symptoms, do not panic and start giving your baby any medication. They are considered normal. But if the baby's condition does not improve during the week, then it is likely that he has problems with the gastrointestinal tract. This is especially true in cases where diarrhea or constipation occurs in children during teething. If you have problems with defecation, you need to normalize the stool as soon as possible. With liquid stools, it is very important to track the characteristics of the stool, paying attention to color and smell. Any changes may indicate the presence of indigestion, infectious diseases and other disorders in the body.

What could be the problem with indigestion?

So what do you need to know about this? Many young mothers and fathers are wondering if there are constipation during teething. According to doctors, stool retention is quite possible. Among the most common causes are the following:

• disruption of enzymatic activity, resulting in too much absorption of food;
• feeding formula;
• non-compliance with water balance;
• eating too much protein and fiber food;
• high body temperature;
• low physical activity;
• metabolic disorder caused by excessive salivation or dehydration;
• malnutrition of mother during lactation.

It is worth noting that constipation during teething in infants may alternate with loose stools. This is a completely normal phenomenon that many parents regularly encounter. If the baby cannot go to the toilet for several days, then there is no particular cause for concern. If the problem persists for more than three days, then you should think about going to the hospital. This may be associated with many serious pathologies of various etiologies.

According to qualified experts, constipation during teething is most often associated with impaired intestinal motility, which develops due to insufficient mobility of children. However, they may experience a number of other symptoms, which will be discussed a little later. The body's response to a completely natural physiological process can be very unpredictable.

Loose stools

Many young mothers are interested in the question of whether there is diarrhea during teething. According to doctors, this symptom is not mandatory and is extremely rare in medical practice, but the possibility of its occurrence cannot be completely ruled out. If the baby has loose stools, then the color and smell of the stool should remain the same. If any changes are observed, this may indicate the presence of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract of infectious origin. Diarrhea is also often accompanied by fever, which can reach 38 degrees, and inflammation of the gums. Faced with such symptoms, do not immediately panic. It is not always caused by serious pathologies and he alth problems. The causes of loose stools can be very different, but among the most common doctors distinguish the following:

• failure in the functioning of the immune system;
• heredity;
• increased bowel contractions caused by increased salivation.

How long does teething diarrhea last? It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously. Each case is unique and depends on many factors. In most cases, the duration of diarrhea is 2-3 days, but in some cases it can be observed in babies up to 5 days. It's quitea normal phenomenon that does not require any treatment. The following symptoms may be cause for concern:

• the presence of blood or mucus in the stool;
• defecation frequency exceeds 5 times a day;
• there are additional clinical manifestations indicating a disorder of the digestive system;
• discoloration of waste products;
• stool becomes too watery;
• with every urge to go to the toilet, the baby has colic and bloating, because of which he cries a lot.

In order to detect the problem in a timely manner and take the necessary measures, parents should know the color of teething diarrhea. If there are no diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, then the characteristics of the bowel movements remain the same. A yellow tint without a strong unpleasant odor is considered normal. In the presence of pathologies, the color may be as follows:

• Green. During teething, diarrhea with mucus can signal bacterial infections. The stools are accompanied by a strong offensive odor. This cannot be ignored, since pathogenic microflora can lead to the development of serious complications, therefore, when the first symptoms appear, you should immediately go to the hospital.
• Dark brown. This shade most often appears after taking activated charcoal, so there is nothing to worry about.
• Bright red. Such diarrhea during teething (photos of bowel movements are not very pleasant, so we will refrain from publishing them) is considered one of the mostdangerous. It is a sign of bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, which poses a serious threat to the he alth and life of the child. This should not be ignored, you should immediately go to the hospital.

If diarrhea during teething of molars is normal in color and does not have a characteristic sour smell, then there is nothing to worry about. As practice shows, it passes on its own in a few days without any action on the part of the parents.

Constipation

Do babies get constipated when teething? This is one of the most common questions that absolutely all young parents face, without exception. The growth of the first incisors is associated with an increased secretion of saliva, which enters the stomach and eventually leads to loose stools. But sometimes babies may have difficulty defecation. A similar response from the body occurs not only in the first year of life, but also in adulthood. The following symptoms will help you know if there is a problem:

• colic;
• pain syndrome in the abdominal region;
• difficulty defecation, baby has to push harder;
• feces comes out in small fragments of increased density.

Against the background of the above symptoms, constipation during teething is considered normal. Reasons for constipation can be as follows:

• disturbance of water balance, developing against the background of high temperature;
• increased activity in the production of digestive enzymes;
• feeding inappropriate artificial formulas;
• malnutrition of the mother during lactation;
• impaired intestinal motility caused by lack of mobility.

In some cases, constipation may be replaced by diarrhea during teething. In an infant, malfunctions in the digestive system are considered commonplace, but if the problem persists for five days or more, then you should go to the hospital, as it may be associated with any serious pathologies.

What to do with loose stools and difficult bowel movements?

So what do you need to know about this? If the baby has constipation or diarrhea during teething, then parents should try to help their child to make him feel better. Qualified experts advise taking the following measures:

1. Change your baby's diet. When feeding with artificial mixtures, it is recommended to start introducing vegetable and meat purees, as well as juices, into the baby's daily diet upon reaching the age of six months. This is necessary not only in order to diversify the menu of the baby. Better nutrition has a positive effect on the composition of the intestinal microflora and overall he alth.
2. Make adjustments to mom's diet. When breastfeeding, indigestion in children is often associated with the fact that a woman does not eat properly. Nuts, baked goods, cheeses and rice should be excluded from the diet.
3. Increased mobility. For normalintestinal peristalsis needs to move a lot. Therefore, try to spend as much time as possible with your baby outdoors or play with him at home.
4. Keep your water balance. Constipation during teething can be caused by insufficient fluid intake. To normalize the stool, let the baby drink more clean water.
5. Massage. There are a number of techniques recommended for performing with digestive problems in infants. Exercise should be done shortly before or after feeding.

To speed up the process of teething, you can give your child to gnaw an apple or bread. Regular pressure will stimulate the growth of the teeth, making everything complete much faster.

Most Common Diseases

This aspect should be given special attention. Above, a detailed answer was given to the question of whether there can be constipation during teething. But in some cases, various diseases and serious pathologies can be behind the violation of the stool. Among the most common doctors are the following:

• acute intestinal infection;
• lactose deficiency;
• functional gastric dyspepsia;
• intestinal dysbacteriosis;
• E. coli;
• presence of parasites in the body;
• various infectious diseases;
• pathology of the genitourinary system;
• ARVI;
• inflammation of the bronchi;
• otitis media;
• congenital pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract;
• food poisoning;
• allergic reactions;
• enzymaticfailure;
• malabsorption syndrome;
• giardiasis.

All of the diseases listed above are very serious and require treatment. It is strictly forbidden to start it on your own, since in order to select the most appropriate therapy program, you must first determine the cause of the problem. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by an experienced doctor based on the results of appropriate laboratory tests. Self-medication can only aggravate the situation and lead to the development of many dangerous complications, therefore, when the first suspicions of the presence of any diseases appear, you should immediately go to the hospital or call an ambulance.

How can I help my baby?

If you are sure that constipation during teething is not associated with any he alth problems, then you can try to alleviate the well-being of the child. First of all, you need to reconsider the quality of nutrition of the baby and mother. As a rule, problems with the chair are associated with it. In addition, you can massage the tummy before each feeding. If this does not lead to anything and defecation does not normalize, then the following steps should be taken:

• Microclysters. These procedures are among the safest for stool retention. The tip of the enema is gently inserted into the anus and its contents are slowly introduced into the rectum. Today, pharmacies sell a huge number of drugs intended for use in digestive disorders.
• Rectal suppositories. There are a number of medications made on the basis of glycerin or sea buckthorn, the action of which is aimed at thinning the feces. They are highly effective and fast acting. A positive result will be noticeable already 30 minutes after the injection.
• Taking medicines containing lactulose. This substance has a beneficial effect on the state of the intestinal microflora, and also improves the excretion of waste products from the body.

It is worth noting that before starting any treatment, you must first consult with a pediatrician. Uncontrolled use of drugs can be fraught with many serious consequences, especially in the presence of any disease.

General tips and tricks for normal bowel function

To cope with teething diarrhea per year in a child, you need to try to restore the normal functioning of the digestive tract. To do this, take the following steps:

1. Any therapy, regardless of the diagnosis, should be aimed at eliminating the root cause. Parents should continuously monitor the condition of their child. This is especially important in the presence of elevated body temperature. It should not be allowed to rise above 38 degrees. If this mark is exceeded, the child should be given an antipyretic. One of the best and safest is Nurofen or Efferalgan.
2. If the baby cannot go to the toilet for a long time, then it is necessary to give him to drink as much liquid as possible. The same applies to food. Even if he has no appetite, he still needs to eat at least something. Let portions be small, but feeding should be regular.
3. With difficult bowel movements and loose stools, experts recommend reviewing the diet of the baby. It is very important to minimize the consumption of foods consisting of too coarse fibers. If the child is breastfed, then for a while they suspend complementary foods. When kept on artificial nutrition, it is desirable to give more fermented milk mixtures instead.
4. If constipation in children during teething is persistent and does not go away for a long period of time, then to improve defecation, they are given suppositories containing glycerin. In addition, you can do microclysters using the drug "Microlax". However, these procedures should not be carried out too often, as they can lead to impaired intestinal motility.
5. Massage is highly effective for various problems associated with the functioning of the digestive system. You can also put the baby on the tummy more often and do gymnastic exercises every morning. Swimming is good for children's he alth. They can be started from an early age.

All these activities will not only make the baby feel better by reducing the intensity and severity of symptoms, but also normalize the stool without taking any medications.

What does Dr. Komarovsky recommend?

Manyparents are interested in the opinion of a well-known Russian therapist on various issues related to the care, upbringing and treatment of children. The doctor has many years of practice and is the author of numerous of his own methods that have proven their effectiveness in practice. Regarding constipation during teething in children, Komarovsky argues that they should last no more than three days. In addition, he is of the opinion that a violation of normal defecation is often accompanied by a decrease in immunity, which creates a great threat of penetration into the gastrointestinal tract through the oral cavity of various pathogenic microorganisms that can provoke the development of many serious pathologies. To minimize the risk of intestinal infections, it is advisable to take the baby to the doctor and consult.

If a child's first teeth begin to grow, Komarovsky advises the following:

• don't panic and stay calm;
• buy a special incisor gel for baby;
• give as much liquid as possible to drink, it is better that it be ordinary purified drinking water;
• do not give any medicine without the advice of a qualified he althcare professional.

Besides this, a mother should spend a lot of time with her baby. Teething is accompanied by inflammation of the gums, discomfort and pain, so the child must feel the constant presence and support of the closest and dearest person to him. In order to help him at least a little and make him feel better, you need to buy a teether. It will not only reduce the intensitysymptoms, but will also speed up the process of germination of milk teeth, which is important.

Prevention measures

Teething constipation is a common problem faced by many parents. But, according to doctors, its development can be prevented. The following preventive measures will help you with this:

• wash your hands and your child every time after returning from a walk;
• during lactation, mom is forbidden to eat dirty foods;
• meat and fish subjected to thorough heat treatment;
• when artificial feeding, take the choice of formula seriously - it is best to purchase quality products from world famous manufacturers;
• The introduction of complementary foods should be carried out gradually, adhering to the basic rules for accustoming babies to new products, while they must be natural, do not contain food additives, dyes, preservatives and seasonings.

These preventive measures are very easy to follow, but they will reduce the risk of developing problems in the functioning of the digestive system.

Conclusion

This article details situations when a baby is worried about constipation or diarrhea during teething: how long such failures can occur, why they appear, and what measures need to be taken to cope with the pathology. But if the condition of the baby does not improve, then you should immediately go to the hospital. Even insignificantdelay can result in very serious problems.

Teething in babies is quite a difficult process to go through. The most important thing for any changes in the he alth of the baby is not to panic, but to start taking the necessary measures in time to normalize the condition of the crumbs.