Help My Son's Been Sick for a Month!

Updated on July 10, 2008
S.K. asks from Lansing, MI
22 answers

Okay, so my otherwise healthy son, has been having major issues. He constantly has a runny nose and a little annoying cough for the past 3 weeks. The main problem is at least once a day he has diarrhea. It is so bad that it soaks through his diaper and pants. I noticed about a month ago that he's cutting all 4 of his canine teeth and have been thinking this is the reason why. I've tried to notice if it was after he ate certian foods but seem to come up empty handed. He's great all day, maybe a little irriatable from time to time but an otherwise typical 19 month old. Has anyone else had theese issues when their children were cutting teeth? We're making a dr. appt. for this week just to make sure everything is okay but, I'm really curious if others have had a similar experiance.

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So What Happened?

Okay, so we went to the doctor and they're not worried at all. He's gained weight and grown since his last visit and is right on track with where he sould be. They said that it could be sesonal allergies and that we could give him zirtec, but a side effect is diarrhea so....what's the point!! They didn't think it was lactose intolerance or food allergy because his morning bowel movement isn't loose, it's only the afternoon one. They said that teething causes many things and that on average children his age get 1 could a month. Things are getting better his stools are still a little icky but not leaking through! Thanks mommies for the wonderful advice, it's great to know you're all out there and we're all looking out for each other!!
Love to all and have a wonderful holiday weekend!!

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J.N.

answers from Detroit on

Both of my girls got diarrhea (and a slight fever), when they cut their teeth. Keep him hydrated with something like Pedialyte or Gatorade.

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L.R.

answers from Detroit on

See what the doctor says. This definitely seems like a doctor's appointment is warranted. I hope all is fine.

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B.S.

answers from Grand Rapids on

I know you said you looked at different foods he may be allergic to but it kind of sounds like a dairy allergy to me. So if you have not tried that it may be worth a shot.

When I was younger about your sons age my mom had to put me on alternative milk because of similar symptoms. I would suggest rice milk instead of goats milk or some other animal, that is my personal opinion but I was put on goats milk when I was younger, but now my family uses rice milk.

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S.D.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Hi, I am the mother of 5 adult children and 2 little ones under 3. Our little boy passed away last month but he had been having the same symptoms as your little one every time he was trying to cut a tooth so it seemed as tho he had those symptoms more out of the month than not. We even asked about it during a well-child appointment and was told it was his teeth. Our little girl does the same thing only a bit less severe. Welcome to the fun times of parenthood. Try to enjoy them even the not so nice times. I did find some homeopathic teething pills that are a godsend and work very well on their pain. You can find them at a lot of places but I get mine at Walmart. Good luck

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S.A.

answers from Detroit on

Hi S.,
My children always had a runny nose when they cut teeth. However it sounds like he could have some allergies. The dripping nose could also be going down his throat causing the cough. The diarrhea also could be caused from the dranage going into the stomach and irritating it. It is good to go see the doctor and see what he thinks. Good luck to you!

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A.I.

answers from Lansing on

all my 5 girls had the samething with there canine and molar back to back but it never hurt to see what the doc say

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J.H.

answers from Detroit on

Hi... sorry he's been sick. I would ask his doc about allergies. I know your trying to look at everything he eats, but who knows... it could be anything. My sister got the same symptoms that he's having. <minus the diareah> when she was litte and the allergist found her allergic to about 4 different foods or so.

good luck!

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A.L.

answers from Lansing on

My son had those same symptoms when he was cutting his molars. (he got his 1st set of molars before his canine teeth). However, the symptoms didn't last more than a week. Hopefully the dr will have some insight for you!

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S.D.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Hi S.!

My son is a miserable teether! He is 14 months and has 16 teeth already and all 16 were horrible to get it. He has 5 on the top and bottom and just last week broke all 4 of his first molars! Anyway, when he is teething (which never seems to end) he gets a fever, runny nose, diareha, he is whiny, cranky, and just not too much fun to deal with. I'm sorry I don't really have any advice other than tylonel and motrin. My son has some teethers he likes to chew on.

Good luck!

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M.V.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Teeth can definitely do it, even though doctors will say it doesn't appear in official research. However, most will then say that unofficially, there are all kinds of weird teeth things :) Especially cutting 4 at once. Over the winter our youngest cut four teeth and this happened to coincide with a bad case of hives. About 6 months worth. Nothing to prove the two were connected, because the cause of hives are undiagnosed in about 90 plus percent of the cases. Yet, they cleared up after the last one popped through. Coincidence? maybe.
However, a doctor visit to rule out other stuff isn't a bad idea. Our daughter had explosive diapers for almost two weeks when she was smaller. We called the pediatrician's office only to discover that there was a contagious virus that many little ones were experiencing and there was no cure, just give lots of liquids and do lots of laundry until it passed. And it did.

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N.B.

answers from Detroit on

Sounds like he is in fact cutting teeth to me. My 14 month old son cut his to bottom and two two top at just after 12 months and he had a constant running nose, a little cough sometimes from drainage and had a hard time sleeping. He would wake 2-3 times a night for 2 1/.2 weeks. It passed and he is fine now. Still take your son to the DR. just incase. I always do. Better be safe than sorry. But I really think it is just his teeth.

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J.P.

answers from Detroit on

S.,

I would definitely go to the Dr's, the symptoms could be because of a lot of different things. My son had the same symptoms when he was that age and most everything was caused by the nasal drip going down the back of this throat, he would cough so much he would vomit and he also had attacks at the other end. My pediatrician kept treating him for the cough(breathing treatments, etc) and i kept trying to explain to her that the coughing was just a by product of the mucus irritation. Anyway, i ended up switching peds and we found a wonderful dr. that diagnosed my son w/seasonal allergies. Put him on zyrtec and he was fine w/in a week. I agree with most of your other responses that it is probably the teeth, but it could also be a combination of more than one thing. Keep a soapy bucket in the bathtub and when he soaks through his pants, just rinse his little bottom off in the tub and you'll have the bucket already in there to soak the clothes. Good Luck!
Jen

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L.J.

answers from Grand Rapids on

yup- sounds like teeth!

they produce more saliva when they are teething so that is the reason for the coughing and the diarrhea. just keep him comfortable- we use motrin at night for teething pain, and we use Hyland's teething tabs. Keep the fluids coming, because he probably won't want to eat a ton if his teeth hurt!

good luck!

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B.J.

answers from Detroit on

Both of my children ran a fever and had mild cold symptoms when they were cutting their canine teeth. When I spoke to other parents about it they had similar experiences with the canine teeth. Not sure what the doctor will tell you about that. Motrin and fluids are always good during teething.

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B.T.

answers from Saginaw on

Okay, maybe someone else has suggested this, but my daughter went through the same thing. And after 4 trips to the doctor and missing a lot of work, my day care provider suggested lactose intolerance. We took all of the dairy products away and within 2 days the symptoms went away. And, you really have to watch stuff. For example, whey is a mild byproduct and can cause the cramping and diarrhea. The only bread that we found that didn't have it was, Hillbilly, and Ocar-Meyer were the only hot dogs. We used tofu veggie cheese slices and Lactaid Milk was successful for my daughter. She could still eat yogurt but in small amounts. It was amazing the difference in her health and attitude. I felt like a horrible mom because she was 18 months before we figured it out; but, everything worked out well. She eventually out grew the intensity and now it only bothers her once in awhile.
B.

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L.C.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Dear S. K.,

Our two daughters are adults but we are raising our 12-year old and 14-year old granddaughters whom we have had the majority of their lives. I remember with all four girls that they got really bad diaper rashes while they were teething but doctors will say today that teething does not cause diaper rashes. I had to keep plenty of the diaper rash ointment around that had zinc oxide in it and that was the only way I could keep their bottoms clear of a rash that would burn when they peed in their diapers. I recommend you use plenty of this type of ointments. Sounds like your little one could also have allergies going on and the teething just makes it more noticeable with the rash on the butt. Ask the doctor about allergies and if there is any medication that is safe for a little one that young. I gave mine the purple Dimetapp and it seemed to help quite a lot back then. I don't know if doctors still recommend Dimetapp.

I learned to write down questions while they are in your thoughts and then be sure to take them with you to see the doctor so you remember to ask all of them. Some seem unimportant but they could trigger info from the doctor that might not have come out any other way. The darndest things sometimes trigger information that is very helpful. Writing down all of them and then being sure to take with you to appointments is so critical if you are tired much of the time and become forgetful then.

L. C.
P.S. I would first of all pray and ask God to give you ideas to try because He has all THE best ideas that people might not think of on their own but work every time, no matter how dumb or silly they seem.

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D.M.

answers from Saginaw on

Yes it's probably the teeth but always see a doctor especially when it has been going on this long. My son is 21 months old and has all his teeth so I thought we were done with this stuff, but now all his teeth seem to be pushing through more fully. So just when you think it's over don't be supprised if a few months later you have one or two more boughts with it. But yes my son goes through that every time he has more then one tooth coming in.

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C.L.

answers from Detroit on

My son has had the very same thing... runny nose, cough for the past 2 weeks. The only teeth left are his eye teeth. He's done this for all his teeth. He's always seemed to get 2 at a time or more.. I think all his molars came in at one time. We didn't have diarrhea, BUT he often gets a diaper rash no matter what we do and it goes away when the teeth finally come in.
The good thing that I've found is that it eventually goes away when the teeth finally come in!

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A.H.

answers from Detroit on

Sure sounds like teeth could be the culprit; but a month is a long time. Allergies pop in mind like many other mommies have already mentioned. If all else fails and you are still searching for an answer I would evaluate your cleaning products. Many of the chemicals used are horrible & make people sick esp. for the little bodies of babies and children. They are most effected because naturally, they're closer to the ground, they eat stuff from it, etc... It's a possibility. Your little man might just be more sensitive to it.
I read a great book you may be interested in:
green this! VOLUME ONE - greening your cleaning
by deirdre imus
Hope your little guy gets better soon! :o)

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B.W.

answers from Grand Rapids on

sounds like allergies, this has been the worst year in many for allergies....I'd take him in.

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C.C.

answers from Detroit on

Hello. Both my son and daughter had the same problems when cutting teeth. Sometimes, right before it would break through the gums, they would have a fever. My daughter is cutting 2 teeth right now and sometimes she will get a diaper rash because the urine gets concentrated from time to time. The runny nose thing happened more when she was younger and cutting the first 4, but she still has a runny nose from time to time. She is currently cutting a molar and a canine tooth right now.

I wouldn't worry too much, especially since he generally feels fine, but I would go see the doctor anyway just to have peace of mind. Good luck with teething!

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C._.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Hello S.,

I'd cut dairy from his diet for a few days and see if there is an improvement. for months our pediatrician kept saying it was allergies --recurrent sinus infections-- and I kept saying it was milk. well, took the milk out of the picture and voiala! sinus infections only after having milk products 2 - 3 days in a row. Yes, he still has allergies but by taking milk out (mostly out -- pizza or pasta 1/week) of his diet his need for antihistamine/decongestant is down to once or twice every couple of weeks and sinus infections have gone away. also check for gluten intolerance (wheat, barley, etc.)
it may be up to you to figure it out. good luck and keep looking. ~Carmen~

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