High Temperature Fever Due To Teething Or Baby Sick?

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Can teething cause a fever? The baby in this Q&A has a high temperature and is also teething. Let’s take a look at what research says about the connection between fever and teething.

Mom’s Question:

Can a baby get a high-temperature fever due to teething? My 7-month-old baby had a temperature of up to 39 (102 F) at one point last night, coming down to 37. He had up to two doses of Calpol this morning at 9.00; His temperature is fine at 37.1. Should I visit the doctor as I don’t know if it’s teething-related? Can a baby have a high temperature due to teething? He was very unsettled last night!!

Can Teething Cause A Fever?

The fever is unlikely to be due to teething. There are some indications that a low-grade fever can be caused by teething, but not a high-grade one. This is a very common misunderstanding among parents, but there is no scientific evidence that a high-grade fever can be caused by teething. A long-term research study from 2011 concluded the following:

“Irritability, increased salivation, runny nose, loss of appetite, diarrhea, rash, and sleep disturbance were associated with primary tooth eruption. Results of this study support the concept that the occurrence of severe signs and symptoms, such as fever, could not be attributed to teething.” (Read about the study here.)

Other earlier studies confirm this result. A slightly elevated temperature may be associated with teething but not a fever as high as 39 C (102 F). (Here is one such research study, if you are interested: Symptoms associated with infant teething: a prospective study)

So the fever rather indicates that your baby is sick. It can be a cold, a stomach infection, or something else on its way. Or it was just one of those mysterious 1 or 3-day fevers that babies can get.

Unless your baby continues to be sick and, for example, stops eating or drinking, I don’t think you have to visit a doctor. Take care of him and pay attention to his development during the next few days.

Good luck,
Paula
(Answer approved by our Medical Reference Team)

More About Teething In Babies

Research references

Ramos-Jorge J, Pordeus IA, Ramos-Jorge ML, Paiva SM. Prospective longitudinal study of signs and symptoms associated with primary tooth eruption. Pediatrics. 2011 Sep;128(3):471-6. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-2697. Epub 2011 Aug 8. PMID: 21824888.

Macknin ML, Piedmonte M, Jacobs J, Skibinski C. Symptoms associated with infant teething: a prospective study. Pediatrics. 2000 Apr;105(4 Pt 1):747-52. doi: 10.1542/peds.105.4.747. PMID: 10742315.

Find comments below.

Comments

Feb 06, 2020

Sore throat and fever
by: Dipika
My baby is seven months old and has had a fever since yesterday morning, from 100 degrees F to 101, which went up and down. He lost his appetite, didn’t have the energy to do anything, and was sleepy. We took him to the doctor. The doctor found a throat infection and gave antibiotics, Panamax, and Nurofen. He was fresh and happy within half n hour after taking the medication. We were so relieved, but again in the night, after 6 hours, he got a fever. We gave him Panamax again. He slept well. In the early morning, his temperature was high again, gave him Nurofen. It’s like the fever is coming back again n again. Is it normal? How long he has to suffer this?

Baby Help Line: Both Panamax and Nurofen are for pain relief and fever reduction. It is normal for babies to respond quickly and act as if they are not ill at all as soon as the fever is down. However, he will continue to get the fever back until the antibiotics start to take care of the throat infection, probably within a few days. When he is up and happy, offer him liquid and food if he likes. (But keeping him hydrated is more important than making him eat if he doesn’t have an appetite.) Good luck!

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Paula Dennholt

Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.

Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.