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FAQ's on
VOMITING
 What
is the technical / medical term for vomiting ?
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Emesis is the usually employed word for the
common notion of vomiting
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Regurgitation ( Possetting ) is the term
applied specifically to the small quantity
frequent and usually universal throwing up that newborns
display.
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Why does my child vomit ?
There could be n number of
reasons why your child may be vomiting and is best addressed by your
on- the- spot Pediatrician.
Vomiting once in a while and without any associated
problems ( i.e. problems that you can readily spot ) may be caused by
the following :
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gulping down food at school rush time manage
timings such that this rush can be avoided / reduced
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excitement and over exertion soon after a meal the remedy
is in your hands
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over-eating the remedy is again in your hands !
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eating the wrong kinds of things at the wrong
time e.g. very spicy or hot foods , eating a very heavy meal and
getting to bed soon after
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aerated
drinks taken in a binge ( they cause the gas used for the fizz to
bloat the tummy and cause a vomit)
You may add your own list of common sense
situations and you may also realize that the remedy lies very much in
your hands as well as the child understanding your point ( and also
agreeing to it ! )
Then there are a host
of other situations where the tendency to vomit is increased by the
underlying problem these are usually non-serious problems and you
can readily spot the underlying problem :
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Common colds and coughs increase the tendency to
vomit : children lack the tussive force ( force of the cough that an
adult has ) and thus can not bring up the phlegm this phlegm
instead trickles down the throat and into the stomach the next
bout of cough shall more likely than not bring up the phlegm with
some food material entrapped.You will find a sticky , mucous like
vomit and the child will usually feel relieved after the vomit in
this case do not worry about the vomit.Let the cold / cough pass off
and the vomit shall follow suit.
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Fever due to any cause increases the tendency for
a vomit.
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Medicines given to reduce fever ( antipyretics
and anti inflammatories ) cause some degree of gastritis ( acidity
in the stomach ) and on their own increase the tendency for a vomit.
You MUST give these medicines ( Paracetamol , Brufen , Nimesulide
etc) after a meal / snack.
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Jaundice ( Hepatitis ) always has a nasty and troublesome
vomit associated with an almost nil appetite. Forced feeding ,
natural anxiety of the mother to push in food in a child who is
absolutely averse to eat and the basic disease process these all
club together and cause misery to the child and the family. Go slow
do not expect the child to eat for as long as even a week watch
helplessly his getting weaker by the day there is nothing much
that you can do except take your Pediatricians prescription for
drugs that reduce vomiting even then there shall be some vomits
and you shall find your Pediatrician sharing his helplessness with
you ! ( sounds too clinically cold ! Sorry !! )
And then there can be several other causes ( the
list is almost endless often becomes a problem for your Pediatrician
also to decide why the child vomits ) :
THESE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU CAN JUST NOT AFFORD
TO SIT AT HOME , READING THIS PAGE ON THE INTERNET AND PLAYING
DOCTOR DOCTOR :
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fever
with headache with vomit : may need to rule out Meningitis ( Brain
Fever) or Encephalitis ( usually a viral infection of the Brain )
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headache with vomit : may need to rule out Brain
Tumors and other potentially serious internal problems
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headache
with vomit with some vision related disturbances ( visual phenomena)
: Migraine and Epilepsy may need to be looked into.
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headache
with vomit with alteration in the mental status ( level of
consciousness , alertness and alteration in the sleep / wake pattern
) : this could be an indicator of Meningitis
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fever
with / without pain in the tummy with yellow eyes / yellow urine
with loss of appetite : Jaundice ( Hepatitis ) is what you may be
seeing.
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fever with pain in tummy with vomit : may be an
acute attack of Appendicitis
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loose motions with vomiting with reduced urine
output : Gastroenteritis
( commonly and inappropriately known as Food Poisoning )
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whistling
sounds in the ear ( or any other peculiar feeling / sound in the ear
) with / without associated dizziness / giddiness ( chakkar ) with
vomiting : Wax in the ears irritating the ear drum and causing this
troublesome complaint. This combination may also be seen in Meniere
Disease ( a special situation that is best addressed by your
Pediatrician or an ENT Doctor .
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Sour eructations ( khatti dakar - belching )
with a feeling of fullness in the tummy a bloated feel , with
tendency to vomit ( nausea ) or actual vomiting : Gastritis / Reflux
Esophagitis ( commonly known as Acidity ) is not uncommon in
children .
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Bloated sensation in tummy , fullness after meals
, irregular bowel habits , may or may not be associated with pain
during passing stools : Irritable Bowel Syndrome ( I B S ) : a
pretty common condition in adults not uncommon in children either.
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