Does teething cause diarrhea, vomiting or loss of appetite?
Applies to age: 4–30 months
In short
Diarrhea and vomiting are common and often caused by a stomach bug, which usually passes in a few days. There is no evidence that teething causes diarrhea.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- Diarrhea and vomiting are common in adults, children and babies.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Diarrhoea and vomiting are common in adults, children and babies.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Diarrhea and vomiting are often caused by a stomach bug and usually stop within a few days.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
They're often caused by a stomach bug and should stop in a few days.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- There is no evidence that teething causes diarrhea.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Some people think that teething causes symptoms such as diarrhoea, but there's no evidence to support this.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- In adults and children, diarrhea usually stops within 5 to 7 days.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
diarrhoea usually stops within 5 to 7 days
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- In adults and children, vomiting usually stops within 1 or 2 days.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
vomiting usually stops in 1 or 2 days
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Among the possible symptoms of teething is being more fretful than usual.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
they're more fretful than usual
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
Worth discussing with a doctor:
- If teething symptoms cause concern, it is worth seeing a doctor.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Get medical advice if they have any symptoms that are causing you concern.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
Some claims: international norm
Immediate medical help needed: international norm
- Vomiting blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
vomit blood or have vomit that looks like ground coffee
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Yellow-green or green vomit in a child needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
have yellow-green or green vomit (children)
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Bluish, gray, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
have blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue - on brown or black skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- You call 112 (the emergency number in Poland) or 999 (the ambulance number in Poland) when life or health is at risk.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Zadzwoń na 112 lub 999, jeśli zagrożone jest życie lub zdrowie.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]
See a doctor
Some claims: international norm
Urgent medical assessment needed: international norm
- Concern about a baby under 12 months with diarrhea or vomiting needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
you're worried about a baby under 12 months
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Stopping breastfeeding or bottle feeding during an illness (diarrhea or vomiting) needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
your child stops breast or bottle feeding while they're ill
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Signs of dehydration in a child under 5, such as fewer wet diapers, need an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
a child under 5 years has signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet nappies
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Continuous vomiting and being unable to keep fluids down need an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
you or your child keep being sick and cannot keep fluid down
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Diarrhea with blood or bleeding from the anus needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
you or your child have bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from the bottom
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Diarrhea lasting longer than 7 days or vomiting lasting longer than 2 days needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
you or your child have diarrhoea for more than 7 days or vomiting for more than 2 days
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
- Night and holiday care (NiŚOZ) is for situations when vomiting or diarrhea appears after the hours of a primary care (POZ) clinic (especially in children and seniors).
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
pojawią się wymioty lub biegunka (szczególnie u dzieci i seniorów).
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]
- Night and holiday care is medical help after the hours of a POZ clinic.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna to pomoc lekarska po godzinach pracy przychodni POZ.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]
- If you have doubts, it is better to see a doctor.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Zawsze jeśli masz wątpliwości – lepiej skonsultować się z lekarzem.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [2]
Myths
Unproven Myth: “Teething causes diarrhea.”
Why people believe it. Some people think so.Why it is wrong. There is no evidence that teething causes diarrhea.Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Some people think that teething causes symptoms such as diarrhoea, but there's no evidence to support this.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-12 · license [1]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/
- https://www.nhs.uk/baby/babys-development/teething/baby-teething-symptoms/
License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS. - NFZ i Akademia NFZLicense: Treści NFZ – wykorzystanie ze wskazaniem źródła, bez obrotu komercyjnego. Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ. Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.