Vomiting

Causes of Vomiting

Viral gastritis.
Food poisoning - fast-onset vomiting that begins within hours of eating and may be accompanied by diarrhea.
Overdose of ibuprofen or taking ibuprofen on an empty stomach
Food allergy - vomiting soon after a meal.
Coughing – coughing may be accompanied by vomiting, often seen in children with reflux.
Caused by movement or travel - genetically caused.
Migraine, headache.
Serious causes - vomiting only (without diarrhea) should stop within 24 hours. If it persists for more than 24 hours, think of a more severe reason.
Cyclical vomiting - repeated bouts of vomiting that start and stop suddenly.

Severity of Vomiting

Mild: 1-2 times a day
Moderate: 3-7 times a day
Severe: vomiting everything, almost everything, or episodes of vomiting eight or more times a day.

Go to the Emergency Room or Pediatrician Immediately if Your Child Has the Following:

Vomiting bile (green in color) or hemorrhagic (reddish brown) vomiting not caused by a nosebleed
Any bout-like vomiting in infants and young children.
If the infant does not eat or drink for several hours
Unable to wake up
Vomiting > 8 hours after fluid intake
Vomiting persists for more than 24 hours
Moderate to severe dehydration:
- Thirsty
- Dry mouth, chapped lips
- Lack of tears during crying
- Dry nappy or no urine for 4-6 hours (infants and young children), no urine for 6-8 hours (older children)
- Dark yellow or brownish urine
- Sunken eyes
- Sunken fontanelle
Severe abdominal pain, even if it starts and goes away on its own
Feces with blood
Fever of up to 39°, even for a single episode, or a temperature of 38.4° for more than three days
Behavioral changes, including lethargy or agitation
Stiff neck (can't bring the head to chin)
Headache
Suspicion of appendicitis (pain in the lower right abdomen, not running and lying still)
Suspected poisoning
Suspected swallowing of foreign body
Suspected urinary tract infection (pain in side or back, fever, pain when urinating, foul smelling urine)
Vomiting while taking medicine prescribed by the pediatrician
You think the child has an emergency.

Infants on artificial feeding

Give an oral rehydration solution for 8 hours. If more than one episode of vomiting occurs, give oral rehydration solution as follows:

Give with a teaspoon or syringe. Give 1-2 teaspoons (5-10 ml) every 5 minutes.
If vomiting has not recurred within 4 hours of taking fluids, double the amount.
If vomiting does not return within 8 hours of taking the liquids, resume regular feeding.

Reduce the amount of breastmilk with each feeding:

If more than one episode of vomiting occurs, feed for 5 minutes every 30-60 minutes. If vomiting does not return within 4 hours of eating, return to the regular regimen.
If vomiting persists, start oral rehydration solution for 4 hours. Give it by teaspoon or syringe. Give 1-2 teaspoons (5-10 ml) every 5 minutes.
If vomiting does not return within 4 hours, resume normal breastfeeding. Start with small portions for 5 minutes every 30 minutes. If your baby adapts to this regimen, gradually increase the portions.

Children over 1 year of age

Give clear liquids in small portions for up to 8 hours:
- In addition to the special oral rehydration liquid, water can be given. It is easier to absorb in the stomach.
Let him drink from a teaspoon or syringe. Give 2-3 teaspoons (10-15 ml) every 5 minutes.
If vomiting does not return within 4 hours of taking liquids, increase the amount.
If vomiting does not return within 8 hours of taking liquids, resume regular feeding.
If vomiting persists for 12 hours, switch back to oral rehydration fluids.

If vomiting does not return within 8 hours, gradually return to your normal diet
Foods that are easy to digest, e.g. crackers and bread, should be started first.

Do not give medication

Stop giving over-the-counter medications within 8 hours. Some medicines can make vomiting worse.
If the child needs medicine because of a fever, use a rectal form of the medicine. Avoid ibuprofen; it can irritate an empty stomach.
Call the pediatrician if the prescribed medicine cannot be taken because of vomiting.

Try to get your child to sleep

The child is recommended to sleep for a few hours, as the stomach clears during sleep and the cause of vomiting also disappears.

The child may return to school or kindergarten after the vomiting and the fever have returned to normal.

For the first 3-4 hours, the child may vomit everything. Then the stomach calms down.
Vomiting caused by a viral infection usually goes away within 12-24 hours.
Mild nausea and vomiting can last for up to 3 days.