Diagnosis

There is no special method to diagnose vomiting. Usually, people are asked whether the vomiting was preceded by nausea or dizziness, whether other symptoms are present, how often and in what amounts vomiting occurred, and what color and consistency the stomach contents were. Since such an anamnesis is not possible in small children, the parents’ questioning is used, which is usually the same as for adults. In addition, the infant is physically examined to determine any other symptoms and to become aware of any existing fluid deficiency that may be caused by the loss of fluid during vomiting.

Therapy

The proper treatment of vomiting in infants should always be based on the cause. If vomiting occurs as a symptom of another disease, e.g. an infection, it should first be treated adequately to nip the cause in the bud.The vomiting can always be treated symptomatically in parallel, for example by sufficient fluid intake in the form of water and tea and a food intake that is easy on the stomach, e.g. rusk, crispbread, dry white bread.

In addition, medication can be administered to alleviate the nausea and stop vomiting, although this should be prescribed by a doctor who has seen the infant and assessed the need for it. Vomex® is a drug for the treatment of nausea and vomiting and belongs to the group of so-called H1 antihistamines. The actual active ingredient is dimenhydrinate, which blocks certain receptors in the vomiting center of the brain and thus relieves nausea and vomiting.

For the therapy of small children Vomex® is administered in the form of suppositories or juice, whereby attention should be paid to the exact dosage. Children under 3 years of age are generally at increased risk for side effects, so overdosing should be strictly avoided. The application should only be for a short period of time, persistent vomiting must be clarified by a doctor.

What can toddlers eat if they vomit?

The infant should still be offered food despite vomiting, but it is quite possible that the infant will refuse to eat due to nausea. Suitable foods for vomiting are light, non-irritating foods, rusks, crispbread or dry white bread and salt sticks are well-tried remedies. However, it is much more important for the little ones to take in enough liquid to compensate for the loss of liquid and minerals through vomiting. In addition to clear water, teas that have a calming effect on the gastrointestinal tract, such as camomile tea or fennel tea, can also be administered. To compensate for the loss of electrolytes, special rice gruel electrolyte solutions can be added to replenish the salt balance.