Nausea and Vomiting, Pediatric
Nausea is a feeling of having an upset stomach or a feeling of having to vomit. Vomiting is when stomach contents are thrown up and out of the mouth as a result of nausea. Vomiting can make your child feel weak and cause him or her to become dehydrated.
Dehydration can cause your child to be tired and thirsty, to have a dry mouth, and to urinate less frequently. It is important to treat your child's nausea and vomiting as told by your child's health care provider.
Nausea and vomiting is most commonly caused by a virus, which can last up to a few days. In most cases, nausea and vomiting will go away with home care.
Follow these instructions at home:
Medicines
Give over the counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child's health care provider. Do not give your child aspirin because of the association with reye's syndrome.
Eating and Drinking
give your child an oral hydration solution, if directed. This is a drink that is sold at pharmacies and retail stores.
Encourage your child to drink clear fluids, such as water, low calorie popsicles, and fruit juice that has extra water added to it. Have your child drink slowly and in small amounts. Gradually increase the amount.
Continue to breastfeed or bottle feed your infant. Do this in small amounts and frequently. Gradually increase the amount. Do not give extra water to your infant.
Have your child drink enough fluids to keep his or her urine pale yellow.
Avoid giving your child fluids that contain a lot of sugar or caffeine, such as sports drinks and soda.
Encourage your child to eat soft foods in small amounts every three to four hours, if your child is eating solid food. Continue your child's regular diet, but avoid spicy or fatty foods, such as pizza or French fries.
General Instructions
make sure that you and your child wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer. Make sure that all people in your household wash their hands well and often.
Have your child breathe slowly and deeply when he or she feels nauseous.
Do not let your child lie down or bend over immediately after he or she.
Watch your child's condition for any changes. Tell your child's health care provider about them.
Keep all follow up visits. This is important
Contact a healthcare provider if:
Your child's nausea does not get better after two days.
Your child will not drink fluids.
Your child vomits every time he or she eats or drinks.
Your child feels lightheaded or dizzy.
Your child has any of the following: a fever, a headache, muscle cramps, or a rash.
Get help right away if:
Your child is vomiting, and it lasts more than 24 hours.
Your child is vomiting and the vomit is bright red or looks like black coffee grounds.
Your child is 1 year old or younger and you notice signs of dehydration: these may include a sunken soft spot on his or her head, no wet diapers in six hours, increased fussiness.
Your child is one year older older and you notice these kinds of hydration including: no urine and eight to 12 hours, dry mouth or cracked lips, not making tears while crying, sunken eyes, sleepiness, weakness.
Your child is younger than three months and has a temperature of 100.4 or higher.
Your child is 3 months to three years old and has a temperature of 102.2 or higher.
Your child has other serious symptoms including:
stools that are black or bloody, or stools that look like tar.
A severe headache a stiff neck or both.
Pain in the abdomen or pain when he or she urinates.
Difficulty breathing or breathing very quickly.
A fast heartbeat.
Feeling cold and clammy.
Confusion.
These symptoms may represent a serious problem that is an emergency do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away. Get medical help right away. Call your local emergency service 911