Having a vomiting child is worrisome enough for most parents; throw in a fever, and even a veteran parent will most likely get nervous. An elevated temperature or fever and vomiting are common symptoms that could occur in children of all ages. Learn the facts about temperature and vomiting in children so you can better determine if your child needs prompt medical attention.
Causes
Most children with an elevated temperature and vomiting typically develop these symptoms as a result of gastroenteritis. According to Dr. Lisa B. Zaoutis, Director of Inpatient Services at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and coauthor of the book "Comprehensive Pediatric Hospital Medicine," over four million U.S. children require medical attention for gastroenteritis each year. Gastroenteritis may be caused by a virus or a bacteria and, in addition to fever and vomiting, typically results in diarrhea, as well as other gastric symptoms, such as stomach cramps, nausea and lack of appetite.
Considerations
Body temperature plays a key role in helping you determine whether or not your vomiting child needs medical attention. A fever typically indicates that your child is fighting an illness; as a rule, low-grade fevers are common and generally nothing to worry about. Talk to your doctor if your vomiting child is under the age of 6 years and develops a fever higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Your doctor will also most likely want to see a vomiting child over the age of 6 years who has a fever that exceeds 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending upon the severity of your child's vomiting, your doctor may recommend rectal acetaminophen in an effort to bring the fever down.
Time Frame
Although the last thing most parents want to do is monitor their children's vomiting, doing so can help you keep tabs on the severity of your child's illness. Severe vomiting usually occurs at the beginning of a gastric illness and may take place as frequently as every five to 10 minutes; in general, this intense vomiting doesn't typically last longer than eight to 12 hours, according to AskDrSears.com. In the event that it does, you should contact your doctor, as your child may have a more serious gastric infection and is at higher risk of developing complications from the illness.
Complications
Children exhibiting temperature and vomiting are typically more likely to develop dehydration, a potentially serious health condition that can occur with prolonged loss of body fluids. You can help prevent dehydration by encouraging your child to drink plenty of fluids in small amounts; clear liquids, such as oral electrolytes, typically work well. Signs of dehydration in children may include no tears when crying, decreased urination, sunken eyeballs, a dry or sticky mouth and excessive sleepiness or lethargy. If you notice any symptoms of dehydration, contact your child's health care provider immediately; in more severe cases, your child may need emergency intravenous fluids and hospitalization.
Warning
Although a child suffering from an elevated temperature and vomiting most likely has gastroenteritis, watch your child for signs of other serious illnesses, such as meningitis, a kidney infection or a blocked intestine. Symptoms that may indicate one of these potentially life-threatening conditions include severe headaches, pain or stiffness in the back of the neck, a burning sensation during urination, foul-smelling urine or severe and sudden abdominal pain. Coupled with a fever and vomiting, any one of these symptoms could be a sign of serious health problems and requires immediate medical attention.
References
- "Comprehensive Pediatric Hospital Medicine"; Dr. Lisa B. Zaoutis & Dr. Vincent W. Chiang; 2007
- AskDrSears.com: Vomiting
- MedlinePlus: Dehydration
- "Caring for Your Baby and Young Child"; Dr. Stephen P. Shelov; 2009
