What to do if a 7 month old baby vomits. What not to do if there is vomiting, but no fever. Instrumental diagnostic methods

One of the most frightening symptoms in a child, which always worries young and even experienced parents, is vomiting. A lot of questions immediately arise - what to do, how and how to help the child, do you need a doctor or can you cope on your own? In order to provide assistance correctly, it is necessary to know at least in general terms the main causes of vomiting, be able to distinguish them and correctly provide first aid.

Causes of vomiting in children.
Vomiting can occur in children of any age from infants to teenagers, but why younger child, the more naturally it occurs. In babies of the first year of life, vomiting must be distinguished from regurgitation, a physiological phenomenon in the digestive system that occurs due to the anatomical and physiological immaturity of the digestive system.

So, let’s talk about the main causes of regurgitation and vomiting in normal and pathological conditions.

Regurgitation.
The norm for infants and artificial babies is infrequent regurgitation, approximately 2-3 times a day, up to 2 tablespoons of contents, lasting up to approximately 6-9 months.

Excessive regurgitation or even vomiting can occur during overfeeding, even in healthy babies, this usually happens with artificial people who dilute the mixture not according to the calculated volume based on the actual weight, but according to the numbers indicated on the cans of the mixture (often greatly inflated). Then regurgitation or vomiting occurs without the participation of the abdominal muscles, there are no disturbances in well-being, and the process is not preceded by nausea and vomiting. This process is not dangerous and only requires recalculation of the amount of food with the pediatrician - with their correction, regurgitation is reduced or disappears completely.

In infants, the cause of regurgitation or even vomiting (sometimes even a fountain) is an improper latch on the breast with swallowing a large amount of air, or infrequent feedings with excessively greedy sucking. As a result, bloating occurs with the occurrence of colic and, as a result, overstimulation of the digestive system with regurgitation. This condition is also not dangerous for the child, but it requires consultation with a breastfeeding specialist and correction of attachment.

Frequent and persistent regurgitation can be symptoms of a neurological pathology, therefore, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician to clarify the volume of feeding, and then a neurologist.

Vomit.
Vomiting is a conditioned reflex act with the release of contents from the stomach and esophagus into the oral cavity. Vomiting is accompanied by nausea, pallor of the child, restless behavior, increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, cold hands and feet, and sweating. When vomiting, a characteristic sound occurs due to contraction of the abdominal muscles with the participation of the muscles of the neck and pharynx. In most cases, vomiting brings discomfort to the child (unlike regurgitation).

Causes of vomiting in newborns.

In children early age Parents should be alerted to a fountain of vomiting in a volume exceeding the volume of what was eaten in the first 2-4 weeks of life. Vomiting appears immediately after feeding, profusely, with an admixture of bile, the child does not gain weight, and is restless. The child urinates very rarely, he rarely has stool. This is a symptom of a dangerous surgical pathology - pyloric stenosis, a defect in the outlet of the stomach, a very narrow opening between the stomach and the small intestine, which practically does not allow food to pass into the intestines.
Measures to help such a child include hospitalization in a hospital for reconstructive surgery with pyloric plastic surgery. After discharge from the hospital, the child leads a normal life.

Another cause of vomiting can be pyloric spasm (pylorospasm); this disease occurs due to immaturity of neuromuscular connections and untimely relaxation of the muscle after feeding. Girls are more often affected; it is characterized by periodic vomiting from the first days of life, of small volume and not constantly. Vomit usually contains food mixed with bile. Children do not lose weight, although weight gain may be slow. Relief measures include more frequent feedings smaller volume, and supervision of a neurologist and pediatrician.

Another cause of vomiting in young children with a lack of stool or blood discharge from the anus is intussusception or intestinal obstruction. With such vomiting, the stomach is mute, peristalsis cannot be heard, the child is pale, screams and does not allow the stomach to be touched. He must be immediately taken by ambulance to a surgical hospital and operated on.
Attention! Persistent vomiting in newborns and children in the first months of life is not harmless. This is always either a surgical or neurological pathology. They require immediate medical attention.

Vomiting in older children.
In children from about 6 months of age, vomiting is divided into organic or associated with pathology, which means dangerous to health, and functional, associated with the influence external factors and not dangerous for the child.

Vomiting as a sign of danger.
- the most common cause of vomiting is. These are viral or microbial infections of the digestive system that affect the stomach and various parts of the intestines, most of which manifest themselves in addition to vomiting and a set of other specific symptoms. Usually this is fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite and varying degrees dehydration. Vomiting occurs due to irritation of the mucous membranes and is a protective mechanism, an attempt by the body to get rid of viruses or microbes, as well as part of the food. To give your digestion a rest.
Measures to help with intestinal infections- this means calling a doctor and strictly following all recommendations, if necessary, hospitalization in a hospital, taking medications and fighting dehydration. General recommendations for vomiting will be given slightly lower.

One of the causes of vomiting in children under 3-5 years of age is a high temperature that accompanies ARVI, influenza, sore throat, otitis media or pneumonia. Vomiting occurs as a result of toxins entering the blood and affecting the brain's vomiting center, which are formed in tissues as a result of the activity of viruses or microbes. Typically, vomiting occurs at the height of the fever and goes away quickly after the temperature drops, even without treatment.

Vomiting may be one of the symptoms of damage to the central nervous system, if these are birth injuries, then it mainly manifests itself in the first few months of life. Vomiting occurs as a result of irritation of the area of the vomiting center - compression by a tumor or hemorrhage, exposure to increased intracranial pressure, development of an abscess. Another cause of “cerebral” vomiting is exposure to toxins (for example, bilirubin in jaundice) or irritation of the meninges as a result of inflammation in tuberculosis, meningococcal meningitis, encephalitis, and concussions.
Neurological vomiting is persistent and does not bring relief to the child, weakening his strength, usually occurs at a height of increased intracranial pressure, is accompanied by headaches and sharp “brain” cries of the child, decreased pulse, impaired consciousness and even delirium.
Measures to help the child will be to immediately call an ambulance and hospitalize him in a hospital.

Vomiting without fever or signs of infection, but in connection with food intake, can be a symptom of digestive diseases - gastritis, ulcers, disorders of the liver, pancreas and gall bladder. Such vomiting occurs due to errors in nutrition, spicy, fatty or sweet foods; impurities in the vomit of mucus, bile or streaks of blood are especially dangerous.
Helpful measures include consultation with a doctor and strict adherence to all dietary and therapeutic measures prescribed by a specialist.

Sudden vomiting with pain in the stomach or right side may be a sign of acute appendicitis. Vomiting usually does not bring relief, occurs repeatedly, and the temperature may rise. Helpful measures include urgent referral of the baby to a surgical hospital and surgery.

In children who do not know how to cough effectively, vomiting may occur during coughing attacks - for example, with whooping cough, cystic fibrosis, bronchitis. In addition, vomiting can occur as a result of thick, viscous mucus flowing into the oropharynx and irritation of the root of the tongue, where the reflexogenic zone of vomiting is located.

Vomiting can occur as a result of exposure to toxins in the body - “toxic vomiting syndrome.” This occurs as a result of exposure to toxic substances directly on the vomiting center of the brain, or due to irritation internal organs and the arrival of impulses in the brain. This happens with metabolic disorders due to renal failure (ammonia intoxication), liver pathology and diabetes, and with disruption of the adrenal glands. Toxic vomiting occurs due to poisoning with alcohol, drugs, plant poisons, etc.
One of the common variants of the development of toxic vomiting is acetonemic syndrome. The child’s body is still imperfect and with some dietary errors (lots of fat and few carbohydrates), acetone may accumulate in the body, which results in vomiting, abdominal pain, and dehydration.
Measures to help with toxic vomiting include desoldering and rapid removal of metabolic products; in case of severe poisoning, hospitalization and detoxification.

Parents' actions when vomiting.
1. Call a doctor at home; in case of a serious condition, call an ambulance.
2. Pull yourself together and calm the child.
3. Place or sit the child in a comfortable position so that if vomiting occurs, the masses do not enter the respiratory tract.
4. After vomiting, wipe the child’s face with a damp towel, give him a drink or rinse his mouth, and change clothes.
5. To prevent dehydration in case of frequent vomiting, give the child a tablespoon of liquid every 5-10 minutes. You can give special solutions Oralit, Regidron, Glucosolan, or still mineral water, alternating it with weak sweet tea.
6. If vomiting does not recur and the child asks to eat, give him some porridge or applesauce.
7. If you suspect that you have taken a toxic substance, rinse your stomach before the ambulance arrives and give 2-3 glasses to drink warm water, then press on the root of the tongue, inducing vomiting. Remember, vomiting should not be caused if poisoning with acids or alkalis, phenols, or gasoline is suspected.

Benign vomiting.
These types of vomiting occur in emotional children and are associated with excessive excitability of the nervous system. With the help of vomiting, children attract the attention of their parents when they consider themselves deprived. Vomiting can occur as a manifestation of “bear sickness” when visiting a kindergarten, school, or before a performance or exam.

To actions that the child does not want to perform - force feeding, coercion to do something, punishment for wrongdoing. Typically, such children are capricious and selective in food. They do not have abdominal pain, intoxication, fever, or problems with stool.
- often vomiting can occur as a result of hysteria, due to the child’s severe overexcitation. Especially if he was punished or cried for a long time.
- in particularly sensitive children, vomiting may occur due to unpleasant pictures, exposure to unpleasant tastes or smells, or feelings of disgust.
- another option for functional vomiting is motion sickness in transport, irritation of the vestibular apparatus during a trip by car or train, bus, or flight on an airplane. Measures to help with this type of vomiting are not to feed the baby tightly or irritating foods before the trip, find a comfortable place where there is less shaking, and use special medications for motion sickness from the age of 2.

In any case, parents should remember that vomiting itself is defensive reaction body to pathological external and internal influences. Its appearance is a signal of a problem in the body and you need to approach it carefully, but without undue panic.

Vomiting is a protective reaction of the body. Together with vomit, poisons and toxins that come with poor-quality food and water are removed from the intestines. The mechanism of vomiting is as follows: when toxins enter the stomach, the vomiting center leads to compression of the walls of the organ, resulting in food particles being thrown out. Frequent vomiting in a child may occur due to various reasons, but if such a symptom is present, consultation with a pediatrician or therapist is necessary.

What causes vomiting

Highlight whole line reasons for repeated vomiting in childhood:

Abdominal diseases that require surgical treatment(eg appendicitis). Such pathologies are accompanied by severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In addition, intestinal functions are disrupted, food stagnates in the gastrointestinal tract, the stomach swells, and its walls become very tense.
Viral hepatitis, which affects the child’s liver, is accompanied by frequent vomiting, which does not bring any relief. Usually in this case the vomit is green.
Acetonemic syndrome that occurs in diabetes mellitus due to poor nutrition and for other reasons. Vomit has a sharp bad smell acetone.
Rotavirus infection is often accompanied by repeated vomiting.

If vomiting appears once, then the cause may be harmless factors. For example, with a cold or diseases of the nasopharynx, expectorated sputum can compress the root of the tongue, which will provoke a gag reflex. At night, the child may vomit due to severe fright, overeating, cough.

To alleviate the child’s condition, they give him a glass of warm water and calm him down. Then he is laid on his side and monitored until he falls asleep. If vomiting occurs several times before morning, you should consult a doctor.

Causes of vomiting in babies

Constant vomiting in a child under one year old (repeated up to 10-15 times a day) may indicate congenital defects of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as disorders of the central nervous system. Sometimes vomiting occurs small child caused by less dangerous causes. For example, this can be caused during feeding, when the mother gives the baby age-inappropriate formulas. In any case, urgent hospitalization is required.

After all Due to frequent vomiting, very rapid dehydration occurs in the baby. As a result, convulsions appear and internal organs begin to fail, which can lead to death.

Until about three months of age, all babies regurgitate food. This condition does not harm the baby’s health and is a natural process. To prevent regurgitation, the baby is picked up, the head is pressed to the chest and the back is stroked from top to bottom. But if such a process is observed constantly, you should consult a doctor to exclude pylorospasm.

If vomiting in children under 7 years of age

Periodic vomiting in a child preschool age(up to 7 years) often talks about infectious diseases x Gastrointestinal tract. In addition, night vomiting can be caused by severe intoxication of the body or helminthic infections.

Stories from our readers

Vladimir
61 years old

For preventive purposes, children are given antihelminthic drugs twice a year. Most often, cases of worm infection are observed in autumn and spring, so it is recommended to give medications at this time. For children over 7 years old, it is enough to give antihelminthic drugs once a year.

Types of vomiting in children

Repeated vomiting in children can be caused by a number of reasons. But to determine it it is necessary to turn Special attention on the color and contents of vomit. They come in several varieties:

Vomiting with mucus. This symptom is typical for infants and is considered normal. This reflex is caused by overeating, and mucus appears due to the entry of sputum from the lungs and bronchi into the vomit. In older people, this pathology occurs after taking irritating components (painkillers or antipyretics). In addition, it is a symptom of chronic gastritis.
Vomiting with bile has a greenish tint. Sometimes the color of the vomit is yellow or light green. This symptom is provoked by overeating, eating too fatty/spicy foods, and intoxication of the body.
Vomiting blood in a child is considered very dangerous condition. If such a symptom appears, the child must be hospitalized in urgently. After all, this sign often indicates internal bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. It can be caused by a stomach ulcer, ingestion foreign bodies for food. In infants, this phenomenon is sometimes caused by the mother's blood getting from the nipples into the baby's mouth along with milk.

When blood impurities are scarlet, there is a high probability of damage in the oral cavity. And vomiting in this case occurs as a result of swallowing blood. But when impurities have dark brown color, this indicates that the blood has already coagulated under the influence of hydrochloric acid. This means that the stomach or duodenum is affected.

First aid

If repeated vomiting is caused by food poisoning (when the mother knows what the child could have been poisoned with), then the sequence of actions should be as follows:

Perform gastric lavage to cleanse it of toxin. To do this, dilute 2 tsp in 2 liters of warm water. salt and soda. This solution must be given to the child to drink - he should drink about 2 glasses.
After this, the baby lies on his right side, after about 5-10 minutes a vomiting spasm should occur, due to which vomiting will begin. If this does not happen, the procedure is repeated.
You can also induce vomiting artificially - by putting 2 fingers in your mouth. However, the child must do this on his own, so if he is small, then this procedure is not suitable for him.

If vomiting occurs periodically in a baby up to 7 months, he needs to be constantly monitored. He must not lie on his back, as this may cause him to choke.- vomit is thrown into the respiratory tract, and due to lack of air the baby dies. The child is placed on his right side and his head is raised high. It's better to hold him in your arms. One way or another, you definitely need to see a doctor.

After another vomiting, the mouth is washed with boiled water. In children, the mucous membrane of the mouth is still very weak, so under the influence of hydrochloric acid from the stomach, ulcers may appear on its surface. You can rinse the oral cavity with a syringe or a large syringe without a needle.

When vomiting every 30 minutes, you need to urgently call an ambulance. This symptom may indicate serious pathologies Gastrointestinal tract. But until the doctors arrive, the child should be given as much fluid as possible. Otherwise, there is a high probability of dehydration. As a result, vital internal organs may fail, which sometimes even leads to death. You should not give your baby sweet drinks. Under the influence of sugar, gas formation increases. Dairy products are also not recommended, since milk is an excellent environment for the development of microorganisms, including pathogenic ones.

Treatment of vomiting in a child

Children should not be given medications without a doctor's prescription. Some age-inappropriate medications may cause side effects or cause acute intoxication. Although in most cases the doctor prescribes the following medications:

Motilium. This effective remedy for vomiting, which is suitable for children over three years of age. The product blocks the vomiting center, so the urge stops.
Cerucal. The drug is suitable for infants and older children. Indications for its use are disorders of intestinal motility, as well as pyloric stenosis. The product eliminates vomiting, regardless of the cause of its occurrence. However, the medicine has a number of contraindications, so it is not released without a doctor’s prescription.
Phosphalugel. This is a fairly popular remedy used to relieve inflammation on the stomach walls.. Suitable for children over 6 years old.
Smecta. It is used to relieve vomiting. This is a sorbent that combines and removes poisons and toxins from the body. Under its influence, irritated intestines calm down and gas formation decreases. Activated carbon has a similar effect on the body.

No-spa is also suitable for the treatment of intoxication, as well as its symptoms, in particular vomiting. The product is indicated for children whose weight exceeds 40 kg. The drug relieves spasms of smooth muscles.

The use of folk remedies

Frequent vomiting can be eliminated with medications traditional medicine. However, they should be used with caution. It is recommended to consult a doctor before taking them. The following methods are effective:

Helps great Dill water. To prepare it, take 1 tsp. seeds of the plant and pour 250 ml of boiling water. Then the container is placed in a water bath and cooked for 20 minutes. Leave the product until it cools completely, and then filter. The child is given 1 tsp. drug every 15 minutes. After an attack of vomiting, the baby should drink 2 tbsp. l. facilities. This folk medicine is not only effective, but also safe. Doesn't have side effects, therefore suitable for children of any age.
Strong green tea also helps. However, you should not add sugar to it. To improve the taste, you can add honey, although tea without taste is most gentle on the stomach, but not all children want to drink this. You can brew bagged green tea or herbal tea (linden, chamomile and other medicinal plants).
Very tasty and useful tool for vomiting is quince. It is effective both fresh and cooked. You can simply grate it or bake it in the oven.
Incessant vomiting in a child with bile impurities is treated with peppermint. To do this, take 2 tbsp. l. crushed leaves of the plant, which are poured with a glass of boiling water. Infuse the product for 2 hours, and then filter. The baby is given 1 tsp. medications every hour, repeating the procedure 5-6 times. The plant is characterized by a choleretic effect on the body and neutralizes spasms.

If vomiting does not stop for more than a day, be sure to give your baby plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. At home, you can also prepare a remedy that helps restore water-salt balance. In its effect on the body, it resembles rehydron. To prepare the product, take 0.5 tsp. soda and salt and fill them with a liter of water. Several crystals of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) and 4 tbsp are added to the resulting solution. l. Sahara. You can take the product immediately after preparation in small sips throughout the day.

When to see a doctor

As a rule, vomiting from food poisoning stops immediately after gastric lavage. If even after the procedure the baby’s condition worsens, a doctor’s consultation is necessary.. It is recommended to show the baby to a surgeon, who will rule out diseases that can be removed by surgery. You should also check the child with a gastroenterologist, who should rule out ulcers, liver and duodenal diseases. It is necessary to call emergency help in the following situations:

The vomit contains blood particles, which indicates serious damage to the gastrointestinal tract.
Vomiting attacks occur too often, once every 30-40 minutes. This condition can lead to complete dehydration child's body, which is fraught with serious consequences.
The body temperature rises, the child becomes very lethargic and weak, he may become delirious.
If, before the onset of vomiting, the child fell from a high distance, which caused a head injury. The symptom may indicate a concussion or closed intracranial injury. In such cases, treatment of the baby can only be carried out in a hospital setting.

You cannot treat a child at home without consulting a doctor. This can lead to very serious consequences, including the death of the baby.

Infant vomiting is very common. The reasons for it are varied. To determine them, you need to take into account age, accompanying symptoms: the presence or absence of fever, diarrhea, vomit, etc. Vomiting in a child without fever does not mean the absence of a disease, sometimes in such cases the help of a doctor is necessary. Center of the nervous system, responsible for its occurrence is located in the medulla oblongata. Impulses can come from completely different internal organs, the vestibular apparatus and cortical centers of perception. Sometimes vomiting occurs due to the effects of various toxins and drugs on the medulla oblongata.

If a child’s vomiting appears suddenly and without fever, what should be done before the doctor arrives? First aid should be provided during and immediately after gastric emptying.

Necessary:

make sure that the child does not choke - do not let his head fall back, do not lay him on his back, you need to turn his head to the side, preferably raising it by 30°;
After vomiting, rinse your child's mouth warm water or wipe the mouth, corners of the mouth and lips with a wet cotton swab. Instead of water, you can use weak disinfectant solution, for example, potassium permanganate or boric acid;
Give the child small amounts of water often; the water should be cool; for older children, cold. To eliminate the urge to vomit, you can add a few mint drops and use Regidron. For children up to one year old, give 2 teaspoons every 5 minutes, from one year to 3 years - 3, from 3 years - 4.

If the attack of vomiting is one-time and is not accompanied by fever, diarrhea, or worsening general condition child, you can wait to call the doctor.

All you need to do is carefully monitor the baby and if it worsens, additional symptoms seek medical help.

Reasons for calling an ambulance

Vomiting in a child without fever may be a sign of some serious illnesses, including those requiring immediate surgical intervention. Therefore, you should not delay seeking medical help and self-medicate.

You need to call an ambulance immediately if:

vomiting occurs frequently and does not stop;
it is not possible to give the child something to drink due to the frequent eruption of vomit;
there are additional symptoms - high fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain;
fainting, semi-fainting or, conversely, excessive excitability (crying, screaming, physical activity);
severe abdominal pain combined with bloating and constipation;
vomiting occurred after consuming products of dubious quality, chemical additives, medications;
vomiting occurred after a head injury, fall, blow - an urgent examination by a neurologist is needed;
lethargy, drowsiness, convulsions, and fever are observed.

If vomiting occurs once or twice, the stool is loose or normal, and the child drinks water normally, plays, and sleeps well, then it is not necessary to call an ambulance, but you should contact your local pediatrician.

Diseases accompanied by vomiting without fever

Some serious illnesses in a child may be accompanied by diarrhea, nausea and vomiting without fever. This is most often observed in the following diseases.

Intestinal infections: typhoid fever, etc. These diseases may be accompanied high temperature, but sometimes it remains normal. Vomiting occurs without connection with food and may occur one or more times.

The vomit is always the same. Often the diarrhea is more pronounced, the stool is liquid, sometimes with foam, mucus, Strong smell. The child is capricious and restless, exhausted, becomes drowsy and lethargic. Refuses to eat and drink and rarely or not urinates at all. Dehydration sets in.

Treatment is carried out only inpatiently in children under one year of age, in older children at home or in the hospital. Absorbent drugs, antibiotic, antiviral and rehydrating agents, and probiotics are prescribed. Painkillers and antipyretic medications can be used if necessary.

Food poisoning. Often occurs after consuming canned food, dairy products, meat and fruit purees. Nausea and vomiting occur after eating and are repeated several times. The stool is liquid and streaked with blood. Characterized by pronounced paroxysmal pain in a stomach.

General health becomes worse, the child is capricious, cries, gets tired quickly and becomes lethargic. Refuses to eat and drink. If a child is 3 years old or younger and vomiting without fever is due to food poisoning, then he needs to be hospitalized.

Treatment for older children can be organized at home. Gastric lavage is performed, absorbent agents, rehydrating drugs, prebiotics, and drugs that relieve spasms and inflammation are prescribed.

Allergy to food or medicine. Attacks of vomiting and diarrhea occur after the child has eaten. The masses contain undigested product. In addition, skin rashes, swelling of the mucous membranes, and difficulty breathing may appear. Treatment can be organized at home or in a hospital.

The basis of therapy is antiallergic drugs. Absorbents and hormonal agents may be prescribed.

Dysbacteriosis. In this condition, vomiting does not appear often, stools are foamy, and sometimes give way to constipation. Flatulence and whitish plaque in the oral cavity are detected.

Available itchy skin, peeling, rash. Treatment is carried out at home and boils down to adjusting the diet and restoring the balance of microflora with the help of probiotics.

Intussusception. Without an increase in temperature, the child vomits bile. Cramping pain in the epigastrium is accompanied by screaming and crying. The stool is jelly-like and streaked with blood. Treatment is only possible with surgery.

Acute form of gastritis, duodenitis. First, nausea appears, then profuse repeated vomiting with bile. There is bloating, pain, and loss of appetite. Therapeutic measures carried out at home. The main techniques are diet correction, frequent drinking, and taking pribiotics.

Diseases of the pancreas, liver and gall bladder. Vomiting occurs after eating, one or more times. Vomit with bile and food particles. Associated symptoms: severe epigastric pain, belching of air and gas, loss of appetite. Inpatient treatment using hepatoprotectors or drugs with enzymes, taking painkillers, following a therapeutic diet.

Diseases of the central nervous system(ischemia, hydrocephalus, tumors, intracranial pressure). Vomiting is frequent. The child's behavior changes from anxiety to lethargy. Infants also experience bulging of the fontanelle.

Depending on the disease, treatment is carried out at home or in the hospital. It involves taking medications that restore cell nutrition. For hydrocephalus and tumors - surgical methods.

Ingestion of a foreign object. Vomiting food particles with mucus, sometimes with blood. Breathing is impaired, the child is restless. Two options for help: observation and waiting for natural passage along with stool or surgical intervention.

Diseases accompanied by vomiting without fever in children under one year of age

Gastroesophageal reflux. There are few erupting masses and they have sour smell. Gastric emptying occurs immediately after feeding. The child often hiccups, cries, and worries. Hypersalvation is noted.

Treatment is possible at home. Drugs that block the release of hydrochloric acid and antacids are prescribed. It is also necessary to adjust the frequency and volume of feedings.

Pyloric stenosis. The vomit is copious, homogeneous, and is expelled under pressure half an hour after feeding. The symptom appears 2–3 days after birth. The child loses weight, dehydration and convulsions occur. Treatment is surgical and urgent.

Pylorospasm. The newborn has no profuse vomiting. Conservative treatment can be organized at home. It is recommended to feed in small portions and warm compresses on the stomach. If these methods fail, surgery is necessary.

Congenital esophageal diverticulum. There is slight vomiting of digested milk or formula. The disease leads to some weight loss and is treated surgically.

Causes of vomiting that do not require treatment

In some cases, vomiting without fever in a child does not require treatment. All you need to do is eliminate the causes of gastrointestinal dysfunction.

Regurgitation of leftover food in infants – normal phenomenon, occurring 2–3 times a day. The volume of the coming out masses is about 1–1.5 teaspoons. The reasons may be excessive food volume, horizontal position of the baby, insufficient development of gastrointestinal tract functions. In order to eliminate the symptom, you need to feed the baby with his head elevated, make a “soldier” (hold it upright) after each feeding, and do not overfeed.

Eruption of baby teeth. Vomiting is not profuse and does not affect body weight or appetite. The cause may be swallowing air or feeding during severe pain. To eliminate the symptom you need to use special gels for gums and teethers, massage the gums.

Introduction of complementary foods. Single vomiting due to insufficient amounts of enzymes, non-acceptance of the product by the child’s body. Help consists of temporarily eliminating the product.

Psychogenic vomiting in children after 3 years. It can develop against the background of stress, anxiety, or as a reaction to food refusal. It is necessary to eliminate the stressful situation; if this does not help, consult a psychologist.

Indigestion. Bouts of vomiting and loose stool with particles of undigested food. It is necessary to review the diet and give the child more liquid.

Climate change. Vomiting and diarrhea may occur once or twice, and disappear as the child adapts to new conditions.

Activities prohibited when vomiting

If a child starts vomiting, under no circumstances should you:

Perform gastric lavage if the child is unconscious.
Give your child antispasmodics and antiemetics without a doctor’s recommendation.
Perform gastric lavage using antiseptic solutions.
Choose your own antibiotics.
Do not come for a second examination if your health has returned to normal and your symptoms have disappeared.

Useful video about the causes of vomiting in a child

What to give?

Diet

All mothers and fathers know very well that vomiting in children is not such a rare occurrence. However, in practice, when faced with an attack, many are simply lost and do not know how to provide first aid to the baby, what to do and where to call. Authoritative children's doctor Evgeny Komarovsky, author of numerous articles and books on children's health, explains why vomiting happens and what adults should do about it.

About vomiting

Vomiting is a protective mechanism, a reflex eruption of stomach contents through the mouth (or nose). During an attack, the abdominal press contracts, the esophagus expands, the stomach itself relaxes and pushes everything that is in it up the esophagus. This rather complex process regulates the vomiting center, which in all people is located in the medulla oblongata. Most often, vomit is a mixture of undigested food debris and gastric juice. Sometimes they may contain impurities of pus or blood, bile.

The most common cause of childhood vomiting is food poisoning. Vomiting can occur with various infectious diseases: rotavirus infection, scarlet fever, typhus.

Less commonly, this problem is caused by accumulated toxins; this condition can occur with serious kidney disease.

Other causes of vomiting include diseases of the stomach and intestines, neurological diagnoses, and head injuries.

In children, vomiting can often be provoked by severe emotional shocks.

Kinds

Doctors distinguish several types of infant vomiting:

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

In most cases, vomiting in children begins at night. The baby wakes up from severe nausea. In this situation, it is important not to be scared or confused. Parents' actions should be calm and confident.

The younger the child, the more dangerous vomiting is for him, since dehydration can occur, which can be fatal for children.

A single vomiting (without any additional symptoms) in a child should not cause much concern for parents, says Evgeny Komarovsky. The fact is that this is how the body “cleanses” itself of accumulated toxins and food elements that the child could not digest. However, parental inaction can be fraught with tragic consequences in cases where vomiting is repeated, as well as if there are other symptoms indicating disorders in the body.

Most common reason vomiting attacks in a child - food poisoning. Poison can enter a baby’s body through various foods: dairy, meat, seafood, vegetables and fruits.

In the vast majority of cases the gag reflex is caused by nitrates and pesticides, with which fruits and vegetables are processed. Even very high-quality meat products can cause severe poisoning if they are prepared incorrectly.

Evgeny Komarovsky emphasizes that the first symptoms of food poisoning usually begin to appear between 4 and 48 hours after eating. Quite often, you can stop vomiting caused by food on your own, at home. However, Evgeny Komarovsky reminds that there are situations in which mothers and fathers should not engage in independent healing. Medical attention is required:

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

There are situations in which a child needs emergency medical attention as soon as possible. You should call an ambulance in one or more of the following conditions:

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

While waiting for the doctor to arrive, the child should be placed on his side so that during the next vomiting attack the child does not choke on the vomit. The baby should be held in your arms, on its side. There is no need to give any medications.

In order for the doctor to quickly understand the true cause of the child’s condition, parents must remember in as much detail as possible what the baby ate over the last 24 hours, what he drank, where he was and what he did. In addition, mom and dad will have to carefully examine the vomit in order to then tell the doctor about what color, consistency, and whether there is unusual smell whether there are any impurities of blood or pus in them.

Analyzing color

Dark vomit (the color of coffee grounds) may indicate serious problems with the stomach, up to peptic ulcer.

If there is an admixture of bile in the masses and there is a bitter-sweet smell, one may suspect a problem with the gallbladder and bile ducts.

Green color vomit may indicate the neurological nature of the reflex; vomiting in severe cases also occurs stressful situation when the child cannot cope with anxiety and feelings in any other way.

It is recommended to leave samples of vomit and feces of a sick child until the doctor arrives in order to show them to a specialist. This will contribute to the fastest and most accurate diagnosis the real reason condition.

Vomiting infant may be a completely natural process of development of digestive functions, but it is better if this is stated by a doctor. Komarovsky emphasizes that often in children infancy vomiting can be a completely expected cause of banal overeating if parents are too zealous in their desire to feed their child more and more calories.

Vomiting can also be of another nature - allergic, traumatic, and also inflammatory. In other words, this reflex accompanies a great variety of different diseases, some of which require prompt hospitalization followed by surgical assistance, and therefore you should not underestimate vomiting attacks.

So, parents should make every effort not to stop vomiting at any cost and try to treat something folk remedies, but in order to observe carefully. It will be just great if they can provide the following information to the doctor who comes to the call:

Frequency and periodicity of attacks (at what intervals does vomiting occur, how long does it last).
Does the child feel better after the next attack, does the abdominal pain decrease?
What is the approximate volume of vomit, its color and whether there are any impurities.
What has the baby been sick with over the past year, over the past two weeks?
What did the baby eat, and do the parents suspect food poisoning?
Has the child's weight changed over the past 2 weeks?

If a child has some of the above symptoms, but is not vomiting, Komarovsky advises inducing the reflex on his own. To do this, you need to give the baby 2-3 glasses of warm water or milk to drink, and then gently insert your fingers into the oropharynx and move them slightly. You can lightly press the root of your tongue with your fingers or a spoon.

There is no need to feed the child anything. However, drinking is a must. At the same time, you should know that drinking water from a child who is vomiting is a whole science; it must be carried out strictly according to the rules. Firstly, says Evgeny Komarovsky, drinks should be small, but very frequent. A single dose is a few sips. Secondly, the temperature of the water should be similar to body temperature, so the liquid will be absorbed more quickly, which will protect the child from dehydration. When asked what to drink, the doctor replies that the best option are oral rehydration solutions or homemade solutions saline solutions. If desired, you can give your child still mineral water, tea, compote.

Nausea is a painful feeling of the need to empty the contents of the stomach, which is not always, but often followed by vomiting, and which, as a rule, is combined with weakness, sweating and increased salivation.

Vomiting is a complex reflex act, the result of which is the eruption of the contents of the stomach (sometimes the duodenum) through the mouth (maybe through the nose). Vomiting is mainly caused by contraction of the abdominal muscles; in this case, the outlet part of the stomach closes tightly, the body of the stomach relaxes, the entrance to the stomach opens, the esophagus and oral cavity expand. It is usually preceded by nausea, involuntary swallowing movements, rapid breathing, increased secretion of saliva and tears.

Vomit usually consists of food debris, gastric juice, and mucus; may contain bile and other impurities (blood, pus). Physiologically, they represent two interrelated phenomena, and are unconscious reflexes (not subject to conscious control). These reactions of the body are protective and are aimed at removing toxic substances from it. Nausea and vomiting are associated with direct stimulation of the vomiting center, which is located in the medulla oblongata at the bottom of the fourth ventricle of the brain in diseases of the central nervous system, or occur with reflex stimulation of this center during irritation of the vomiting zones, which are the pharynx, stomach walls, peritoneum, bile ducts , mesenteric vessels), vestibular apparatus, chemical or toxic substances that enter the blood.

Nausea and vomiting are not classified as independent pathologies, and therefore the following variants of vomiting are distinguished:

central (nervous or cerebral), hematogenous-toxic (occurs when products of impaired metabolism accumulate in the blood), and reflex (or visceral).

Possible causes of nausea and vomiting in a child

Let's look at the main reasons for each option.
Thus, central vomiting occurs in diseases of the brain of an organic nature (tumors, meningitis, encephalitis, abscess). It is worth noting that in these cases, vomiting occurs suddenly, without previous nausea. The vomit consists of freshly eaten food and does not contain pathological impurities. Also causes of cerebral nausea/vomiting are cerebral edema, traumatic brain injury, and migraine.

Psychogenic vomiting, which can occur in a child as a reaction to stress, or with neuroses or mental illness, deserves special attention. May occur as a reaction to a specific food.
Hematogenous-toxic nausea/vomiting occurs with uremia (accumulation of nitrogenous metabolic products in the blood due to the body’s inability to remove them from the body), liver failure, and a decompensated form of diabetes mellitus. It is also observed when various poisons and toxins enter the bloodstream during poisoning, infections, and drug intoxications. This is characterized by severe nausea and frequent bouts of vomiting (so-called indomitable vomiting). The vomit is copious and liquid.

Reflex vomiting is associated with pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (acute and chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis). This type of vomiting is usually associated with food intake. An exception is vomiting in acute abdominal syndrome (acute appendicitis, thrombosis of mesenteric vessels (mesenteric thrombosis)).

In most cases, nausea and vomiting are not serious symptoms, but there are cases where they can be a sign of conditions that are dangerous for the child.

So, if nausea and vomiting are accompanied by severe dizziness, headache or loss of consciousness; in addition to these, there is a rise in temperature, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting are increasing over several hours/days/weeks, the vomit contains any impurities - you should definitely consult a doctor.

Often the cause of vomiting can be indicated by the nature of the vomit. Thus, vomit mixed with bile (this is indicated by the yellow-green color of the vomit) is observed when various diseases digestive system, poisoning or infectious diseases digestive tract(gastroenteritis). In this case, you need to pay attention to the presence of fever, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Vomit mixed with blood is a sign of internal bleeding. Depending on the location of the bleeding and the diameter of the affected vessel, blood in the vomit may be Pink colour with streaks (minor bleeding from small superficial vessels against the background of gastritis), scarlet, dark brown or black in color (the so-called vomiting of coffee grounds) - with dangerous bleeding from large vessels of the esophagus and stomach.

Fecal vomit indicates intestinal obstruction.

Pure, without impurities, vomit indicates vomiting of central (nervous) origin in diseases of the central nervous system.

Nausea and vomiting in diseases of the digestive system.

In the presence of diseases of the esophagus, stomach or intestines, nausea and vomiting are usually associated with food intake (occur after eating or after a couple of hours), they are also accompanied by belching, heartburn, pain and a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen. This picture occurs with gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and/or duodenum, gastroesophageal reflux, diaphragmatic hernia, etc.

If nausea and vomiting occur a couple of hours after eating, they have an increasing character throughout long period time, the cause may be pyloric stenosis (narrowing of the opening of the stomach). In this case, food cannot get from the stomach to the intestines, and “comes back” back.

Nausea and vomiting mixed with bile, which are accompanied by fever, chills, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, most often indicate the presence of an infectious disease of the digestive tract or poisoning. But these symptoms can also occur with acute appendicitis, gall or intestinal colic, intestinal obstruction.

The presence of yellowness of the skin and mucous membranes, along with nausea and vomiting, may indicate the presence of hepatitis.

Vomiting in a child (initially not associated with food intake, and then after any food or liquid intake), to which is added constant diarrhea and elevated temperature, often indicates rotavirus infection.

Nausea and vomiting in diseases of the nervous system and mental disorders.

Nausea and vomiting that occur suddenly and are accompanied by a high fever and severe headache may be a sign of meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain). He will also be characterized by fear of light and noise, severe tension in the neck muscles, irritability, and drowsiness.

Periodic attacks of headache along with fear of light, noise or smells, blurred vision, weakness in the arms and legs, nausea and vomiting are characteristic of migraine. In this case, all the symptoms occur in one attack, which lasts from several hours to several days. After the attack, the symptoms disappear, the patient feels normal.

Nausea, vomiting and dizziness after injury may be signs of a concussion or more severe complications (contusion, compression, bruise).

Benign and malignant tumors, hydrocephalus, and brain cysts are characterized by the presence of constant nausea, periodic (but not frequent) vomiting and moderate headache.

A severe, sudden headache that occurs for the first time in life, combined with nausea and vomiting, may accompany the rupture of an aneurysm (expansion of the lumen of a blood vessel due to a pathological change in its wall) of the brain vessels, and/or the formation of an intracranial hematoma.

Severe nausea and vomiting, combined with severe dizziness and a sensation of objects rotating, are observed in diseases of the vestibular apparatus (benign vertigo, inflammation (neuritis) of the vestibular nerve, tumors of the auditory nerve). The occurrence of partial or complete deafness in one ear, along with the symptoms described above, may indicate Meniere's disease.

Nausea and vomiting in diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Nausea and vomiting, along with high blood pressure and severe dizziness, indicate a hypertensive crisis, which is caused by swelling of the brain due to a sharp rise blood pressure and microcirculation disorders in the area of the brain stem, where the centers of nausea, vomiting, and dizziness are located.

On the contrary, low blood pressure combined with nausea and vomiting indicates anemia, chronic diseases or exhaustion.

Vomiting in babies

Vomiting in infants should never be confused with regurgitation. Regurgitation is a consequence of swallowing air infants during feeding. At the same time, part of the food comes out with belching. After regurgitation, the child feels well; it does not affect body weight. If a child has frequent profuse vomiting (fountain) along with weight loss (poor weight gain), pyloric stenosis can be suspected. Usually after vomiting, the child asks to eat again. Frequent regurgitation and periodic vomiting like a fountain, sometimes even through the nose, may indicate the presence of a neurological pathology in the child.

Sudden vomiting without any other signs of illness may be due to a foreign body entering the esophagus or stomach.

Sudden, profuse vomiting with severe pain in the abdomen and the presence of stool in the form of “raspberry jelly” speak of intussusception or volvulus.

Vomiting in children can also occur against the background of a strong cough, as a result of irritation of the receptors in the throat wall and the corresponding centers of the brain. And also against the background of emotional stress and personal experiences.

But, nevertheless, vomiting in children most often occurs due to infectious diseases and poisoning.

Examination of a child with vomiting

The diagnostic value of nausea/vomiting takes into account the circumstances under which these symptoms arose, the time of occurrence, and the nature of the vomit. When examining vomit, their quantity, consistency, color, smell, and presence of impurities are taken into account. If necessary, a bacteriological (for infectious diseases) or chemical (for poisoning) examination is carried out.

Although not an independent disease, vomiting can worsen the course of the underlying disease. Copious, frequent vomiting leads to tears in the mucous membrane with subsequent bleeding, exhaustion of the child’s body, dehydration, and loss of salts. This, in turn, can lead to disruption of the heart, liver, kidneys, and brain.

Treatment of nausea and vomiting in children

Treatment of nausea and vomiting is always aimed at eliminating the cause. In case of poisoning, detoxification of the body and gastric lavage are carried out. In the presence of tumors, pyloric stenosis, and intestinal obstruction, surgical intervention is necessary. Symptomatically, you can give antiemetics (metoclopramide, cerucal), prescribe hunger or diet. In case of severe dehydration, intravenous administration liquids, electrolyte solutions.

First aid for a child who is vomiting

First aid for vomiting: Place your baby on his stomach or side and turn his head to the side. If a child starts vomiting while lying on his back, then immediately turn him face down, clean the vomit from his mouth with a handkerchief or fingers and restore breathing. Call a doctor.