Vomiting in a child: causes, types, what to do and how to treat

Vomiting in a child is a reflex mechanism that performs a protective function. At the same time, minerals, gastric juice, and harmful compounds are excreted from the stomach along with undigested food. This is a natural physiological process.

In infants, it is called regurgitation. The stomach of a small child is formed up to 3 years old. In a teenager, periodic nausea indicates inflammatory diseases. The parent should monitor the baby's condition, know what is the cause of the nausea and eliminate it.

Symptoms and causes of vomiting in children

If opened frequent vomiting, then this is a characteristic symptom of a number of diseases. These may be problems associated with the work of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), the central nervous system (CNS), and the vestibular apparatus. Nausea is the main symptom of food poisoning.

The most common causative agents of vomiting in children are infections that enter the stomach. The child may be disturbed by the following symptoms:

• Severe nausea;
• Increased body temperature, fever;
• Pallor of the skin;
• Drowsiness;
• Diarrhea;
• Increased salivation (hypersalivation);
• Stomach ache;
• Weakness.

In infants, regurgitation occurs when overfeeding, passes without fever and without diarrhea. It does not accompany disease. The content of the secreted masses consists of undigested baby food (mother's milk, infant formula).

If the eruption of the stomach occurs an hour and a half after feeding, with blood splashes, bile, mucus, causeless nausea with fever began, then this indicates such pathological processes, how:

• Food poisoning. It happens if the baby ate a spoiled product that contains Escherichia coli, pathogens. They provoke bouts of nausea, which causes abdominal pain. Childhood poisoning is hazardous to health.
• Inflammatory processes and infection of the stomach organs. Anomalies and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: helminthic invasion, gastritis, ulcerative colitis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, hepatitis.
• Disruption of the normal functioning of the central nervous system. Nausea is provoked by infectious diseases - meningitis, encephalitis, head trauma, concussion.
• Respiratory tract infections. If a child suffocates from a strong cough, feels a sharp pain in the throat, then this can cause stomach eruption.
• Malfunction of the vestibular apparatus. The disorder can be congenital and acquired.
• Overdose or side effects of drugs. In case of improper intake of medications (violation of the dosage, the medicine does not correspond to age), with individual intolerance to the components, nausea often occurs. Check the contraindications and side effects of the medication before taking. Overdose is very dangerous for the health and life of the child.

Types of vomiting in a child

Vomiting is a signal of abnormal stomach function. Coordinates CNS nausea. By the nature of the occurrence, the following types of vomiting in children are distinguished:

1. Regurgitation in infants. Eruption of a small amount of food after feeding.
2. Reflex. It can be observed with acute pain in the abdomen, metabolic disorders in the body, severe cough, inflammatory processes in the ears (otitis media), etc.
3. Spasmodic (indomitable vomiting). It can occur in case of poisoning, with congenital or acquired malformations of the gastrointestinal tract. This type is dangerous due to the rapid dehydration of the child's body. If excessive vomiting occurs, call an ambulance immediately.
4. Psychogenic character. It occurs with increased excitability of the central nervous system. This type of nausea is provoked by stressful situations, anxiety, emotional experiences, mental disorders in a child.
5. Atonic vomiting. It is characterized by weak eruptions of the stomach, sluggish leakage of food. It is observed due to the decreased muscle tone of the stomach walls.

For determining causes of vomiting you must undergo a medical examination. After diagnosis, proceed with treatment. Diagnostic methods include: visual examination, interviewing adults to find out a possible cause, laboratory tests of blood, urine, and feces. To confirm the diagnosis, ultrasound, MRI, FGDS can be prescribed.

First aid for a child with vomiting

With nausea, the state of health worsens, the immune system weakens, metabolic processes in the body are disrupted. How to provide first aid and what to do after vomiting, learn from the following tips:

• When you have the urge to tilt the baby forward so that he does not choke on the contents of the stomach. It is dangerous for the secreted masses to enter the respiratory tract, a complication in the form of an abscess of the lungs is possible.
• The child must comply with bed rest. With frequent vomiting, lay the baby on its side. Lying on your back, there is a risk of choking during severe nausea or during regurgitation.
• Pay attention to secreted masses with vomiting. If it is dark in color, contains blood clots, hospitalization is required.
• After the eruption of stomach contents, it is recommended to cleanse the mouth of children. Rinse your child's mouth with water if possible.
• Monitor your body temperature. Give antipyretic drugs if the temperature rises.
• Wash your baby's face with cool water.
• Offer to drink liquid throughout the day (warm boiled water), from the age of six months, you can offer a non-hot herbal tea for children.
• After poisoning, it is not recommended to feed for several hours in order to give the stomach a rest and recover.
• In case of severe nausea, give rehydrating drugs (Rehydron, Trigidron). They replenish the water-salt balance, help with dehydration.
• In case of poisoning, make a gastric lavage. For children, use an abundant drink of warm water (a weak solution of potassium permanganate is used if the baby is 1 year old or older).
• If diarrhea is observed, it is imperative to give drugs for diarrhea, restoring the work of the stomach (Smecta).
• You can include prebiotics to normalize the gastrointestinal tract (Enterohermina, Normobact, Bifidumbacterin).
• It is necessary to provide a favorable environment at home, eliminate stressful situations.
• Always be with your baby. Do not leave him unattended.

Children's vomiting should alert parents. The child must be shown to the doctor. If a disease is found, then treat it. At home, you can only alleviate the condition of the baby.

Take medications only after consulting a pediatrician. Self-medication is strictly prohibited! This can lead to negative consequences, deterioration in health.

When to urgently see a doctor for childhood nausea

Parents are responsible for the health of their child. In case of ailments, deterioration of health, a decrease in the activity of the baby, an adult should find out the cause of the disease. There are a number of signs in which you need to immediately call an ambulance and start surgical treatment:

• Vomiting for no reason in a 2-year-old child lasts all day;
• If the baby is poisoned;
• The eruption occurs after each meal, water;
• The body temperature does not drop in a six-month-old baby;
• Thick brown vomiting (indicates internal bleeding of the stomach);
• Traces of bile, blood, mucus appeared in the secreted masses;
• The baby has fainting, convulsions;
• Nausea persists, accompanied by diarrhea;
• The work of the urinary system is disrupted, there is no urine all day;
• There is at least one sign of dehydration.

A small body is more at risk of dehydration. Pay attention to how your baby is feeling. Watch for stool, eruptions in time. Measure your body temperature periodically. If warning signs appear, seek help from your pediatrician. The sooner you start the correct treatment, the sooner your health will return to normal.

Preventing nausea

In order to prevent infantile nausea, it is recommended:

• Lead a healthy active lifestyle for your baby;
• Monitor proper nutrition, prepare food from quality products;
• Do not leave household chemicals, medicines in sight;
• Avoid overeating. Baby food should be gentle on the stomach (spicy, fatty foods disrupt the digestive tract);
• Respond to symptoms in a timely manner.