Dryden
Brown Ltd
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TRAVEL
HEALTH
VOMITING
We vomit
when the stomach will not tolerate the food it takes in.
The quickest way for the stomach to get rid of the food
is back upwards. This happens when the stomach is irritated
by an infection or a poison/toxin. With an infection (gastroenteritis)
there is usually diarrhoea and fever. When vomiting results
from an infection, it generally lessens after 24 hours.
A trace of blood may be seen in the vomit. This is commonly
from broken blood vessels in the gullet, due to retching
and is no cause for concern. More blood than this could
point to abdominal bleeding and you should call the doctor
straight- away. Vomiting is common in early pregnancy.
CHILDREN OVER 1 YEAR
Children tend to vomit more readily than adults. The cause
may be harmless but it can also be very serious. Usually
the cause is physical, but vomiting may also be triggered
by anxiety or fear.
What
you can do yourself
If you do not feel thirsty, it is best for the first
couple of hours to allow the stomach to settle and
do not eat or drink anything. Then begin with little
sips of water or very dilute fruit juices or still
lemonade. If this stays down, and you feel hungry,
take some clear soup or water with sugar. Then switch
slowly to more solid food like toast or plain boiled
rice. Avoid milk and other dairy products as well
as meat and fatty foods for 72 hours.
BABIES
At the start, try to give water, a teaspoonful at
a time. If bottle feeding use 1/2 oz water. If breast
feeding, do not stop but give extra fluids. Avoid
formula milk unless baby refuses all other fluid.
In which case give it diluted, for example 1/4 strength
formula milk. When the vomiting has settled, change
from water to 1/4 strength powdered milk, and increase
to 1/2 then full strength if vomiting does not start
again. If it re-starts, go back to the earlier strength
that was tolerated.
CHILDREN OVER 1 YEAR
Children can find vomiting frightening. So try to
give reassurance by talking calmly when it happens.
Try not to panic. Hold the child while he or she
is vomiting.
Be sure to replace the loss of fluid and the salts
and sugars it contains. Ideally do this with a fluid
containing sugar and salt.
The best is a fluid called ORS (oral rehydration
solution) which you prepare from powder or tablets
available from a pharmacy. Ask a pharmacist for
advice. Give small quantities of this fluid regularly.
Some children do not like ORS so it is best to give
very dilute fruit juices or dilute still lemonade
instead. A child that is vomiting and yet is drinking
always retains a little of the fluid. If your child
does not mind, try waiting two hours after vomiting
has stopped and then continue with the fluids.
If the fluid stays down you can try some toast or
crackers after a few hours. Do not force food on
the child if it does not want it or if the child
vomits again directly after eating.
If the child is vomiting yet has no other symptoms
of illness and appears well otherwise, it may have
eaten too many sweets or be upset about something.
Vomiting accompanies most children's illnesses.
Children with throat, ear or other infections often
also have diarrhoea and fever. Usually this goes
away within 24 hours. Children often vomit when
they are starting a cold. Ask a pharmacist for advice.
BABIES
A mouthful of milk often comes up with a burp, 'posseting'.
This is not serious. Coughing increases the pressure
in the stomach. In babies and small children the
muscle 'valve' at the entrance to the stomach then
opens easily. However, if babies vomit forcefully
(projectile vomiting) this could mean a blockage
of the gastrointestinal tract (intestines). This
usually only occurs in the first six weeks of life.
Contact a doctor
If you vomit for longer than a day and are not feeling
better (even if you are aware of migraine).
If you are pregnant and vomiting continuously for
24 hours.
Contact a doctor immediately
If you are vomiting and have abdominal pain (stomach
ache) that is getting worse.
If you are vomiting blood or blood-like fluid. The
fluid may look like 'coffee grounds'.
With sudden headache and vomiting (not if you are
aware of migraine).
CHILDREN
If your child vomits for longer than one day.
If your child also is not able to drink.
If your child is generally unwell.
If your child also has a high fever.
BABIES
At this age you should really always contact a doctor
quickly when there is frequent vomiting.
If for several hours the baby does not want to drink.
If the baby also appears to have abdominal pain.
If you find blood in the vomit.
If the baby starts to vomit after a fall.
If the baby is unusually drowsy and not reacting
normally.
If the eyes are sunken, the mouth dry and the baby
appears to have lost weight.
If the baby passes no urine or very little urine
in 12 hours. n If the baby continues to vomit forcefully
(projectile vomits).
If the baby has had no bowel movements for a whole
day and its tummy feels hard.
If you notice blood or blood staining in the motions.
To order
your copy of a What should I do? booklet
use one of the following methods:
On-line
Shop
Phone: +44 (0) 23 8022
9041
Fax: +44 (0) 23
8022 7274
 
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