VOMITING

There are a number of things that can cause vomiting and / or diarrhea. You should be seen by a physician if your child has significant abdominal pain, blood in the stool or vomit, vomits brown small chunks like coffee grounds or persistent bright yellow or green liquid. If your child is vomiting a lot and starts to have cold hands and feet, dry cracked lips, sunken looking eyes or is less responsive than usual, that means your child is getting significantly dehydrated and needs to get into the office or the emergency room right away. If your child has vomiting for more than a day or diarrhea for more than three days, it is a good idea to be seen as well.

If none of those things are going on, your probably has a viral gastroenteritis (often called a “stomach flu” although it is only caused by influenza a portion of the time). The best thing to do is to give your child only small sips of clear liquids until he / she hasn’t vomited for at least twelve hours. Good choices are an oral hydration solution like Pedialyte, half strength apple or white grape juice or flat lemon-lime soda or ginger ale (stir vigorously and let go flat at room temperature). Give small sips every few minutes. If your child stops vomiting, after twelve hours, you can try something to eat that is really bland, like plain rice, banana, toast, saltine crackers, apple sauce or broth. You can then increase the diet gradually from there as long as your child doesn’t vomit.

If you have questions or concerns, please call. We do have good medicines that can usually stop the vomiting. Remember, I am here to help.