• A-Z Health Reference
  • Suitable for 0-15Years

Vomiting

By Raising Children Network
 
 

When children are sick they tend to vomit more readily than adults. It’s often a single event and your child will be back to normal again soon afterwards.

Causes

There are many causes of vomiting, but the most common cause is an infection (either bacterial or viral) – for example, gastroenteritis, a urinary tract infection or even the common cold. Other causes of vomiting include motion sickness and more serious illnesses, such as appendicitis or meningitis.

Young babies tend to vomit up small amounts of milk after feeds (posseting). This is normal, and can usually be reduced by burping your baby a little more during feeds. Gastro-oesophageal reflux also causes babies to regurgitate feeds. This occurs more frequently than posseting (before, during and after meals).

Projectile vomiting, which is a forceful throwing up of the contents of the stomach, is characteristic of pyloric stenosis. This is a serious condition. If your child has persistent projectile vomiting you should seek medical help immediately.

Symptoms

Vomiting is often accompanied by abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

Dehydration is one of the serious risks of vomiting, especially in young babies. Signs of dehydration include decreased urination (with fewer wet nappies), sunken eyes, dry tongue and mouth, loss of weight, tiredness and lethargy.

When to see your doctor

You should go to the doctor if:

  • your child has poor weight gain due to vomiting
  • your child has blood-stained or green-coloured vomit
  • your vomiting baby generally seems unwell, and you’re concerned.

Treatment

Medications that stop vomiting shouldn’t be used in children. The side effects can be very serious.

The most important thing to do when treating vomiting is to make sure your child gets adequate fluid replacement. This helps prevent dehydration. Read our article on dehydration to learn more about this.

If your baby suffers from gastro-oesophageal reflux, there are various treatment strategies to help the problem, including propping her up after a feed. Find more treatment details in our article on gastro-oesophageal reflux.

 
 
 
  • Last updated22-05-2011
  • Last reviewed22-05-2011
References

  • Hutson, J., & Clarnette, T. (2009). Surgical conditions. In K. Thomson, D. Tey & M. Marks (Eds), Paediatric handbook (8th edn, pp. 532-542). Melbourne: Wiley-Blackwell.

    McDougall, P., & Hunt, R. (2009). Neonatal conditions. In K. Thomson, D. Tey & M. Marks (Eds), Paediatric handbook (8th edn, pp. 431-451). Melbourne: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Sundaram, S., Hoffenberg, E., Kramer, R., Sondheimer, J.M., & Furuta, G.T. (2009). Gastrointestinal tract. In W. Hay, M. Levin, J. Sondheimer & R. Deterding (Eds), Current diagnosis and treatment: Pediatrics. (19th edn, pp. 595-630). New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Wyllie, R. (2007). Major symptoms and signs of digestive tract disorders. In R. Kliegman, R. Behrman, H. Jenson & B. Stanton (Eds), Nelson textbook of pediatrics (18th edn, pp. 1522).

    Allen, K. (2007). The vomiting child--what to do and when to consult.  Australian Family Physician, 36(9), 684-7.

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