|
Researchers in Australia carried out
a study into parental beliefs surrounding teething. Of the 92 parents of
infants questioned, the researchers found that between 70-85% believed
that teething caused fever, pain, irritability, sleep disturbance,
mouthing/biting, drooling and red cheeks. 35-55% reported nappy rash, ear
pulling, feeding problems, runny nose, loose stools, and infections. Less
than 15% reported smelly urine, constipation, colic or convulsions. Only
one parent believed that teething caused no other health problems.The parents believed that the amount
of distress experienced by the child contributed to a more ‘difficult'
temperament during the teething period. When treating their child, they
most often gave paracetamol (60%) and a topical analgesia to the gums
(55%) and most of the parents were quite happy prescribing this treatment.
The most common way of diagnosing teething was made by the presence of
'teething symptoms' (65%), from touching the tooth (43%) or visibility of
the tooth (36%).
The study in Melbourne concluded
that teething is a known and distressing phenomenon reported by almost all
parents of young children; and although, according to conventional
medicine, accompanying symptoms are considered to be minor, a large number
of parents consider that teething is responsible for other more serious
symptoms.
Source: Parent
beliefs about infant teething: a survey of Australian parents.
Wake M; Hesketh K; Allen M. Centre
for Community Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne,Victoria,
Australia. J Paediatr Child
Health, 35:446-9, 1999 Oct
©
Internet Health Library
return to
top
|
