Vomiting

Vomiting is very common in infants and children. An infant can be vomiting due to allergy to food or milk intolerance.

Causes of vomiting

When the baby has eaten something which he/she never likes, vomiting will be happen. Vomiting can be a sign of infection. It may develop from viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract. It can also cause by food poisonings, pyloric sternosis and intestinal obstruction. Sometimes vomiting is caused by other health diseases such as strep throat, migraine headaches, meningitis and brain tumors.

Signs and symptoms of vomiting

The vomiting may be accompanied by muscle pain, flu, high fever, diarrhea and stomach pain. The infants and babies have lose lots of water and become dehydrated in case of continues vomiting. Vomiting can be a serious health problem.

Treatment for vomiting

People can take medicine for vomiting. It can be taken in advance or before going outside on a car. It may help to reduce motion sickness from riding in the car. Take OTC medicines which are prescribed by the doctor to reduce the vomiting.

Vomiting in infants can be controlled by the following ways:

• Avoid overfeeding
• Milk with a small quantity of baby cereal
• Burp the baby frequently.

When to call the health care providers

When vomiting is not better after one day, call the doctor immediately.

When baby is vomiting and has signs and symptoms of dehydration such as thirst, less urination, dry mouth, fussiness, problems in sleeping and confusion; call the health care providers immediately.

Call the health care providers in following cases:

• The baby refuses to take fluids after vomiting
• Infants or child associates diarrhea along with vomiting.
• Continuously vomiting more than one or two days.

Important tips

• Patients should take more and more rest.
• Parents must give sips of liquid to their child every 15 minutes.
• Do not give solid foods or milk after the vomiting.
• Other fluids like rice kanji, butter milk, coconut water, and dal may be given to child.
• Child must take rest after vomiting, until he/she experiences better.

Parents should give the following liquids to their child:

• Gelatin water
• Crushed ice
• Fruits juices
• Chicken broth
• Sports beverages