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The gag reflex is one of the protective reactions of the body, it is not always a sign of any disease. Vomiting helps the body get rid of toxins. Signals about the need to empty the stomach can come from various organs – the stomach, intestines, kidneys, liver, vestibular apparatus. These signals are sent to the vomiting center in the brain, which gives the command to empty the stomach.
Types of vomiting in a child
Vomiting can occur under various circumstances, for example, with traumatic brain injury, poisoning, motion sickness, accompanied by dizziness, fainting and loss of consciousness, be repeated, accompanied by abdominal pain and diarrhea.
If vomiting is not accompanied by fever, then the most likely cause of its occurrence may be disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, food poisoning (expired or low-quality food, chemicals), intoxication after taking the medicine, dysbacteriosis.
Causes of vomiting in a child
Most often, vomiting without fever in a child is associated with diseases or various conditions of the gastrointestinal system. Let’s consider some of them.
Pylorospasm or pyloric spasm
Spasm of the stomach, which most often occurs in newborns due to the underdevelopment of the nervous system. Vomiting may be profuse. Such a child is usually restless, poorly gaining weight. Pylorospasm should not be confused with regurgitation, which is most often observed when the stomach is full of food.
Intestinal obstruction
Accompanied by severe pain, bloating, cramps, blood in the stool. Intestinal obstruction in children is most often associated with worms or intussusception, which is the introduction of a section of the intestine into a segment of an adjacent section of the intestine. The vomit may contain bile.
Foreign body in the esophagus
Since children often put anything into their mouths, the entry of a foreign body into the esophagus can provoke an attack of vomiting. If a foreign body damages the mucous membrane of the esophagus or stomach, an admixture of blood may be detected in the vomit.
Food poisoning
Vomiting is common with food poisoning—for example, expired or poor-quality foods, eating unwashed fruits and vegetables—and may be accompanied by diarrhea. In some cases, the temperature rises.
Inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, acute gastritis, gastroduodenitis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis
These diseases can occur when the diet is violated, the abuse of fried, smoked, fatty foods. In these cases, vomiting is often accompanied by diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and bloating. An increase in temperature is usually not observed, but in some cases it can reach 37°C. In some forms of gastritis, blood may be present in the vomit. With gastroduodenitis, the nature of the stool is changeable, prolonged constipation can be replaced by diarrhea. In acute pancreatitis, the nature of vomiting is noteworthy – it is repeated, plentiful. In this case, the contents of the stomach are first released, followed by bile and the contents of the duodenum. Such vomiting threatens with dehydration of the child’s body. Vomiting in acute cholecystitis is usually not accompanied by diarrhea. The child is usually worried about pain in the right hypochondrium, bitterness in the mouth.
Dysbacteriosis
Violation of the intestinal microflora due to prolonged use of antibiotics is often accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea. It is important to carefully consider taking antibiotics, since they are detrimental not only to pathogenic microbes, but also to normal microflora.
Other diseases
Vomiting can also develop in diseases not related to the gastrointestinal tract, such as:
- traumatic brain injury, such as concussion or bruising of the brain;
- psychogenic trauma – can be provoked by stress, anxiety, emotional upheavals;
- violations of the vestibular apparatus;
- metabolic diseases (diabetes mellitus, lactose intolerance, etc.).
What to do and how to stop vomiting in a child
When vomiting in a child, first of all, you need to call a doctor. Before his arrival, the child should be given plenty of fluids – warm, slightly salted or mineral water without gas. You can also try herbal decoctions, for example, from chamomile, mint, etc. The liquid will unload the gastrointestinal tract, help eliminate toxins and replenish fluid loss.
During an attack of vomiting, it is important to ensure that the child is in a position that promotes the discharge of vomit and does not choke. For this, the baby needs to be turned on its side and held in a semi-vertical position. After vomiting, it is necessary to rinse the mouth and free from vomit. You do not need to give your child any drugs or do a gastric lavage. Only a doctor can give appropriate appointments, having established the causes of vomiting.
Also, do not try to feed the child when vomiting. You can stop vomiting if it occurs during feeding by holding the child in an upright position. Liquid food can be given to the child no earlier than two hours after the end of vomiting.
After vomiting, the child must follow a sparing diet and drink enough fluids. A child can be given cereals from rice, buckwheat, oatmeal, low-fat vegetable soups, baked apples, boiled vegetables, crackers, kissels.
Prevention of vomiting in a child at home
It is necessary to observe the rules of personal hygiene, wash hands before eating. It is good to wash and process fruits, vegetables, pay attention to the expiration dates of products. Monitor the child and limit access to medicines, household chemicals, wean putting foreign objects in the mouth. Limit the amount of unhealthy food in the diet, confectionery in large quantities, etc. Seek medical help in time if the child complains of abdominal pain, stool disorders and other characteristic symptoms. Do not self-medicate.