In most cases, vomiting may resolve without specific medical treatment.
In most cases, vomiting may resolve without specific medical treatment. Always seek a doctor’s permission before giving an over the counter (OTC) medicine to treat vomiting. Some of the home remedies for treating vomiting include:
- Give some rest to the child’s stomach: Refrain from feeding the child 30-40 minutes after vomiting for the stomach to recover.
- Replenishing fluid: Fluid loss can be alarming if not replaced on time. Start replacing fluids after the child has stopped vomiting for 30-60 minutes. Do not force-feed the child unless the child asks for a drink. Moreover, take care of the following things before giving fluids to the child:
- Start with small amounts of fluid every 5-10 minutes. Use a teaspoon to give fluids instead of glass.
- Give clear, noncarbonated fluids such as water to your child instead of juice or carbonated drinks.
- Breast milk should be given to breastfed infants.
- If the child vomits the fluid, wait at least 30 minutes before giving any fluid.
- If the child finds it difficult to swallow the fluids, then give them frozen juice bars or ice chips.
- Oral rehydration solution is preferred when the child is dehydrated from frequent vomiting.
What are the causes of vomiting in children?
Seeing your child vomit incites an alarming response in you; however, vomiting may not indicate any severe health problems. The reasons for vomiting may vary with age:
In newborns and infants:
In older children:
- Gastroenteritis or stomach flu
Less common causes in newborns and infants include:
- Pyloric stenosis (narrowing or blockage of the passage of the stomach)
- Intussusceptions (sliding of one segment of the intestine into another)
- Volvulus (blockage of the intestine caused by birth defects)
Other causes include:
- Illnesses
- Motion sickness
- Stress
- Food poisoning
- Food intolerance
In infants, vomiting should be differentiated from spit-up because they spit up small amounts while being fed or shortly afterward.
What all should be avoided when the children start vomiting?
Avoid doing the following things when the child starts vomiting:
- Giving over -the- counter (OTC) medicines to control a not so serious vomiting
- Giving heavy food after the first 24 hours of vomiting
- Oily or spicy food for a few days
- Force-feeding the children with liquids or solids
- Carbonated drinks or unclear liquids
- Sugary foods such as ice-cream or pudding
When to call your pediatrician?
Call your pediatrician immediately if you observe the following symptoms in children:
- Vomit more than once and are under 12 weeks
- Severe vomiting
- Signs of dehydration such as:
- High fever
- Headache
- Rash
- Stiff neck
- Stomach pains
- Act confused
- Dry diapers
- Not passing urine
- Blood or bile in the vomit
- Hard to wake up
- Vomiting for more than 8 hours