Definition
Vomiting in small children is understood to be the emptying of stomach contents in larger quantities. The slight belching of food that has just been ingested can therefore not be called vomiting. Vomiting is controlled by the so-called vomiting center of the brain, which reacts to various circumstances and leads to the emptying of the stomach by jerky contraction of the diaphragm. The causes can be varied and can be both harmless and serious. Persistent vomiting should therefore be clarified by a physician as well as if the vomiting is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever or diarrhoea etc.
Causes
The causes of vomiting in small children can be many and varied, but all have one thing in common: the reaction path. Vomiting is a reaction of the body to an irritation of the vomiting center in the brain or an over-irritation of the upper gastrointestinal tract, which causes a jerky contraction of the diaphragm and thus transports stomach contents back out the other way around. The causes can be found in different organ systems.
For example, various infections and inflammations of the gastrointestinal tract, e.g. gastroenteritis, passenger disorders, food intolerances, etc., can be the cause. can cause vomiting. In the same way, a disturbance of the organ of balance, motion sickness, encephalitis or meningitis as well as an increase in intracranial pressure can lead to vomiting. Various types of poisoning, e.g. by food, medication or other hazardous substances, can also cause vomiting, as can concussions or cerebral hemorrhages after falls or accidents. The psychological component should always not be forgotten, so that nausea and vomiting in infants and children can always be a reaction to psychological stress situations or mental illness.
Associated symptoms
Vomiting in small children can have various accompanying symptoms depending on the cause and severity of the vomiting. For example, infections may be accompanied by fever and other signs of a cold, while gastrointestinal tract diseases may cause abdominal pain or even diarrhea. If the infant vomits several times, does not drink enough due to illness, and possibly loses more water due to diarrhoea or fever, further symptoms of dehydration can occur.
The skin and mucous membranes are dry, the child may appear cloudy and excessively sleepy, pulse and breathing rate may be increased, in the worst case cramps may occur. If these symptoms occur, vomiting can occur with or without fever, depending on the cause of the vomiting. If fever accompanies the vomiting, an infection must always be considered.
Generally speaking, fever always means that the body’s immune system is in the process of fighting unknown, usually disease-causing pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. The sense and purpose of the temperature increase is to get the body up to speed, so to speak, so that the entire defense system can react more efficiently and faster. So if vomiting is accompanied by fever, infectious diseases of all kinds must be considered, not only those of the gastrointestinal tract. Vomiting without a fever can be classified as possibly more harmless and may occur, for example, after stomach upset due to food intake, but should by no means be left unobserved or generally considered safe: Vomiting without fever after e.g. a fall or an accident can be a symptom of a quite dangerous condition.
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