Maternal Perception About Teething At The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

Abstract

Teething is the process by which a tooth moves from its pre-eruptive position in the alveolar bone through the mucosa into its functional position in the oral cavity. Tooth eruption has however been held responsible for a variety of other unrelated systemic manifestations in infants. The aim of this study was to determine the maternal perception about teething at the immunization clinic of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja (LASUTH).
This cross-sectional study was conducted at the immunization clinic of LASUTH. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic information of the mothers, as well as on maternal perception of teething symptoms and possible remedies. The most common systemic signs erroneously associated with teething were fever (88%), sleep disturbance, excessive crying at night (65.3%), diarrhea (52.8%), vomiting (48.6%), cough/catarrh (48.6%) and reduced appetite for liquid foods (43.1%). There was no significant association between the age of mothers and their educational status with perceived teething problems. The commonest medication used by mothers for teething problems was Paracetamol syrup (79.2%). Many mothers also routinely used unsafe teething powders and mixtures for their infants. The inclusion of teething and its management as a topic in antenatal classes, in professional health programs and in continuing professional education for health professionals and childcare workers is strongly advocated to correct these wrong impressions.