Teething & Acid Reflux
It can be difficult to know the difference between teething and reflux in infants, especially if the baby frequently experiences reflux. The symptoms of reflux and teething may be similar but there are a few differences that may help identify the source of the problem.
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Teething
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Symptoms of teething can include fever, increased drooling, diarrhea, difficulty sleeping and increased spitting up or abdominal discomfort. Because these symptoms may also indicate other issues, including reflux, it can be difficult to know if they are singularly attributed to teething.
Reflux
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Signs of infant reflux include difficulty feeding, spitting up and increased agitation during or after feeding. These signs may improve if the baby is held upright during feeding and/or sleeping.
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Differences
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Babies who have reflux may show signs of increased pain, fussiness or agitation during or after feeding. This should not hold true for babies who are merely teething. In addition, babies held upright will show signs of improvement with reflux but positioning will not change irritation or pain caused by teething.
Correlation
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Teething itself may cause reflux. When teething is occurring, the body produces additional histamines, which then result in the production of increased stomach acid. This can produce reflux in babies that are prone to digestive upset.
Warning
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Always contact a doctor if your infant is spitting up more frequently, appears to be in pain or is acting ill to determine the source of the problem and establish an appropriate treatment.
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References
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