There are many possible causes of persistent vomiting in young children. Vomiting in infants is mainly caused by the following:
- Appendicitis: along with abdominal pain, a mild fever, and loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting are among the most common symptoms of appendicitis;
- Car sickness (nausea while traveling): this condition is common in young children and is sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, cold sweats, fatigue, and loss of appetite;
- Concussion: a concussion is a serious brain injury caused by a blow to the head, and it can cause vomiting. If a child vomits after a blow to the head, take them to a doctor urgently;
- Food allergy or intolerance: nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are possible symptoms of food allergies and intolerances;
- Food poisoning: vomiting is a common symptom of food poisoning and is usually accompanied by diarrhea and stomach pain;
- Gastroenteritis: this condition is a stomach “flu”, usually caused by rotavirus in children, which leads to vomiting (usually 1–2 days) and diarrhea (usually 5–7 days).
Additionally, factors such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), various infections, bowel motility disorders, medications, toxins, pyloric stenosis, and stress can also cause vomiting.
Prevention of infant vomiting
It is natural to be worried if your child vomits unexpectedly. To keep your little one safe and comfortable, first stay calm and follow these tips:
Make sure your baby is not thirsty
Dehydration is the loss of more fluids than are taken in, which leads to a depletion of essential substances needed for the body to function.
Severe vomiting and diarrhea are the primary causes of dehydration in young children. While drinking fluids is usually sufficient to resolve mild dehydration, severe cases require medical treatment.
Give fluids
Rehydration is the replacement of lost fluids and electrolytes. To do this, give your child an oral rehydration solution (ORS, sold in pharmacies) in small amounts and often: a teaspoon every 1–2 minutes for a child under 2, and small sips from a cup for an older child. If the child vomits, wait 10 minutes and then continue more slowly. Plain water does not replace electrolytes. If your baby is breastfed or formula-fed, keep feeding in small amounts and often.
Record the symptoms
You should keep a record of how and when vomiting occurs in your child. Each time your child vomits, write down the following:
- Date;
- Time of day;
- How long it lasted;
- Whether the vomit contains solid matter or is very watery;
- What the child recently ate or drank;
- Presence of other symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, or diarrhea.
Call a pediatrician
You should always consult a doctor if frequent, unexplained vomiting occurs without an apparent cause. When you call, describe the exact symptoms of the illness.
If the cause of the illness cannot be determined, the pediatrician may recommend blood, urine, and stool tests, or an X-ray to make an accurate diagnosis.
Symptoms requiring immediate medical attention
Although vomiting in young children is usually not a cause for concern, there are cases where medical attention should be sought:
- Vomiting blood;
- Blood in the urine;
- Confusion and lethargy;
- Headache and neck pain;
- Severe abdominal pain;
- Painful urination;
- Green or yellow-green (bile-stained) vomit, or forceful vomiting that shoots out like a fountain;
- Rapid heartbeat or rapid breathing;
- Vomiting accompanied by fever;
- Vomiting even after returning to the usual feeding routine; signs of dehydration: fewer wet diapers than usual, few or no tears when crying, a sunken fontanelle or sunken eyes, unusual drowsiness or irritability.
