Vomiting in Children Treatment
Vomiting is a very common symptom in children. Usually, parents will be worried, afraid that the child will be hungry and thirsty, so they often give milk and give the child a glass of water to drink immediately, and the child will vomit more, making the child tired and parents more worried. Therefore, parents need to calm down and behave appropriately before taking their children to the doctor.
3/18/2021 1:47:18 PM
1. What causes vomiting in children?
The causes of vomiting vary depending on the age of the child:
In infants and young children < 12 months of age:
- It is difficult to distinguish if vomiting is caused by gastroesophageal reflux or disease at this young age, so parents need to take the child to the doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
- When a child vomits a lot, it can be a sign of a dangerous condition such as pyloric obstruction or stenosis or intussusception, intestinal obstruction, need to take the child to see a doctor immediately.
- If a fever accompanies your child's vomiting, they may have a bowel infection or an infection elsewhere in the body.
Children > 12 months old:
- The most common cause is viral gastroenteritis. Vomiting usually starts suddenly and usually goes away within 24 to 48 hours. Other symptoms of gastroenteritis may include nausea, diarrhea, fever, or abdominal pain.
- It can be caused by children eating contaminated food or sucking on contaminated hands and objects.
- Food poisoning is when children eat improperly stored or prepared foods containing bacteria or toxins, molds, etc.
- Vomiting in older children can also be caused by several other causes such as gastroesophageal reflux, peptic ulcer, intestinal obstruction, intussusception, cyclic vomiting syndrome, respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, inflammation appendicitis, pancreatitis...
2. What should parents do when a child vomits?
Parents need to monitor the signs for proper treatment and take the child to the doctor when necessary.
1. Watch for signs of dehydration
Signs of mild dehydration: The lips are a bit dry, the child is thirsty. Children with mild dehydration usually do not need immediate medical attention, but parents need to monitor their progress to detect early signs of more severe dehydration.
Signs of moderate to severe dehydration:
- Decreased urination (not going to the bathroom or wet diapers for 4-6 hours)
- Crying without seeing tears
- Very dry lips, sunken eyes
- Cold hands and feet
- Sluggish child
When a child has one of these signs, parents must take the child to the doctor immediately.