The most common causes of vomiting in children include gastroenteritis, indigestion, viral infections,food allergies and severe coughing leading to vomiting. While most of the time the vomiting settles within 3-4 episodes, it can sometimes be more serious and require medical intervention. Mostly, the infections are viral and settle on their own, but sometime your child may require a course of antibiotics and probiotics.
Here are some important things to remember when your child has one or multiple episodes of vomiting:
-The child must stay hydrated at all times and must pass adequate urine.
-Children lose water, salt, and sugar due to vomiting, predisposing them to dehydration.
-Water and fluids help in flushing out the toxins from the system, clear digestion, and most importantly, to maintain hydration.
– Start Oral Rehydration Solution (O.R.S.). It contains precise amounts of salt, sugar, and water which are vital to maintain hydration.
-Give O.R.S. as small sips at intervals of 5-10 minutes. If the child vomits, wait for 10-15 minutes and then restart.
-Homemade salt and sugar solution: add 2 teaspoons (5 g each) of sugar and a pinch of salt to a glass of boiled and cooled water (200ml).
-Avoid solid foods until the vomiting settles.
-If the vomiting settles,ensure adequate salt intake by add two pinches of salt to a glass full of rice porridge (kanji).
-Other homemade fluids include coconut water, dal water, soup, buttermilk, apple juice, lemon water, plain water, vegetable juice.
-Sugar helps the intestines absorb the salt and water, thereby correcting the salt and water imbalance that occurs due to vomiting. Make sure the juice is home made and prepared hygienically.
-Lemon is rich in vitamin C and helps in fighting infections, whereas its tangy flavor helps in reducing nausea. Let the child sip a glass of water that has a fresh lime squeezed in it with a pinch of salt.
-Mix ¼ tsp powdered ginger, 1 cup apple juice, and ¼ cup water. Ginger promotes digestion, relaxes the stomach muscles, and helps in eliminating toxins. The apple will help add fruity taste to the pungent taste of ginger.
-If your child is an infant, continue breastfeeding along with O.R.S. if it’s an infant.
-Aerated drinks may increase vomiting and should be avoided. Also, they tend to add to dehydration.
-If vomiting or fever persist beyond 12 hours, consult a pediatrician.