An ideal vacation is a vacation with your beloved children. The sea is also a great opportunity to strengthen children’s health and improve their immunity. However, a child’s vomiting at sea can ruin a planned vacation. Before answering the question of how to deal with this condition, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms and reasons that caused it.
Causes of vomiting without fever
Vomiting that is not accompanied by a fever may have several causes. For convenience of consideration, they can be divided into three groups.
Common reasons
In these cases, the child will experience one-time, less often two-time vomiting without fever and diarrhea.
Binge eating
The most common reason is that the child ate too much. This happens most often if the baby is fed with active entertainment: without focusing on the process of eating, he can unnoticeably fill his stomach to capacity, and then “give” it all back, especially if physical activity begins after eating.
Too heavy, fatty foods
The child's body does not yet produce enough enzymes to cope with complex animal fats and other heavy foods. And if the child’s stomach is not able to digest the incoming product, he will simply get rid of it through vomiting.
Reaction to complementary foods
In children under one year of age, vomiting may occur as a result of a reaction to a new product introduced into complementary foods, or to an increase in the dose of a previously introduced product. As in the case of fatty foods for older children, the baby’s stomach “understands” that it is not able to digest this volume of product.
The reaction to complementary feeding does not occur instantly, but within 1.5-2 hours after eating. That is why it is recommended to introduce all new foods into complementary foods strictly in the first half of the day, so that an unexpected reaction (rash, and most importantly vomiting) does not overtake the baby during night sleep.
Excess mucus in the nasopharynx
Mucus that fills a child's nose during an acute respiratory viral infection can cause vomiting. Children are not always able to blow their nose properly; as a result, mucus accumulates in the nasopharynx, flows down the back wall, is swallowed and provokes vomiting.
In this case, parents may observe mucus in the vomit - it looks scary, but if the child really has a runny nose at this moment, then vomiting is most likely a consequence of it and in itself should not be a cause for concern.
The cause of copious mucus in the nasopharynx may not only be ARVI. This may be a reaction to strong irritating odors (perfumes, paints and varnishes) or to a very dusty room.
Foreign body
Vomiting without fever may be an attempt by the body to “bring back” an accidentally swallowed small object. In this case, there may be blood in the vomit, and breathing may be difficult. Check if the baby had access to small parts, if all the buttons, coins and small soldiers are in place to rule out this option. Attention! In this case, vomiting may be repeated.
Psychological reasons
Against the background of a tense emotional state - fears, anxieties, compulsion to do something - children may experience severe nausea and vomiting.
This condition is more typical for children over 3 years of age.
Gastrointestinal diseases
Food poisoning
The most common culprits of food poisoning are dairy products and confectionery products with rich cream, the storage conditions of which were violated. The first symptoms of poisoning, as a rule, appear 2-2.5 hours after eating a questionable product. The child feels nauseous, he feels the urge to vomit, visually it seems to the parents that the child’s stomach hurts in the upper part, but when pressure is applied, the stomach is soft and non-painful, pressure does not cause violent protest.
The mechanism of the gag reflex
There are two mechanisms for the development of gagging: peripheral and central (cerebral).
- The peripheral mechanism is carried out due to direct mechanical effects on the receptors of the stomach, and the central one as a result of the action of unfavorable factors on the central nervous system.
- Mechanical causes include: overeating, excess sweets. To the central ones: food toxic infection (poisoning), increased intracranial pressure, tumors. Those. These are all factors that irritate the vomiting center in the brain.
The vomiting center is located in the medulla oblongata. Its excitement leads to the implementation of the gag reflex.
What do the reasons indicate?
Vomiting after eating
If nausea and vomiting occurred immediately after eating, this is most likely caused by the fact that the child overate, and immediately after eating began to move actively, or the food was too fatty or heavy. If a child feels nauseous and vomits a couple of hours after eating, and there is no increase in temperature, this may be a sign of food poisoning.
Vomiting with bile
Vomiting with bile or vomiting only bile most often indicates that the child's stomach is empty: if this is a repeated episode of vomiting, all the contents have already left the stomach, but it is still irritated and experiencing spasms, throwing out bile.
If the stomach is not empty, but there is bile in the vomit, this may be a sign of acute gastroenteritis.
Vomiting water
If, after a single vomiting, you give a child a drink of water without limiting the amount, then too much water will immediately provoke repeated vomiting - and the vomit will consist mainly of water. That is why you should give water to a child who is vomiting in small, fractional portions.
Vomiting and diarrhea
If vomiting is accompanied by diarrhea, chills and weakness, this most likely indicates an acute intestinal infection. In this case, fluid loss increases, and it is especially important to maintain the body's water and electrolyte balance.
Viral infection: a dangerous gift from the beach
Children can catch E. coli or infection both in water and on land. Warm and humid air, large crowds of people, and garbage left by vacationers are an ideal environment for “beach” infections.
The following symptoms will indicate that your baby has contracted the virus:
- clouding of the eye sclera;
- frequent and loose stools that are greenish in color and contain mucus;
- convulsions;
- pale skin;
- fever.
What to do in this case? Be sure to call a doctor. If vomiting continues, you need to give water every 5 minutes, a teaspoon, and bring down the temperature with antipyretic drugs. Children's "Nurofen" or "Paracetamol" cope well with this task.
For very small children, rectal forms of drugs are needed (the same “Nurofen” in suppositories or inexpensive “Cefekon”). In severe cases of the disease, you should not refuse hospitalization.
What to do if a child vomits?
Vomiting itself is not a dangerous condition, even if the baby experiences unpleasant nausea and weakness - on the contrary, it is a natural reaction of the body to an irritant, it is a mechanism by which the body is cleansed of “unnecessary” (toxic substances, harmful microorganisms, mucus, etc.). d.). There is no need to immediately relieve this symptom with any antiemetics (cerucal, motilium, imodium). On the contrary, using such remedies without a doctor’s prescription can greatly harm the child - after all, this is how you “lock” the infection or toxins inside the child’s body.
Preventive measures during a trip to the sea
In order to get the maximum benefit from a trip to the sea, you need to stay at the resort for at least 3 weeks. During this period, many unpleasant surprises can happen. To prevent them, follow these preventive measures:
- do not buy food on the beach, in spontaneous markets and stalls that are not equipped with a refrigerator;
- check the expiration dates of products before purchasing;
- do not take perishable foods with you to the beach - it is better to limit yourself to pre-washed fruits and vegetables;
- if you plan to have a snack on the beach, take care to follow hygiene rules (wipes, disinfectant sprays);
- always take with you a first aid kit with a minimum set of medications, as well as a sufficient amount of clean drinking water;
- Don't forget about the need for UV protection.
When is medical help needed urgently?
- You are unable to give your child something to drink, or when he vomits, he loses the entire amount of liquid he drinks.
- You are seeing signs of dehydration
- You see blood or something that looks like coffee grounds in the vomit (black stuff in the vomit)
- You suspect that your child may have eaten or drunk toxic substances, plants, or medications
- You notice that your child is confused, delirious, or complains of a severe headache, and you are unable to bend the child's relaxed neck so that the chin touches the sternum
- There are complaints of severe abdominal pain, and after an attack of vomiting the pain does not subside
- Having difficulty urinating
- Difficulty breathing in a child
Food poisoning
This is another common cause of vomiting and diarrhea in a child at sea. He can become poisoned due to eating food prepared from low-quality or expired products.
Poisoning develops through several stages:
- acute onset with frequent vomiting, starting 2-6 hours after eating;
- frequent diarrhea with watery masses containing greens and blood;
- stomach pain and sometimes headaches;
- low-grade fever, sometimes fever.
The child becomes lethargic, drowsy, and refuses to eat. If dehydration develops, this can be noticed by pale and dry skin and weight loss.
How can you get poisoned at sea?
Doctors have long found out that poisoning is most often caused by:
- boiled seafood;
- milk and products made from it;
- cakes with cream and cream;
- meat pies, pasties;
- fruits and berries.
All this food is often sold on beaches in poor conditions and often sits in the heat for hours until it is purchased.
Features of vomiting in infants
Vomiting without fever in a child of the first year of life can be provoked by almost all of the reasons listed above. However, it is important to take into account a number of features of this condition in infants.
First of all, it is necessary to distinguish vomiting from regurgitation. Spitting up is completely normal for infants. Normally, a healthy baby can regurgitate a volume of up to 2 tablespoons after each feeding, and copious regurgitation in a fountain is acceptable once a day. In the first weeks, an inexperienced mother may think that the baby has vomited a lot, almost everything he has eaten, and mistake it for vomiting, especially since the baby’s condition is difficult to assess; the baby has no opportunity to complain that he is feeling sick.
Possible complications
As mentioned above, dehydration is a common complication. This, in turn, leads to circulatory disorders.
Syndromes are also distinguished:
- Mallory–Weiss syndrome is characterized by esophagogastric bleeding manifested by vomit mixed with scarlet blood.
- Mendelssohn's syndrome develops when inhaling vomit, leading to suffocation. Possible death. May be complicated by the occurrence of pneumonia, bronchitis,
- Boerhaave syndrome can occur during severe vomiting and manifest as a rupture of the esophageal wall and the development of inflammation.
What to do after?
When the acute condition has passed and the bouts of vomiting no longer recur, you can begin to offer the child food. No need to insist! Give the opportunity to eat according to your appetite. After food intake, it may well be reduced. You should start with light dishes: fruit or berry jelly, compote, biscuits, weak tea with crackers, rice porridge, noodles, baked apples. You can offer soups, but not with fatty broth. After 2-3 days you will be able to eat a normal diet, but fatty, fried, and too spicy foods. Remember that a child's stomach still needs to be restored to normal, so give food in small portions, but often.
In general, vomiting in a child that occurs without fever should not be a reason for panic, but is always a reason to consult a doctor in person or by phone and carefully monitor the child.
Tests that a child needs to undergo
During the examination, the doctor:
- measures the child’s temperature, pressure, breathing rate;
- establishes the degree of dehydration based on visual signs;
- assesses the child’s condition for signs of poisoning or infectious diseases;
- studies vomit and feces for the presence of impurities in them;
- asks parents clarifying questions: when did the vomiting start, how long has the child been sick, what infectious diseases has he suffered, have there been any surgeries, has there been a change in weight, and many others.
To clarify the diagnosis, general blood and urine tests will be taken from the child in a hospital setting. If there is a suspicion of toxic substances in the body, the baby will immediately undergo a gastric lavage procedure.
The hospital may need to conduct additional tests:
- Ultrasound examination of the brain will help determine the presence of brain disorders and structural integrity;
- Ultrasound of the abdominal region, which allows you to determine the size of the spleen, lymph nodes, liver, and the presence of problems with the digestive organs;
- Endoscopic studies.
To clarify the diagnosis, the child will be offered consultations with a cardiologist, neurologist, gastroenterologist, and urologist. Subspecialists will help confirm symptoms and be able to prescribe qualified treatment.
Expert opinion
Irina Katykova
Pediatrician, pediatric neurologist
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Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
Any diseases of the digestive system of non-infectious pathogenesis may be accompanied by vomiting. Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus, stomach and intestines (acute gastritis, gastroduodenitis) causes a gag reflex soon after eating. The condition requires observation by a gastroenterologist and appropriate treatment.
Vomiting can also develop in response to taking antibiotics and some other medications, against the background of a headache, fever, diet change, and when a foreign body enters the digestive organs.
Psycho-emotional factors
Additional causes of this condition can be psycho-emotional factors - nervous vomiting develops in response to fear, resentment and excitement.
Demonstrative vomiting aimed at attracting attention from others. In all these cases, the condition may not be health threatening, but attacks of vomiting may continue to occur under similar circumstances.
