Vomiting, in itself, is not a sickness--it is a symptom of an underlying condition. Vomiting occurs when the contents of the child's stomach are forced upwards through the esophagus and out of the mouth. There are different causes of excessive vomiting in children, the most common of which is a viral gastrointestinal infection, often called the stomach flu. Vomiting is common in children and usually does not require medical attention.
Causes
Although the stomach flu is the most common trigger for vomiting in children, other causes include some medications, motion sickness, food poisoning or food allergies, and head trauma. Less common reasons for excessive vomiting in children include brain tumors or brain injury. According to Johns Hopkins Children's Center, disorders of the liver, intestines, gallbladder and pancreas can lead to vomiting as well. Treatment of vomiting depends on the underlying condition.
Eating Disorders
Excessive vomiting is an important symptom of eating disorders. If your child shows signs of having anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, he or she may be forcing vomiting in order to purge food. Routine, excessive vomiting can lead to a multitude of other complications, including throat problems from stomach acid that comes up during vomiting; dental problems, such as corrosion of tooth enamel; and dehydration, which is a serious condition in itself. Contact a physician immediately if you suspect your child has an eating disorder.
Dehydration in Children
A child can become dehydrated quickly if excessive vomiting lasts 24 hours or more. Dehydration can be life threatening if untreated. Children should drink plenty of fluids, such as water, fruit juice or ginger ale, to replace the fluids lost due to excessive vomiting. Infants younger than one year should not be given plain water; they should have breast milk, formula or an oral electrolyte solution to replenish their fluids. Always check with your physician for the correct amount of fluids for an infant.
Signs of Dehydration
If your child has signs of dehydration, try to replace his or her fluids as noted above, and contact a physician as soon as possible. Some signs of dehydration include increased thirst, dry mouth, no tears when crying, sunken eyes and infrequent urination. For an infant, the soft spot on his or her head will appear somewhat sunken, or flatter than normal.
Warning
Always call 911 if you suspect that vomiting is caused by your child ingesting poisons or medications. If your child begins to vomit after a head injury, this can be an emergency situation. Other signs that indicate an illness that is more serious than the stomach flu include vomiting blood, vomiting fluids that are bright green or yellow, vomiting accompanied by a fever, or if your child's stomach is bloated or feels hard and painful between episodes of vomiting.
