Table 4.
Number (n) and percentage (%) of children in whom each treatment was effective for different symptoms
| Group | p value* | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical manifestation | 1) Cuddle therapy (n = 53) | 2) Piece of ice (n = 50) | 3) Rubbing gums (n = 50) | 4) Teething rings (n = 51) | 5) Food for chewing (n = 50) | ||
| Drooling | n % | 47 (95.9)a | 21 (44.7)b | 29 (61.7)b | 47 (94.0)a | 37 (86.0)a | <0.001 |
| Lethargy | n % | 13 (59.1)a | 10 (83.3)a | 17 (70.8)a | 11 (33.3)b | 9 (36.0)b | 0.003 |
| Loss of appetite | n % | 21 (52.5)a | 13 (27.7)b | 22 (50.0)a | 17 (89.5)a | 31 (83.8)a | <0.001 |
| Lack of sleep | n % | 41 (97.6)a | 45 (97.8)a | 41 (100)a | 40 (93.0)a | 32 (86.5)b | 0.042 |
| Gum irritation | n % | 36 (100)a | 42 (100)a | 36 (94.7)a | 29 (96.7)a | 29 (100)a | 0.27 |
| Chewing objects | n % | 29 (100)a | 39 (92.9)a | 39 (97.5)a | 33 (78.6)a | 21 (77.8)b | 0.003 |
| Finger sucking | n % | 26 (89.7)a | 40 (95.2)a | 37 (92.5)a | 40 (95.2)a | 23 (85.2)a | 0.525 |
| Irritability | n % | 6 (17.1)a | 5 (10.9)a | 6 (15.8)a | 16 (42.1)b | 16 (45.7)b | <0.001 |
| Red and inflamed gum | n % | 11 (64.7)a | 26 (96.3)b | 29 (90.6)b | 21 (72.4)a | 15 (62.5)a | 0.006 |
| Gingival pain | n % | 18 (100)a | 29 (96.7)a | 16 (69.6)b | 10 (76.9)b | 14 (73.7)b | 0.012 |
| Crying | n % | 41 (97.6)a | 35 (89.7)a | 38 (100)a | 34 (91.9)a | 32 (94.1)a | 0.250 |
* Chi-squared test
In each row, different letters indicate significant differences between groups (Fisher’s exact test)