Toddler vomits at will?

(June 1, 2010)

Toddler Vomiting Causes

Your toddler may be vomiting for a number of reasons. Generally, toddler vomiting is not very serious and can easily be cared for at home. However, severe vomiting can also be indicative of a number of serious disorders that require immediate medical attention. If your toddler has been vomiting for longer than 48 hours, shows signs of severe dehydration and has a swollen abdomen, then you should seek medical attention immediately. In addition, if there are traces of blood and bile in your child’s vomit and if he/she has been urinating frequently and crying, you should consult your child’s pediatrician immediately to help isolate the underlying cause for vomiting. Your child may also be vomiting as a reaction to a number of other factors that you can help care for at home. For instance, your child may be vomiting as a result of a bacterial or viral infection of the stomach. While antibiotics may be necessary to treat a bacterial stomach infection, you can help treat a viral infection at home. A viral infection of the stomach or gastroenteritis, also manifests in symptoms like diarrhea, in addition to vomiting. Gastroenteritis affects the lining of your toddler’s stomach, thereby making it difficult to retain food and drink. Gastroenteritis has to run its course and cannot be treated by antibiotics. No matter what the underlying cause, while caring for toddler vomiting at home, it is important to ensure that your toddler is given a sufficient amount of fluids. This is to help prevent dehydration that could occur from a rapid loss of bodily fluids as a result of vomiting. You can continue to breast feed your child and give him/her oral rehydration fluids in addition, to help keep your toddler’s body chemistry stable. Another common reason for vomiting in toddlers is a chest congestion. Chest congestions and other respiratory infections like a cold can also commonly lead to vomiting in toddlers. Mucus that becomes trapped in your child’s airways could result in severe coughing. Coughing often leads to nausea and vomiting in children. Often, ear infections or a urinary tract infection could also lead to nausea and vomiting in toddlers.

Another common cause for vomiting in toddlers is motion sickness. Your toddler may be suffering from motion sickness that leads to frequent vomiting. This motion sickness could arise from a daily car trip that is making your toddler nauseous and uncomfortable.

Submitted by P T on June 1, 2010 at 04:08