... to think teething doesn’t cause low grade fever every day for a couple of weeks?

[Slatternforlife]

DS is 16 months and keeps having an elevated temperature in the afternoon/evening. He’s absolutely fine aside from very rosy cheeks and feeling quite warm to touch (sometimes cool hands and feet, sometimes warm but cheeks are always toasty).

I’m taking his temp more at the moment as he was recently poorly with a high temp and rash that turned out to be viral whereas normally I wouldn’t have it out as much.

GP wasn’t that interested because it’s rarely reaching 38 or above - gets close to 38 though - and he seems well and said it’s probably teething. But would it really do this for two weeks with no teeth coming through? I can see two new teeth in his gums they’re clearer in his gums than they were but haven’t broken through and the gums don’t look particularly red

Teething in itself doesn’t cause a temperature but the inflammation and also occasional mild infection caused by chewing, cutting gums and germs entering can.

So yes, if I was seeing your child and there was nothing else to suggest otherwise I would put it down to teething.

I've had 3 kids and they all got temps with teething to various degrees. Also absolutely rotten nappies which is due to the extra saliva they swallow.

I'd want an ear infection ruled out though. Is your DC pulling at their ears or anything?

I think it can potentially. But babies can get low grade fevers a lot for no apparent reason.

@SpnBaby1967 he’s been shaking his head a bit but not pulling at his ears and I can’t tell if he’s shaking his head due to excitement as it seems to be when he’s happy about something!

He had very waxy ears before so I took him in and he was given antibiotic drops but the GP said it was borderline in one ear he wasn’t convinced it was an infection.

Then when we ended up in hospital a month later the GP did lots of tests, looked in his ears etc (one was too waxy to see much) and concluded it was a viral throat infection as his throat was very red he only got admitted due to a rash which turned out to be a red herring

Sounds like teething. Does your child's poo smell funny?

@SmiledWithTheRisingSun it seems to smell a bit more than usual and he’s going a bit more frequently

Very very dribbly and bitey as well

From what you’ve described I’d say it’s teething too. My DD is terrible with teething, very dribble, chewing on her fingers constantly, bright red hot to touch cheeks, miserable as sin when they’re clearly aching but then find playing and eating/drinking normally otherwise. Her temp gets just below 38 during these times and at the moment she had 6 teeth coming through at once so her temp is up and down all the time.

I don’t take her temp regularly anymore unless she seems out of character, fatigued, feels hot too touch on her back or chest ect.

Taking your babies temp all will only cause you to worry more. Look for other signs of illness. Proper fevers (not teething type fevers) will come with other symptoms like fatigue, sickness, loss of appetite ect.

Certainly sounds like teething to me. Mine got red rashes on their cheeks too.
Calpol, teething granules to distract & bonjela.

Yes when he had an infection he was sick, shivering with fever, obviously unwell, really tired but also erratic, not eating well just picking etc and he’s nothing like that at the moment

I always worry about giving calpol too much with teething so if his temp has been under 38 I’ve not given him anything if he doesn’t seem in pain as this has been rumbling on for nearly two weeks now (although worse last few days now you can really see the teeth) so I didn’t want to dose him up too much

Nappies when teething have a distinct smell, almost acid like. Tends to give them a sore bottom.

I’ll have a whiff! They’ve definitely been stronger than usual and he’s a bit red and sore which he isn’t normally so definitely sounds like it could be

He doesn’t seem to have the acidic smelling nappies so I’m not sure if that rules teething out, he has lots of other symptoms

I can’t get my head around how his temperature increases at roughly the same time each day though

Hey

Do you take the temp rectally

Hi op, I realise this is an old post but I'm just wondering if you ever got to the bottom of this? I'm going through the same with my toddler

Hi @Slatternforlife, @Dinkydonut1 my daughter is experiencing something similair at 11 months for 2-3 weeks now. How did it turn out for you and your little ones? Have been to dr and paediatrician and both say teething with inflammation and to ride it out. But Im ofc a worried mamma. Sorry I know its and old post