Vomiting can be a scary experience for children, as well as parents. The good news is that infections that cause vomiting typically do not last for a long period of time. However, when your child vomits, he or she is at risk for dehydration, which can be dangerous to her health. Knowing the signs of dehydration, as well as how to prevent dehydration, will help your child along the road to a fast recovery.
Causes
The most common cause of vomiting in children is viral gastroenteritis, or "stomach flu," which is an irritation of the gastrointestinal tract caused by a virus. Vomiting that occurs without any other symptoms for longer than 24 hours may be a sign of a more serious condition, such as appendicitis.
Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration
Dehydration can occur if your child does not replenish fluids lost from vomiting. Watch for these signs of dehydration: a decrease in the production of urine, dark colored urine, increase in thirst, irritability, dry mouth, sunken soft spots on the top of the head, lack of tears when crying, irritability, lethargy, fatigue, dizziness and skin that is cool or dry to the touch.
Risk for Dehydration
The risk for dehydration may be determined according to the severity of vomiting. A child is considered at mild risk if he or she vomits one to three times a day, at moderate risk if he or she vomits four to 10 times a day and at severe risk if he or she vomits all or almost all that is consumed. The length of time the child has been vomiting should also be taken into account.
Treatment
Vomiting causes the loss of fluids and electrolytes, so these need to be replenished to avoid dehydration. The Nemours Foundation offers several tips to rehydrate your child. Do not give your child dairy products or solids. This can worsen vomiting. Use an oral electrolyte solution, such as Pedialyte, to replace electrolytes. Babies may be given one tablespoon of electrolyte solution every 15 to 20 minutes, and children may be given one to two tablespoons every 15 minutes, as well as ice chips, ginger ale, clear broth and ice pops. If your child is able to tolerate this and has not vomited for three to four hours, you may slowly increase the amount of fluids. If your child has not vomited for eight hours, then you may continue to breastfeed as normal and slowly bring back formula into the diet. Children without vomiting for eight hours can eat a bland diet such as applesauce, rice, plain toast, crackers and cereal. Your child can go back to his normal diet if there has been no vomiting for 24 hours.
Warning
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you call your doctor in the following situations: your child acts confused; blood or bile is present in the vomit; your child has a fever of over 104 degrees Fahrenheit that does not improve within two hours of receiving medication; your child is less than 12 weeks old and has a fever greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or has vomited more than two times; your child is less than 12 months of age and vomits an electrolyte solution more than three times and has watery diarrhea; or if she vomits everything you have given her for more than eight hours.
