Dr. Komarovsky: what to do if a child vomits

A child throwing up out of the blue can worry any parent. It’s normal to be concerned about the cause and possible solutions. It can help to reduce tension in the situation to know what to do.

Well-known pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky provides parents with straightforward guidance on how to handle their child’s vomiting. He describes the reason behind it as well as the urgent steps to take.

It can make a big difference to understand when vomiting indicates a more serious problem and when it’s just a typical illness. Dr. Komarovsky gives parents precise instructions so they can confidently handle the circumstance.

About vomiting

Vomiting is the body’s defense mechanism, a reflexive outflow of stomach contents via the mouth (or nose). The esophagus widens, the stomach itself relaxes, and the abdominal press contracts, pushing everything within the stomach up the esophagus during an attack. The vomiting center, found in the medulla oblongata in all humans, controls this rather intricate process. Vomit typically consists of a combination of stomach juice and undigested food particles. They occasionally might have mixtures of bile, blood, or pus.

Food poisoning is the most frequent cause of vomiting in children. Many infectious diseases, including typhoid, scarlet fever, and rotavirus infection, can cause vomiting.

Less frequently, toxins that have accumulated over time can cause this issue; severe kidney diseases can cause this condition.

Additional reasons for vomiting fits include intestinal and stomach disorders, brain traumas, and neurological conditions.

Strong emotional shocks can often induce vomiting in children.

Types

Physicians differentiate between various forms of vomiting in children:

  • Cyclic vomiting (acetonemic).
  • Renal.
  • Hepatogenic.
  • Diabetic.
  • Cardiac.
  • Psychogenic.
  • Cerebral.
  • Bloody.

Children typically start vomiting at night. The infant awakens from excruciating nausea. It’s critical in this circumstance to remain calm and composed. Parents should act with confidence and composure.

Vomiting is more dangerous for a younger child because it can lead to dehydration, which can be fatal for infants.

Parents shouldn’t be overly concerned if their child throws up just once and exhibits no other symptoms, according to Evgeny Komarovsky. The truth is that the child’s inability to digest certain foods causes the body to be "cleaned" of toxins that have accumulated. However, if there are other symptoms that point to a disturbance in the body, or if vomiting occurs repeatedly, parental inaction may have tragic results.

Food poisoning is the most frequent cause of vomiting fits in children. A baby’s body may absorb poison from a variety of foods, including dairy, meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits.

The majority of the time, pesticides and nitrates used to treat fruits and vegetables are the cause of the gag reflex. If cooked incorrectly, even very high-quality meat products can result in severe poisoning.

Food poisoning typically manifests as symptoms 4 to 48 hours after consumption, as noted by Evgeny Komarovsky. Vomiting brought on by food can frequently be stopped on its own, at home.

Evgeny Komarovsky does point out that there are circumstances in which parents shouldn’t take care of themselves. The following conditions necessitate medical assistance:

  • Children from 0 to 3 years old.
  • Children who have vomiting against the background of an elevated body temperature.
  • Children who have vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain (all together or only some of the symptoms) for more than two days.
  • Children who are not “alone” in their illness (if other household members have similar symptoms)

There are instances where a child requires immediate access to emergency medical care. Any one or more of the following circumstances should prompt the call for an ambulance:

  • Vomiting occurred after eating mushrooms.
  • Vomiting is so intense that the baby cannot drink water.
  • Vomiting is accompanied by clouding of consciousness, incoherent speech, impaired coordination of movements, yellowing of the skin, dry mucous membranes, the appearance of a rash.
  • Vomiting is accompanied by a visual increase (swelling) of the joints.
  • Against the background of repeated vomiting, there is no urination for more than 6 hours, urine has a dark shade.
  • In vomiting and (or) feces, there are impurities of blood, pus.

The child must be placed on his side while waiting for the child to arrive in order to prevent choking on vomit during the next gag. It is best to hold the thoracic peanut with one hand, sideways. There’s no need to administer medication.

Parents should have as much detail as possible about what the baby ate, drank, where he was, and what he did over the course of the previous day so that the doctor can determine the real reason for the child’s condition. In addition, mom and dad will need to thoroughly inspect the vomit in order to later report to the doctor its color, consistency, peculiar smell, and presence of blood or pus impurities.

Analyzing the color

Vomit that is dark (like coffee grounds) could be a sign of more serious stomach issues, such as peptic ulcer disease.

You may be suspicious of gallbladder and bile duct issues if the masses contain bile and smell bitter-sweet.

Vomiting that has turned green could be a sign of a neurological reaction. This is also the case when a child throws up during an extremely stressful event or when they are unable to find another way to deal with their anxiety.

Samples of a sick child’s vomit and feces should be kept until the doctor arrives so that a specialist can examine them. This will help identify the real cause of the ailment and facilitate the quickest and most accurate diagnosis possible.

It is best if a doctor confirms that vomiting in a baby is a perfectly normal process of the development of digestive functions. If parents are overly enthusiastic about giving their child more and more calories, Komarovsky highlights that vomiting in infants is frequently a perfectly normal cause of banal overeating.

Different types of vomiting can also occur, such as allergic, traumatic, or inflammatory vomiting. Put another way, you should not undervalue vomiting attacks because this reflex is associated with a wide range of diseases, some of which necessitate immediate hospitalization and subsequent surgical assistance.

Therefore, parents should try their hardest to watch their children closely rather than trying to stop vomiting at all costs and treating the condition with home remedies. If they can provide the following information to the doctor when they respond to the call, that would be fantastic:

  • Frequency and periodicity of attacks (at what intervals vomiting occurs, how long it lasts).
  • Does the child feel better after another attack, does the pain in the abdomen decrease.
  • What is the approximate volume of vomit, its color and are there any impurities.
  • What illnesses has the baby had in the last year, in the last two weeks.
  • What did the baby eat, do the parents suspect food poisoning?.
  • Has the baby"s weight changed in the last 2 weeks?.

Dr. Komarovsky counsels parents to remain composed and keep a close eye on the child when they vomit, giving them tiny sips of water and avoiding food until the vomiting stops. He stresses the significance of staying hydrated and keeping an eye out for symptoms of dangerous illnesses like infection or dehydration. It’s critical to consult a doctor if the vomiting continues or if it’s accompanied by additional symptoms.

Step Action
1 Keep the child calm and lying on their side
2 Ensure they drink small sips of water
3 Do not feed solid food for a few hours
4 Monitor for signs of dehydration
5 Consult a doctor if vomiting persists

The most crucial thing to do if your child is throwing up is to remain composed and act quickly. Offer them tiny sips of water or rehydration solutions to monitor their level of hydration. This aids in preventing dehydration, which young children are susceptible to rapidly.

Keep an eye out for warning indicators like fever, drowsiness, or recurrent vomiting. If you notice any of these, you should see a doctor straight away as they may be signs of something more serious.

Dr. Komarovsky stresses that most vomiting episodes resolve on their own with appropriate care. Prioritize your child’s comfort and hydration, and don’t be afraid to seek medical attention if necessary.

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Svetlana Kozlova

Family consultant and family relationship specialist. I help parents build trusting relationships with their children and each other. I believe that a healthy atmosphere in the home is the key to happiness and harmony, which I share in articles and recommendations.

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