Vomiting grabs parents' attention and lets them know that there is something wrong with their child. The act of vomiting helps protect your child's body from harmful germs or substances. Although vomiting in children usually isn't a cause for alarm, it is important to investigate the causes of vomiting--especially if it occurs randomly--to ensure your child gets the medical care he needs to get better.
Significance
Vomiting that occurs because of a viral infection or food poisoning usually comes on suddenly and causes your child to have repeated episodes of vomiting or diarrhea for about 24 hours. If your child's vomiting lasts more than 24 hours or occurs on a regular basis, the DrGreene.com pediatrics information site recommends taking him to the doctor for an evaluation.
Your doctor can help diagnose the causes of the vomiting and he can check your child for dehydration--one of the most common complications of frequent vomiting. Take note of any details surrounding the vomiting so that you can help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis. Pay attention to whether it happens after your child consumes a certain type of food or drink or whether it occurs at any specific time of day or night.
Potential Causes
Random vomiting in children can happen for a number of reasons, including food allergies, motion sickness, overeating and illnesses that cause a high fever. BabyCenter, a parenting and child heath website, notes that children often vomit in response to an infection in another part of the body, such as an ear infection or a urinary tract infection. Children might also vomit due to congestion or coughing due to a severe cold or respiratory infection.
Warning
Although vomiting is usually a harmless condition, it can also indicate some potentially serious medical complications, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Some of the serious illnesses that can cause random vomiting include concussions, meningitis, encephalitis, brain tumors, intestinal blockage and appendicitis. In very young babies and children, vomiting can occasionally be a sign of an intestinal blockage. It can also happen due to toxic ingestion of a poisonous substance---if you suspect your child swallowed something poisonous, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
Misconceptions
People often use the terms "spitting up" and "vomiting" interchangeably, but spitting up occurs primarily in babies and involves the painless regurgitation of small amounts of formula or breast milk. It is less forceful than vomiting and does not appear to cause babies any type of distress or pain. Spitting up is a very normal condition in babies and can occur randomly throughout the day or night.
Prevention/Solution
Your doctor will help identify and treat any underlying medical conditions that cause your child's vomiting, but you can take some simple home measures to treat vomiting due to motion sickness or overeating. Limit the number of snacks you serve your child--especially sugary ones--and control the portion sizes. Don't let your children eat and play at the same time. The Cleveland Clinic suggests controlling motion sickness by seating your child so that she faces the front windshield of your car, since watching motion out of the side windows can make motion-related nausea worse.
