Our children constantly worry us with their discomforts. Sometimes it’s a cold, sometimes a fever for no reason, or suddenly, vomiting and diarrhea that appear out of nowhere. All this is part of childhood, and parents need to be prepared to know when they need to be on high alert, especially when it comes to vomiting in children when it is associated with other symptoms.
Many times the discomfort is temporary and a topical remedy, some special attention to their diet (and a little affection, which they love) will do the trick. However, always pay closer attention when the symptoms are associated with other signs related to some more serious illnesses1.
Main Cause
In most cases, vomiting in children is due to poor digestion, a viral infection or even a reaction from having eaten contaminated food. And one point that deserves attention when these vomiting episodes occur in children is hydration2. Another reason to be especially vigilant is if, along with vomiting, the child has important symptoms like headache, high fever, among others that we’ll discuss in more detail in this article.
Is Vomiting Serious?
Vomiting in children generally is not a sign of anything serious. But remember: if it’s persistent or if you notice any other worrisome signs, seek a pediatrician so they can assess the situation and give you an accurate diagnosis. That way, you’ll feel more confident and be able to take care of your child with greater peace of mind.
When Vomiting in Children Is a Concern
First, it’s important to know that, regardless of the cause of vomiting, especially if it isn’t accompanied by any other symptoms like headache, high fever, and lethargy, there’s no need to rush to the emergency room. Stay calm because it may just be a temporary discomfort and will likely improve soon.
Vomiting in children can be caused by several factors and is usually the result of food poisoning, sinusitis, viral infection, or even migraine. Of course, every case is different, and you should consider whether there could be any other condition that triggered the vomiting episode, such as accidental ingestion of inappropriate medication or a hard fall involving a blow to the head. In these cases, you should see a doctor immediately.
Vomiting in children is usually a common discomfort and does not require major concern. However, when it occurs alongside other symptoms, parents should be attentive because it can indeed be a sign of a serious illness such as meningitis, head trauma, or some intestinal or gastric dysfunction that requires medical attention.
If the child has been vomiting for more than a day and shows signs of dehydration like weakness, not urinating for more than 6 hours (and has dark urine), or dry lips, seek medical attention so they can be evaluated.
But don’t panic, the good news is that these cases are the minority. And you know your child better than anyone, even if they aren’t yet old enough to express all of their discomfort, you will know how to distinguish a simple malaise with vomiting episodes from something more serious that really deserves your concern.
Child Vomiting? What To Do
During a vomiting episode, you should sit the child up when possible, support one hand on their torso to lean them forward and place a hand on their forehead to prevent choking. If they are lying down, try to turn them on their side to reduce the risk of suffocation.
One of the main concerns about vomiting in children is that, regardless of the cause, if the episodes persist, they can cause dehydration. To prevent this, you should take some precautions:
- Do not offer solid foods for the next 2 hours after the vomiting episode;
- During that time, offer plenty of fluids (water, coconut water, or fresh juice);
- There are hydration solutions sold in pharmacies specifically for children. Offer in small amounts;
- If the child will not accept the solution, prepare homemade oral rehydration serum.
After 2 to 3 hours since vomiting, you can start to offer food again, but prefer light foods like soup, porridge, or chicken broth and in small amounts. Avoid fatty and hard-to-digest foods at first.
If the child is still a baby, you should not force feeding during the vomiting episode. But at the next feeding time, offer milk and see if they are accepting it normally. Just make sure to lay them on their side after feeding, so if they vomit again, there’s less risk of choking.
Headache and Vomiting
When a child complains of headache, parents naturally worry, since many serious illnesses can present with headaches. Some say it’s an adult problem, but that’s not necessarily true. Many children have headache episodes from acute to chronic, and in many cases this may indicate a migraine.
Parents need to observe some factors to try to identify if these are signs of something more serious, especially suspected meningitis3. The most important thing is to assess whether vomiting in the child and headaches are associated with any other symptoms, how frequently they occur, and their intensity.
How to Assess
If the child is very young and cannot describe the level of pain, there are ways to assess whether the headache is really worrying:
- Notice if they interrupt their routine activities, especially play;
- Identify if bright light or noise bothers them;
- See if headaches happen more often on school days;
- Try giving some affection to see if it’s just a bad morning;
- Check if there is another symptom that could cause headache like sinusitis, fever, or viral infection.
If vomiting in children comes together with headache attacks, it may be due to viral illnesses, vision problems, or even migraine symptoms. But for all these situations there are solutions and treatments.
If the headaches are persistent and always accompanied by vomiting, without any other apparent cause, seek medical care so that the doctor can carry out tests and prescribe the appropriate medicines if needed, to ensure recovery. Sometimes IV fluids are needed, and only then do the vomiting episodes subside.
In conclusion, the balance isn’t negative. Usually, most cases of vomiting in children don’t mean anything serious, just a temporary discomfort. But if you notice something doesn’t feel right with your little one, trust your mother’s instinct and do seek a professional’s opinion.
