CAUSES OF VOMITING
- Vomiting is commonly seen with viral infections like the flu, stomach viruses (usually associated with diarrhea), and bacterial infections like strep throats, ear infections, and urinary tract infections.
- More serious infections like meningitis and bloodstream infections may also cause vomiting.
- It may be triggered by a cough that causes the child to gag and then vomit.
- Newborns vomiting in the first few days of life after each feeding that is forceful, bright yellow or green may have an obstruction and need immediate evaluation.
- Blood in the vomitus with a nursing baby may occur when mother’s nipples are bleeding and the baby is swallowing blood. It is fine to continue to breast-feed in this situation.
- Babies under a year commonly spit up - this is usually a few mouthfuls of milk / food that is non-forceful usually with burping. The babies should be gaining weight and not be excessively irritable with feeding or after a feeding.
- If they are very fussy , discuss the possibility of gastroesophageal reflux with esophagitis with your doctor during office hours. This is a fancy name for what we commonly know as "heartburn" and makes for an uncomfortable baby. Your doctor may need to recommend medications like antacids.
- Pyloric stenosis is a problem that occurs in infants around 4 to 6 weeks of age because of an obstruction from the muscle at the outlet of the stomach. The baby will have projectile vomiting during or shortly after feeding. This needs immediate evaluation.
- Intussusception occurs typically in the 2 month to 6 year age range. This is caused by a "telescoping" of some small intestine within itself. There is an obstruction and the bowel will lose blood supply. The common finding is a bloody stool that looks like "red currant jelly". Other symptoms can include abdominal pain, and a very sleepy, hard to arouse child.
- Head injuries and abdominal injuries may cause vomiting.
