6 Causes Of Vomiting In Children, Treatment & Home Remedies

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Vomiting in children can be due to various reasons, such as stomach flu or indigestion. Occasional vomiting may not be a major cause of concern, and most children can be treated at home. However, it is recommended to seek medical care for frequent episodes of vomiting or if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as diarrhea or fever.

Read on to understand the causes, symptoms, signs, treatments, and home remedies for vomiting in children. Refrain from using vomiting medicine for kids without a prescription. You may also pay attention to hydration status and seek rehydration therapyⁱXOral or intravenous fluid therapy used to treat fluid loss in the body. if the child cannot drink enough water or have signs of dehydration.

Causes Of Vomiting In Children

Some of the common causes for vomiting in children include:

1. Gastroenteritis: Also called the stomach flu or stomach infection, it is caused by a virus (commonly norovirusⁱXA virus causing contagious diseases in children leading to diarrhea and vomiting. , astrovirusⁱXA virus typically infecting babies and young children and transmitted through the oral or fecal route. , and enterovirusⁱXA virus that causes mild to severe infections in children presenting with a range of symptoms. ). In addition to vomiting, symptoms of gastroenteritis include nausea, diarrhea, and sometimes fever. In most cases, mild gastroenteritis subsides in a couple of days (1). Severe gastroenteritis that could lead to dehydration and other complications would need medical attention.

2. Food allergy: When the child’s immune system reacts differently to a substance or food, it is termed as a food allergy. According to a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2021 report, nearly 5.8% of children in the United States had a food allergy. Some children may be allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, wheat, eggs, milk, and soy. Food allergy symptoms may include vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, and breathing problems (2).

Did you know?

Allergies are immune reactions, while intolerance (e.g., lactose intolerance) is the inability to digest the substance, resulting in gastrointestinal symptoms (such as nausea, bloating, and diarrhea) (16).

3. Food poisoning: Stale food or germs in fruits and vegetables may be a reason for food poisoning. Vomiting, nausea, fever, fatigue, and abdominal cramps could be a few symptoms of food poisoning in children and may either disappear in a few hours or take a couple of days to subside (3).

4. Appendicitis: The painful condition causes swelling of the appendix. In some cases, the appendix (a thin tube connected to the large intestine) may burst, causing severe infection – this is a medical emergency and has to be treated immediately. Vomiting is one of the symptoms of appendicitis, which could be fatal if left untreated (4).

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5. Infections: Although viral gastroenteritis is common in children, some may be affected by non-gastrointestinal infections such as meningitis (bacterial infection causing inflammation in spinal cord and brain), septicemia (bacterial infection in the bloodstream), and urinary tract infectionsⁱXCommon infections of the urinary system characterized by pain and burning sensation in the pelvic region. . Vomiting and abdominal pain may be one of the symptoms of these conditions (5).

6. Others: Headache, stomachache, head injury, and motion motion sicknessⁱXA pronounced feeling of illness triggered by any movement. may be a few other reasons for vomiting in children (6).

In most cases, when the condition is not severe, using certain home remedies for vomiting children may help alleviate the discomfort.

Natasha Ashfield, a mother of three beautiful daughters, observed her youngest child falling ill and vomiting frequently, more than either of her older sisters had ever done, and decided to get their daughter’s illness diagnosed and hopefully cured. Reliving the experience, she says, “She was sent for a number of tests and was referred to a pediatrician. By this time, she was about 18 months old. After all the tests came back normal and the pediatrician asked us a number of questions, he diagnosed her with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS). The good news was they didn’t find something more serious, the bad news was we were told that there wasn’t a cure, and although there are meds that sometimes help, chronic vomiting was something she was going to have to live with for potentially the rest of her life (i).”

Home Remedies For Vomiting In Children

A few common home remedies that people find helpful for curbing vomiting in children are mentioned below.

1. Liquids: Make your child sip water once every five to ten minutes. If they are unable to have fluids, then sucking on ice chips or frozen juice bars could be a good idea (7). Chamomile tea, alongside regular water in small, frequent amounts is recommended for rehydration in older children. Chamomile’s calming properties can benefit the stomach (8).

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2. Solids: Bland foods may be given to the child, but make sure they eat it slowly. Also, ask them if they are hungry and want to eat. You may also introduce the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. These foods are gentle on the stomach. Crackers, noodles, chicken, and yogurt are also well-tolerated (8). Other foods you may give include rice, dry cereal, cooked carrots, bananas, boiled potatoes, or any other fruits and vegetables they want to eat. Do not give any greasy or fried foods as these might make them throw up again (7) (9).

3. Oral rehydration solution (ORS): Ask your doctor if you can give the ORS to the child. ORS, such as Infalyte or Pedialyte, has minerals, sugar, and salt, which may help the kid feel better (10).

4. Peppermint: Some people give candies or sugar-free sticks containing peppermint to children, to make them feel better after vomiting (11).

5. Ginger: Ginger is considered to be effective in controlling gastroenteritis-related vomiting and acid reflux. You can make light herbal tea with ginger essence (11).

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6. Lemon juice: You may give your child some sips of lime or lemon water or soda, as it helps in relieving the symptoms of vomiting (12).
7. Acupuncture: Stomach 36 (Zu San Li) is an acupuncture point located four finger-widths below the kneecap and one finger-width towards the outside of the shinbone. It aids in treating vomiting while enhancing immune function and overall body strength (13).

Quick tip

Fennel seeds or fennel seed powder has antiemeticⁱXDrugs used in treating vomiting and nausea induced by medical conditions or motion sickness. properties. You may use them to control vomiting in children (17).

When To Consult A Doctor?

When it’s been more than three to four days and your child is not feeling comfortable, then consulting a doctor is suggested. Also, medical attention is necessary if there are other symptoms, such as (14):

• Heartburn
• Fever and cough
• Vomiting doesn’t stop and becomes forceful
• Weight loss
• Yellowish green bile or blood in vomit

Based on these symptoms, the doctor will further diagnose the child before suggesting any treatment. They may ask about bowel movements, the appearance of the vomit, any unusual signs that were noticed, frequency and time of vomiting, and any other health problems the child has. If they find something unusual, they would suggest a laboratory test. The treatment plan is recommended based on the results.

Treatment For Vomiting In Children

As vomiting in children is usually a symptom and not a severe condition, there is no significant treatment for it. If the child is only vomiting and there is no other symptom or underlying condition, then medicines are not recommended. However, if the child has severe vomiting and other signs, such as fever, infection, or diarrhea, then the doctor may prescribe certain medications (15) (16):

• Antiemetics or anti-nausea medicine
• Medicine for an underlying medical condition
• Intravenous fluids for children with vomiting and dehydration

Following these patterns can help doctors recognize the possible causes of vomiting in your child and chalk out a treatment plan.

Is It Possible To Prevent Vomiting In Children?

Typically, it is not possible to prevent vomiting once the stomach expels the content. However, some hygienic tips might help in preventing the constant sensation of vomiting or vomiting in children.

• If your child is allergic to some foods that make them vomit, avoid giving them those.

• Make sure they are eating fresh and hygienically prepared food and not stale food.

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• If motion sickness is the cause for your child’s vomiting, then giving them ginger or peppermint candy may help in preventing nausea and vomiting. If not, talk to your doctor and get a medicine prescribed, if necessary.
• If dehydration is the cause, see that they are having adequate amounts of water and resting well.

Point to consider

When your young child is vomiting, keep them lying on their stomach or side. This will minimize the risks of inhaling vomit into their upper airway and lungs (18).

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Infographic: Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome In Children

Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a rare pediatric condition characterized by repeated vomiting and nausea. This infographic details the possible causes and treatment interventions for this disorder in children.

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Vomiting in children can alarm the parents and cause distress in the children. Explore the possible causes of vomiting in children and learn how to assess and manage this condition in this informative video.

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Dr. Kondekar SantoshMD

Dr. Kondekar Santosh is a Mumbai-based pediatrician and specializes in child health, nutrition, and growth, respiratory and neurological issues. He graduated from King Edward Memorial Hospital and Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College in 1998. He completed his Diplomate in National Board (DNB) in New Delhi, 2003. With 20 years of experience, Dr. Kondekar currently practices at the Topiwala National Medical...more

Dr Bisny T. JosephMedical Doctor

Dr. Bisny T. Joseph is a Georgian Board-certified physician. She has completed her professional graduate degree as a medical doctor from Tbilisi State Medical University, Georgia. She has around 5 years of experience in various sectors of medical affairs as a physician, medical reviewer, medical writer, health coach, and Q&A expert. Her interest in digital medical education and patient education...more

Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children. Then she worked as a nutrition faculty and clinical nutrition coach in...more

Anindita GhatakB.Tech

Anindita Ghatak holds a B.Tech degree in Biotechnology from Amity University, Kolkata. During the course of her studies, she has worked on different research projects in the fields of Microbiology and Bioinformatics. Anindita has over three years of experience writing medical articles for journals. Her interest in writing on different health-related topics and their accessibility to people have led her...more