Toddler with Continual Vomiting

Updated on April 07, 2007
R.G. asks from Carrollton, TX
15 answers

My daughter is almost 18 months old. This morning she drank her milk and immediately thereafter she threw it all up. We tried to give her bread, water, rice, bananas off and on throughout the day. She has thrown these up as well. We stopped counting at about 6 times at 5 pm. The doctor's office is closed till the morning, but I'm wondering if anyone knows what could cause this. She has no fever, no other symptoms and is not acting like she does when she's having teething pain. She had acid reflux when she was little and that went away at about 9 months. Could this make a comeback months later?? I'm at a loss as to what to do. I've given her jello, pedialyte, since 5 pm today. And she is vomiting that as well. Other than looking a little worn out, she 'acts' happy as always. Any advise/suggestions?

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So What Happened?

Hello Everyone - thank you so much for all your advice. It has been such a great help to me. Here's where we are: We called the doctor this morning as she was still listless and had no wet diaper when she woke up. We took her in and got the same recommendation that Debi the nurse posted - heavy syrup, teaspoon of liquids every 15 minutes, increasing if no vomiting. This was also suggested by several others. She threw up on the way to the doctor's office. But she was not dehydrated and no diarrhea. She's slept off and on most of the day. She did act like she wanted water when we got home from the doctor's. I made the mistake of letting her have more than a teaspoon at slow intervals. I felt so sorry for her. Then she threw it up immediately. So I went back to what the doctor said even though she cried for more water. We made it through the rest of the night with no vomiting and she fell asleep at 10 pm with very little in her stomach - just 2 oz of water. No fever, no diarrhea, 2 wet diapers today. The other twin is now showing symptoms of fever, runny stools (very potent) and crankiness. Hope tomorrow Easter Sunday, is a bit better for them. Thank you again for your help Everyone. I will keep you posted. Almost forgot - doctor said it was probably a stomach bug that's going around. No rotavirus yet (fingers crossed here)

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S.W.

answers from Dallas on

When was her last BM? She may be obstructed. I would call the MD on call, or take her to Acute Kids (it is run by ER docs and they are very good)
If her vomit becomes like fecal material she is definitley obstructed and needs to go the the ER immediately!

best of luck

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K.

answers from Dallas on

I would call your pediatrician's office and speak to the on call nurse or doctor.

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A.W.

answers from Dallas on

My son had this at the end of February. We thought it was a bug as well, but ended up being much more serious. I took him to Children's, which is where my husband works, and he was actually admitted. They tested his stool and he ended up having Rotavirus. For him, it ended up being fairly serious; we were there for a week, but eventually they got it under control. If the vomitting continues, I'd suggest an ER visit.

Hope that helps,
A.

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J.

answers from Dallas on

I recommend that you do not worry about food right now. The liquids are what are important. She could have a stomach virus, or may be food poisoning. Give very small amounts of liguid every 15 minutes or so, until she is able to hold it down. When she isnt's throwing up, give her more liquid.

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D.S.

answers from Dallas on

R.,
My son had girardia when he was young. (I can't remember how old, but he was still in his crib and diapers). Before he was diagnosed, he spent an entire night throwing up. Prior to that, he would throw up multiple times and then seem to get better. The pediatrician thought that he was just having reacurring flu symptoms. After a visit to a specialist at Children's, in which we took a stool sample, he was diagnosed with the parasite. We approved the use of a special medication (which was experimental 16 years ago) and that cleared it up. I just kept him hydrated as much as possible while he was sick; and we don't know how he got the parasite, but he's never gotten it again. Good luck and I learned from experience that if I'm not sure about the pediatricians diagnoses, to insist on seeing another doctor or specialist.
D.

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E.M.

answers from Dallas on

I would make some popcicles with Gatoraid. It sounds like she has a bug and she is overeating, which is easily done. She may want it, but don't give her anything (maybe super small sips of chicken broth or water). Get well soon!!

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K.H.

answers from Dallas on

she may have rotavirus. go to er

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S.

answers from Dallas on

could be a virus. the thing to watch for is dehydration. Watch how many wet diapers she has; if not very many wet diapers then she may be dehydrated; get your doctor's office on the phone via the message center or take her to the er if she is dehydrated.

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L.

answers from Dallas on

Hi,

Camomile tea. No kidding. It's very good for the stomach anyway, and one time when myself, my husband, and my daughter all had a stomach virus, we couldn't even keep just water down, but sipping (key word here) camomile tea made all the difference in the world. We could actually start getting hydrated again.

Since your daughter is over 1 year old, it would probably be okay to put a little bit of honey in it if for some reason, she doesn't like the taste. (All honey labels generally warn against giving any children under 1 year old honey.)

Best,
L.

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

It sounds like a stomach bug. I wouldn't worry as long as she's acting fine. Children this age are pretty resiliant. I would just keep an eye out for dehydration. In the mean time I would try pedialyte pops or they even sell a medicine for small babies to help with throwing up. Good luck and try not to worry.

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A.C.

answers from Dallas on

My 18 month old did that a few weeks ago and I took him to the E-Care. They said he had a gastro intestinal virus. Nothing you can do for that but they did give me some medicine for the nausia.

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C.W.

answers from Dallas on

was it perhaps cow milk? She may very well be lactose intolerant...or possibly just have a stomack virus. try 7up. Remember to try and give her plenty of fluids or she could start dry heaving...and thats no fun at all. very well could have something to do with reflux...Sounds like she may have a bug...so sorry

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J.C.

answers from Dallas on

My 2 year old had this EXACT thing for 18 days a few weeks agon and it was a virus, I had her to the doctor 2 times and both he had me do the same thing to actually not give them pedalyte, bananas, rice etc. all the things we are always told to give them he explained to me they are all carbs which is sugar which can trigger the vomiting and diareah my baby had such gas build up with hers that her stomach was real tight and it was so scary, what the doctor said to give her to eat was scrambled eggs, cheese, turkey sticks and to drink milk and water if your baby is not holding down anything and this continues and she is not eating or most important drinking lots of fluids I would take her to the ER I tell you what almost cured my baby instantly and it is over the counter and the doctor had me go get it is cultureall it is a powder capsule that you just open and sprinkle in their water or what ever and I tell you she was so sick for 18 days I started that and within a day she was getting well, I am so sorry to hear this because I know how stressful it can be! Good Luck!

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D.W.

answers from Dallas on

If you called my MD's office and spoke w/ the nurse (me) I would tell you it sounds like she has a stomach virus.
NO SOLIDS until she has gone 4 hours w/o any vomiting. For liquids she can have water, 7Up, Gatorade, Pedialyte, water, water, water, ice chips, Popsicles and the heavy syrup from fruit cocktail (given on a spoon, in small amounts, it can settle stomachs)
After 4 hours she can have soup, jello, crackers, applesauce and bananas. Slowly move forward from there. Anytime she vomits you go back to clear liquids and restart the 4 hour time frame.
NO DAIRY NO DAIRY NO DAIRY until she has gone 24 hours w/o vomiting.
She should have a wet diaper every 10-12 hours and her mouth should be moist. A Child who is able to play, get around etc... is not dehydrated.
If the vomiting lasts longer than 36 hours she needs to be seen.

D.

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

My 15 month old got this a few weeks ago. He was playing around, no sign of feeling bad, then projectile vomiting!! He was sick for days. Pedialyte is the key. Don't try foods at all. Make sure she has wet diapers and cries tears. If not, she'll be dehydrated and you really need to be concerned. Not to scare you, but my son was sick for a week with this - he had the Roto Virus. I know the stomach thing is going around. Best of luck! (By the way, be sure to disinfect your house, you could be next and it's harder to deal with a sick baby when you're sick too!)

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