Vomiting is a widespread symptom experienced by children. It has become one of the most common reasons parents take their child to the doctor. Vomiting is the uncomfortable, involuntary, forcible emptying (“throwing up”) of stomach contents through the mouth. But when it comes to kids, it’s no fun. It will be upsetting for parents too. It’s common for babies and children to vomit occasionally. But, in most cases, it doesn’t last long and often gets better on its own.
Common causes of vomiting in children
Motion sickness:
Some children start vomiting during a drive. This is mainly because motion sickness occurs when the brain receives conflicting information from the nerves in the joints and muscles, inner ears and eyes.. Children ages 2 to 12 are particularly susceptible. This can be tiresome for parents as it is time-consuming to clean the car and change their dress each time they vomit.
Allergy to Certain Foods:
Some children could be allergic to certain foods like milk, wheat, eggs, fish or peanuts. Consuming such foods could experience severe abdominal pain followed by nausea and vomiting. Therefore, parents should always be aware of such allergic foods for their children.
Gastroenteritis:
Gastroenteritis is the digestive tract inflammation that results in vomiting, diarrhoea, or both and is sometimes accompanied by fever or abdominal cramps. Viruses, bacteria or parasites cause infectious gastroenteritis. It is usually ingested through food or drink.
Digestive Problems:
Stomach acid reflux is also one of the causes of vomiting in children. The sour taste in their mouth from stomach acids and the frequent burping and coughing associated with reflux and GERD can create nausea and even vomiting for some children.
Stress and Emotional Upheavals:
Some children feel stressed before or during exams or while competing in debates/competitions, or while interacting with new people or changing schools. These situations can cause some emotional imbalance for some children and result in nausea and vomiting.
Flu and Other Illnesses:
Stomach acid reflux, swine flu, Seasonal allergies and ear infections are some diseases that can induce vomiting in young children. Appendicitis causes pain around the belly button (navel), which then moves to the lower right side of the abdomen and becomes sharper—this severe abdominal pain could lead to vomiting in young kids. Ear infection called Labyrinthitis can cause ringing or buzzing sensation in the ear, Imbalance and unsteadiness, Vertigo, Involuntary twitching or jerking of the eyeball, also Nausea and vomiting.
Food Poisoning:
Food poisoning is caused by the harmful bacteria present in stale or undercooked meat, poultry or fish. This can cause severe nausea and vomiting, which leads to dehydration.
Brain Conditions:
Certain Brain conditions such as Brain tumours can cause swelling of the brain, and this pressure is the reason for vomiting in children.
Home remedies :
- Ginger has been used as a natural remedy for upset stomachs for a very long time. You can give your child ginger in several forms, including ginger ale, ginger snaps, or ginger tea.
- Honey is another well-known nausea remedy. A small amount of honey can help soothe an upset stomach and calm vomiting. Mint leaves can also be effective in treating vomiting.
- You can make mint tea by steeping fresh or dried mint leaves in boiling water. Allow the tea to cool slightly before giving it to your child. If your child is old enough, they can also chew on fresh mint leaves. When the stomach flu causes vomiting, a few home remedies can help. Drinking lots of fluids is essential to prevent dehydration.
- Clear liquids like water, chicken broth, and Pedialyte are good options. It would be best if you also encouraged your child to eat small amounts of bland foods like toast, rice, and bananas. These home remedies can help ease vomiting and make your child feel better.
- A mixture of onion juice and ginger juice: Make your child sip this juice of onion and ginger in equal amounts in a bowl and mix them. Since onions are rich in natural antibiotics, it will help to relieve nausea and vomiting.
- Try giving your child chamomile tea 2 -3 times a day as it helps in digestion and induces peaceful sleep in children by keeping nausea at bay. You can also add honey to it.
- Aromatic oil such as lavender oil helps cure headaches associated with nausea and induces peaceful sleep in children. Let your child inhale it to feel better.
- Cumin seeds and fennel seeds help to solve digestive issues. It also helps relieve the queasy feeling one experiences after vomiting for some children. Roast and powder the seeds, add them to hot water and let your child sip them.
- One of the most effective home remedies for vomiting in children is cardamom seeds. Grind half a teaspoon of cardamom seeds, add some sugar and give this mixture to your child to provide him relief from vomiting.
If none of the home remedies is working, here are some of the medicines available on the market, Ondansetron oral solution(ONDEM) and Vomikind syrup are two possible treatments. Ondem contains ondansetron, which is a serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. Vomikind syrup contains metoclopramide, which is a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist. Emetrol Syrup is an antiemetic that can be bought over-the-counter for use with children more than age one. It acts like old-fashioned Coke syrup and may help relieve the dry heaves.
We hope you found this article helpful! If you have any other questions or concerns about vomiting, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a consultant or your healthcare provider. And remember – every mother and baby is different, so what works for one may not work for another. Let us know your reviews in the comments below! Thanks for reading! 🙂
