Causes of vomiting and diarrhea in a child. A child has vomiting and diarrhea: the causes of such symptoms, what you should pay attention to and how to treat

Indigestion is a common pathology in children and adults. Infants become victims of improper behavior of the mother during lactation. Older children suffer from complementary feeding or teething problems. Diarrhea and vomiting are frequent companions of normal processes in the body. This is how it gets rid of toxins. Sometimes this condition can be a warning sign of a disease for which you will need qualified help.

Problems with the gastrointestinal tract can occur in a child of any age, the main thing is to correctly determine the cause and begin treatment on time

Possible causes of diarrhea and vomiting in a child

The factors that cause “acute abdominal syndrome” (indigestion, diarrhea, vomiting) are varied. Conventionally, their pathogenesis is divided into two groups:

• infectious;
• non-infectious.

The most common causes for both groups are presented in the table below:

The significant difference between all these diseases is body temperature. As a rule, it is the high levels of mercury on the thermometer that make you worry and seek the help of specialists. The presence of an elevated temperature means that the cause of vomiting and diarrhea is infection or inflammation. The pathogenesis of diseases with and without fever is presented below.

Diarrhea and nausea without fever

Vomiting and diarrhea without fever are a sign that the baby’s digestive system is weak. Newborns are most susceptible to diarrhea and nausea. At a later age, children experience short-term disturbances in the functioning of the stomach. Treatment is chosen depending on the age of the child and the cause of the condition. There may be several reasons:

• Too frequent and abundant feeding. Overfeeding is a common mistake new mothers make. When a child overeats, he begins to vomit (without blood), and the child often diarrhea. Symptoms are one-time in nature.
• Changes in diet. The baby's body has a weak enzyme composition. The transition from breastfeeding to complementary feeding causes loose stools and vomiting without fever. The symptoms are mild and go away on their own.
• Features of the structure of the gastrointestinal tract. The hereditary factor plays a key role here. To diagnose abnormalities in time and minimize their manifestations, take your child to the doctor more often.
• Intoxication. Toxins enter the body by consuming poorly washed fruits or vegetables. In addition, make sure that your baby does not put dirty foreign objects into his mouth.

• Intolerance to certain foods. Symptoms of food allergies include nausea, diarrhea, and intestinal upset that are not accompanied by fever.
• Psychosomatics. The cause of gastrointestinal disorders may lie in the child’s frequent experiences and excessive impressionability.

Diarrhea and vomiting with fever

An increase in body temperature in children, accompanied by loose stools and vomiting, can be caused by several factors. Among the most common of them, doctors name:

• viral gastroenteritis;
• intestinal infections of a bacteriological nature;
• food poisoning;
• teething;
• nervous tension;
• side effects from taking certain medications.

Providing first aid to a child

What to do when the ambulance is on the way? You can independently perform first aid measures for your baby:

• if the child is vomiting, help him empty his stomach correctly so that he does not choke on vomit, give him a rehydration solution;
• if diarrhea is a consequence of poisoning, rinse the intestines, give a sorbent and rehydration solution;
• if the patient's temperature is above 38.5, and the clinical picture includes signs of acute respiratory viral infection, use rectal suppositories.

In what cases should you call an ambulance?

Calling an ambulance is an emergency measure. It is necessary to resort to it to stop the development of complications if symptoms are observed:

• streaks of blood were found in the stool or vomit;
• bowel movements occur more often than 3 times a day and do not bring relief;
• short loss of consciousness is observed;
• there is severe pain that makes movement difficult.

What is the danger of such a condition?

Frequent urge to bowel movement is dangerous at any age. For infants and young children, they are fraught with difficult-to-reversible changes in the body:

• Dystrophy. It is difficult to gain weight back in this case, because... appetite is very weak.
• Dehydration. Insufficient fluid in the body can cause multiple organ failure syndrome.
• Asphyxia. The risk of choking on vomit is one of the most serious in this situation.
• Aspiration pneumonia. Occurs as a result of penetration of gastric juice into the lungs.

Treatment at home

In case of short-term disorders of the digestive system, a child can be cured at home. Self-medication is allowed if the cause of the child’s condition is obvious. For example, the baby overate or ate an unfamiliar product for the first time. Cleansing the intestines in this case is a normal reaction. To solve the problem yourself, you can use one of the methods below.

Use of medications

For diarrhea and diarrhea, you can give your child both medications that relieve only the symptoms and medications that affect the factor causing the disease.

A list of drugs used for various causes of gastrointestinal disorders is presented in the table below:

An additional measure in case of poisoning is gastric lavage. To do this, you can use a solution of potassium permanganate. Please note that all intestinal infections in infants must be treated only in a hospital setting. When self-medicating, carefully study the official instructions for the drug: contraindications, lower age limit for use and other information.

Application of enterosorbents

Enterosorbents are a key component of antitoxic treatment. The principle of their action is the absorption of toxins and subsequent elimination along with feces. The most famous of the enterosobrents is activated carbon. The drug, used for a long time by our mothers and grandmothers, is inferior in effectiveness to the new generation of drugs of this kind: Sorbex, Smecta, Enterosgel, Polysorb, Atoxil, Silix, Polyphepan.

Efficiency of lactobacilli

Lactobacilli are beneficial microorganisms that make up the majority of normal human microflora. Taking antibiotics often causes their death. The fact is that the active substance begins to “indiscriminately” destroy microorganisms, including “good” ones. Clinical trials have shown that normalization of intestinal microflora is an important part of the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract.

Probiotics and pribiotics are substances that restore the balance of the body's microflora. They are usually available in the form of capsules containing dried lactobacilli, or in the form of syrup. There are no side effects when taken correctly.

Note that lactobacilli are a component of complex therapy. They are not suitable as the only means of combating diarrhea and vomiting. Probiotics also reduce the likelihood of adverse reactions to antibiotics from the gastrointestinal tract.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine is used to stop nausea and vomiting, reduce temperature to normal levels, and also to normalize stool. The most popular folk ways to combat the disease:

• St. John's wort infusion: 1 teaspoon of dried herb per 250 ml of boiled water. The drink is brewed for 15-20 minutes. You can also add a spoonful of St. John's wort flowers to regular tea to prevent infectious diseases.
• Badger fat. This substance has a good warming and anti-inflammatory effect. Rub the baby's body with fat and wrap it in plastic wrap. Then wrap your baby up. It takes at least 20 minutes for the substance to take effect.
• Medicinal tea additives: chamomile, mint, linden, oregano, St. John's wort. A good stool binder is oak bark.
• Vinegar rubs – diluted apple cider vinegar (proportion 1x2) should be rubbed over the entire body.

You should resort to traditional medicine only after consulting a doctor. For some inflammatory diseases, folk remedies are contraindicated. Herbal treatments and vinegar rubs are best used as part of complex therapy that includes medications. If the child’s condition worsens after using one of the above remedies, immediately seek help from specialists.

Nutrition during vomiting and diarrhea in children of different ages

Proper nutrition during illness is the key to a speedy recovery. It is worth giving your child food after the symptoms of intestinal irritation have disappeared. You should not feed your baby against his will. You need to wait until he asks for food or agrees to your offer. Decreased appetite is a normal reaction to bowel cleansing. It may take time for the body to recover.

The most popular and effective diet includes bananas, rice porridge, apple puree, and unsweetened crackers. Children from 2-3 years old can follow the diet. The minimum duration is 7-10 days to give the digestive system time to recover. Nutrition during illness and recovery should be accompanied by plenty of fluids. Water or unsweetened tea will help restore fluid deficiency and also help remove toxins.

Oral rehydration salt (ORS) solution can be used as an auxiliary substance to normalize digestion. Powder with a ready-made composition can be purchased at a pharmacy.

To prepare the product at home, you will need:

• 1 teaspoon salt;
• 2 tablespoons sugar;
• 1 liter of drinking water.

Mix all ingredients in the indicated proportions. The solution has a shelf life of 24 hours, then you will have to make a new one. ORS helps to effectively combat the possible consequences of dehydration and restores fluid balance in the body. A child under 2 years of age must be fed with a syringe without a needle or a feeding bottle.

Principles of infant nutrition

If the disease occurs during lactation, it is not worth stopping it. Poisoning cannot be caused by mother's milk, since this liquid is non-toxic and is the easiest for the baby to digest. You can only reduce the size of the feeding “portions”. WHO experts are confident that the composition of breast milk allows the body to effectively fight possible dehydration.

Diet for children over 1 year old

The diet of children over 1 year of age should contain:

• boiled white meat;
• unsweetened homemade crackers;
• boiled or stewed vegetables;
• bananas;
• baked apples;
• cereals;
• biscuits.

The following foods should be completely excluded from the child’s diet:

• dairy products (except mother's milk if lactation is still ongoing);
• fast food;
• carbonated drinks;
• chocolate;
• heavy foods (fatty, spicy, fried, smoked).

A more effective diet should be prescribed by a doctor, taking into account the factor that caused the negative gastrointestinal reaction. In case of allergies, gastritis or ordinary food poisoning, completely different products will be recommended for consumption.

Prevention

It is quite difficult to prevent a child from developing diarrhea and vomiting (more details in the article:). It is impossible to constantly control what the baby eats. Regularly remind your baby about the rules of personal hygiene, teach him to eat healthy foods, and strengthen his immune system with active walks.

Vomiting and diarrhea in a child without fever is an alarming symptom for many caring parents. Children's vomiting always poses a danger to a small organism. It is not the condition itself that is dangerous, because it is a protective mechanism against the negative influence of pathogenic factors; the real danger comes from complications after vomiting: dehydration, aspiration pneumonia, etc. It is very important to understand the root cause of pathological vomiting and what accompanying factors precede the condition. Usually, with uncontrollable vomiting or diarrhea without hyperthermia, the development of an intestinal infection or pathology of various organs or systems is initially assumed. Diagnostic measures make it possible to timely identify possible problems with the child’s health and begin appropriate treatment.

Vomiting in a child: important aspects

Physiologically, vomiting and diarrhea without fever is a protective reflex act, which is aimed at expelling the contents of the stomach through the mouth or nasal passages, regardless of the person’s wishes. It can occur in both adult patients and children at 2 years old and 4 years old. Muscular contractions of the stomach cavity in children occur due to various circumstances, which completely depends on the possible concomitant pathology. Vomiting occurs as a result of the influence of nerve impulses on a center in the cerebral cortex. Vomiting may also lead to simultaneous loosening of the stool, increasing the risk of dehydration during frequent episodes. There are two main forms of vomiting with diarrhea:

• acute form;
• chronic condition.

The acute form implies a sharply developed primary pathogenic process as a result of a specific disease. It is worth noting that with a single episode of vomiting, along with liquefied stools, without deterioration in general well-being, it is enough to just observe the child’s condition. If the baby is active and behaves as always, then you can get by with regular supervision. If necessary, you can tell your pediatrician about some concerns.

A chronic condition involves systematically repeating episodes of vomiting or diarrhea without hyperthermia, for no apparent reason, which is due to the development of some illness of the internal organs. Vomiting in a child without fever, but with diarrhea may be evidence of complications.

In the acute form of any disease, which is accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea without visible complications, chronicity of the pathological process occurs quite quickly.

Parents should pay attention to the consistency of feces, vomit, possible impurities and other foreign components. If alarming symptoms increase, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Etiological factors

The causes of the disease may be different. If the child has a burdened clinical history, the appearance of vomiting or loose stools may be a signal of an exacerbation of any chronic disease. When unpleasant symptoms appear against the background of absolute health, it is important to conduct a thorough diagnosis so as not to miss the development of pathology.

Food poisoning, indigestion

The classic symptomatology of food poisoning in children is the appearance of vomiting and diarrhea, both with and without hyperthermia. Even with minor poisoning, the child’s body can react to intoxication and manifest itself in the form of severe one-time vomiting. A similar reaction can occur with banal overeating or taking certain medications.

Metabolic disorders

Metabolic diseases are often autoimmune in nature. Diarrhea and vomiting in children with endocrinological diseases is a common situation. More often, endocrinologists detect diabetes mellitus when vomiting or diarrhea occurs..

Diagnosis consists of a comprehensive blood test, including enzymes, ultrasound of the peritoneal and epigastric organs.

Sometimes disorders can be caused by intolerance to cow's or goat's milk, glucose, fruit acids and other products. Treatment tactics here come down to changing your diet.

Neuralgia and congenital diseases

Clinicians place great importance on vomiting or loose stools in various neurological disorders. In practical medicine there is such a thing as cerebral vomiting. Often such disorders are formed during pregnancy, during its long passage through the birth canal and asphyxia. Congenital cerebral abnormalities of varying severity can provoke vomiting and the leakage of fresh milk from the esophagus.

Spouting feces can be a symptom of a concussion, traumatic brain injuries of various origins, and tumors of brain tissue. Diarrhea and vomiting in a child without fever can be due to inflammation of the brain tissue. In addition to vomiting, patients may suffer from dizziness and nausea. Vomiting stool occurs as a primary sign of meningitis, encephalitis, and epileptic conditions and is accompanied without an increase in temperature.

Intestinal obstruction, intussusception

Etiological factors of intestinal obstruction can be acquired or congenital. The condition is especially common in children in the neonatal period up to 2 years.. The pathology is caused by the inability of one section of the intestine to contract and push feces to the sphincter ring in the rectum. Intestinal obstruction causes not only vomiting, but also loose stools, pale skin, sweating, and malaise. The composition of diarrhea includes mucus and bloody inclusions.

Foreign object

A foreign object enters the esophagus through the mouth. The situation is typical for young children, when knowledge of the world occurs through biting and sucking. The nature of vomiting, its intensity or the manifestation of diarrhea depends on which department the foreign body enters. If the object is of impressive size, the pathology may be accompanied by difficulty breathing.

Acute appendicitis

Appendicitis occurs mainly in older children and adolescents. Pain in the right side, symptoms of intoxication, uncontrollable vomiting and frequent bowel movements may indicate inflammation of the appendix. In this condition, the temperature may not rise at all.

Inflammation of the epigastric organs

Cholecystitis, gastritis, ulcerative lesions of the mucous membrane, pancreatitis and other ailments are accompanied by uncontrollable vomiting. The inflammatory process rarely goes away without fever. The absence of hyperthermia can be considered the first signs of an acute condition. The composition of vomit includes mucous components and bile.

Pyloric stenosis

Pyloric stenosis is an anomaly in the development of the lumen between the cavity of the stomach and duodenum. Food is retained in the lower part of the stomach, and under a certain pressure is pushed out. The first symptoms are detected already from the birth of the child. Fountain vomiting, loose bowel movements, weight loss - the first symptoms of the disease.

Pylorospasm

A valve passes between the stomach and duodenum (in terminology, the pylorus). The hormone gastrin keeps the muscle structure of the pylorus in good shape for about 4 months. Constant spasms provoke the passage of food from the gastric cavity into the intestines. Vomiting during pyloric spasm is quite rare, not gushing. The condition in newborns can be controlled by prescribing antireflux mixtures. Treatment can begin at 2 years or 3 years, when the child is ready for surgery.

Cardiospasmic state

The pathology is characteristic of impaired motor function of the esophagus. Persistent cardiospasm is dangerous due to possible developmental delay due to lack of nutrients. The condition can be treated both with medication and surgery.

Acetone crisis

Acetonemic intoxication causes severe vomiting, general malaise, and weakness. A distinctive symptom of the acetonemic state is sudden, rapid vomiting with multiple episodes.. Acetone is found in urine, blood, and its odor is felt from the mouth. A common situation in chronic diseases of the kidneys and liver, when the child’s body is regularly exposed to mild poisoning by metabolic products.

Psychogenic vomiting

Nervous disorder may cause severe vomiting, diarrhea. This pathology is called functional. It occurs in children of all ages and can occur against the background of emotional overload, strong impressions, worries, and shocks. The shade of emotions can be different. More often, the causes of such vomiting are diagnosed in children at 8 or 9 years of age.

If a child has vomiting and diarrhea without hyperthermia, then parents should not ignore this. Many pathological conditions develop slowly, intoxication in functional disorders increases episodically, and therefore often goes unnoticed by doctors. Vomiting may be the first symptom of incipient changes.

Specific causes of disorders

Vomiting and diarrhea may not necessarily indicate the development of destructive conditions of organs or body systems. Often these two characteristic symptoms may indicate a common physiological reaction to various factors:

• regurgitation of newborns;
• incomplete development of the digestive tract;
• large amounts of food;
• incorrect position of the child when feeding;
• incorrect nipple capture;
• teething;
• strong feelings.

If a child has vomiting and diarrhea without fever, it is necessary to determine the nature of the condition. Single episodes of vomiting or diarrhea occur when complementary foods are introduced to a child. Psychological discomfort, momentary fear, fright can provoke vomiting and diarrhea. In children of different ages, diarrhea can be caused by changes in climate zones, cities, and sudden changes in weather.. The adaptation period for many children and adults is accompanied by a “restructuring” of the body to a new diet, climate, and other circumstances. It is important for parents to provide their child with rest for several days, to exclude aggressive foods, plenty of food, and physical activity.

Possible complications

Repeated emptying of the stomach or intestines is dangerous not only due to dehydration, but also due to other possible deviations in the child’s normal well-being. The main consequences of excessive vomiting or diarrhea include the following conditions:

• Dehydration. Rapid loss of fluid from connective tissue leads to disturbances in the water-salt balance, electrolyte disturbances (decreased calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium), which can lead to acute multiple organ failure. Severe stages of dehydration are accompanied by convulsions, loss of consciousness (sometimes only confusion). The condition is very dangerous for newborn children, since their body is not yet able to control biological processes with an aggressive response. Vomiting and diarrhea without fever is a dangerous condition for newborns.
• Weight loss. With various poisonings accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, a strong decrease in usual weight occurs. The condition can turn into a disaster if the newborn baby is low birth weight, premature, or has a clinical history of chronic autoimmune diseases. Critical weight loss in such children can be rapid and threatening. Treatment requires infusion therapy and resuscitation measures.
• Risk of bleeding. Damage to the mucous tissues of the gastric cavity with repeated urges to empty provokes ruptures of capillaries and blood vessels, causing bleeding of varying intensity. If in adult children the stomach walls are strong enough, then in newborns bleeding can occur quite quickly. The main symptom of bleeding is the appearance of blood in the vomit.
• Risk of suffocation. The potential risk of suffocation is very dangerous for children in the neonatal period, as well as at any age if they are unconscious. During attacks of vomiting, when the child vomits, parents need to monitor the entire process, especially if the baby is in a horizontal position. For safer passage of vomit, the child should be placed on his side or simply turned his head to the side.
• Aspiration pneumonia. The process has serious consequences when gastric juice penetrates the pulmonary structures. Vomit in the lungs requires immediate antibacterial treatment and aspiration of mucous components from the lungs. In severe cases, pulmonary edema may develop and the child may need to be connected to a ventilator.

Any parents will immediately distinguish between a pathogenic situation and a non-life-threatening condition. In some cases, doubts or delay can cost the child’s life, so before treating yourself, it is necessary to assess the child’s general condition. Parents should be especially attentive if chronic diseases of various organs or systems are known in advance.

First aid

With increasing attacks of vomiting or with a single episode, it is important to provide the child with mental comfort, plenty of fluids, and a reclining position. A newborn baby must be picked up and placed in an upright position.. What to do if a child vomits? Basic home activities while waiting for an ambulance include:

• drinking saline solution (the child should be given water in small portions from a syringe);
• antipyretics for possible fever;
• sorbents if food poisoning is suspected.

Before the ambulance arrives, it is necessary to wrap up the child, but provide fresh air in the room. If the situation occurred outside in hot weather, it is necessary to take the baby to a cool room. Self-medication can cause tragedy, since some conditions can only be eliminated surgically.

Emergency help is necessary when episodes of vomiting do not stop, diarrhea, fainting, the appearance of hyperthermia, fever, lethargy, and increased drowsiness occur.

Treatment tactics

The primary diagnosis of pathological disorders of the stomach or stool is to study the patient's clinical history. In the presence of chronic diseases of the organs or system, additional consultation with specialized specialists (endocrinologists, cardiologists, audiologists, gastroenterologists) is carried out. Many situations require emergency surgery, especially for acute abdominal pain, fluid resuscitation, various resuscitation measures, or replacement therapy.

It will not be possible to cure or alleviate the child’s condition at home, especially if certain medications are not at hand. The only correct solution is to call an ambulance, as well as notify the local doctor about attacks of vomiting without changing your overall health. Only a doctor can adequately assess your child’s condition and prescribe the correct treatment for the pathological condition.

The child’s body is at the stage of formation and reacts sharply to various stimuli. Parents usually believe that the main cause of diarrhea and vomiting in children of different ages is food poisoning, but this is not entirely true. Viruses and infections that an adult can tolerate without any consequences cause completely different symptoms in a child and can be quite dangerous.

Vomiting and diarrhea are not independent diseases. These pathological manifestations refer to symptoms indicating some kind of malfunction in the child’s body. In most cases, such phenomena occur due to viral diseases, infections in the intestines or intoxication. As a “bonus” there are side symptoms that indicate the exact cause of the disorder.

Other reasons can provoke vomiting or diarrhea in a child of any age, including:

1. The presence of a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract - symptoms appear almost immediately after swallowing a dangerous object. The child regurgitates undigested food, mucus and a small amount of blood are observed in the vomit. Stool disturbances occur 2-3 hours after vomiting.
2. Gastroesophageal reflux - its provocateurs are food that is unsuitable for the child or its improper use. Symptoms appear within the first two hours after eating.
3. Damage to the central nervous system - most often occurs in infants. Tumors, ischemic brain damage, increased intracranial pressure - all this knocks down the body’s fragile systems. Vomiting and diarrhea do not depend on the schedule of food consumption and its quantity.
4. Pyloric stenosis is a disorder of the development of the muscular layer in the stomach. With this pathology, profuse vomiting occurs immediately after eating; the food does not have time to be digested. The problem usually affects girls in the first months of life.
5. Diseases of the liver, gallstones or pancreas - in this case, regular regurgitation of undigested food occurs. The masses have an unpleasant odor and a yellow tint or bile impurities.
6. Intussusception occurs in young children due to premature introduction of age-inappropriate food. The pathology is less common in older children and is caused by polyps, worms or tumors in the intestines.
7. Congenital esophageal diverticulum - the pathology is characterized by vomiting with remnants of undigested food and regular bowel movements. The phenomenon requires immediate medical intervention.

Also, vomiting and diarrhea can be “one-time” due to food. It's not just spoiled food that causes problems. In some chronic diseases, certain foods are prohibited, and violating the diet can lead to stomach upset.

In infants

Vomiting, excessive regurgitation and stool disturbances in infants are common. The baby's body is still very weak and unstable; anything can be a provocateur of violations.

Most often, there are two causes of failure: overeating or poor diet. If the baby is fed too often and abundantly, the stomach does not have time to cope with the digestion of food and tries to get rid of it. Diarrhea begins due to overload. The child may behave capriciously and nervously, but after bowel movements or vomiting the condition improves significantly.

It is also difficult for a child’s body during the introduction of complementary foods. Some parents try to add “regular” foods to their baby’s diet as early as possible, which the stomach cannot handle yet. Infants may not have enough digestive enzymes and gastric juice, resulting in indigestion, vomiting and diarrhea.

In preschoolers

The main danger for preschool children is poisoning and intoxication. Children begin to actively explore the world around them, and they want to taste many things. Everything is pulled into the mouth - from objects unsuitable for food to unidentified berries growing in a forest or city. The result is the entry of pathogenic microflora into the body, causing inflammation.

Also, preschool children often experience allergic reactions to “new” foods or various medications. Vomiting and diarrhea are one of the most common side effects of a number of antibiotics.

In schoolchildren and teenagers

In children of primary school age, stomach upset often occurs due to severe stress. The carefree life ends and the child has to go to school, facing new conditions and increased mental stress. Not all babies can cope well with these changes.

In addition, schoolchildren's diet often suffers. Complex school lunches (the quality of which also remains questionable) are replaced with dry snacks, and this is a direct path to various diseases of the stomach and intestines. Unsuitable foods for baby food and disruption of eating habits result in gastritis, pancreatitis or cholecystitis.

Associated symptoms

The symptoms that accompany diarrhea and vomiting largely depend on the original cause of these pathological phenomena. But there are general signs that indicate a disturbance in the functioning of the stomach. These include:

• general weakness;
• headache;
• dizziness;
• prolonged nausea;
• bloating;
• belching with an unpleasant odor.

A common phenomenon that goes along with diarrhea is pain in the tummy. It can be sharp and cutting, gradually subsiding, or dull and prolonged. Usually, after the child goes to the toilet and cleanses the intestines, the symptoms subside or go away completely before a new attack.

In case of viral diseases or acute food poisoning, an increase in body temperature to 38-39 degrees is added to vomiting, diarrhea and pain.

Treatment of vomiting and diarrhea in an infant

Parents should know that regurgitation of small amounts of food is absolutely normal for a baby. If vomiting occurs once, it is too early to worry - perhaps the child has simply eaten too much, but there is nothing wrong with his health.

The amount of food during the acute period is somewhat limited. If vomiting occurs immediately after eating, it is better to replace it with plain clean water. The baby should remain in the crib, but it is better to raise him a little so that he does not choke on vomit during an attack.

Serious concerns should be caused by profuse vomiting that continues for several hours and is not associated with eating food. It is imperative to measure the temperature: an increase may be evidence of an acute infectious process. In this case, the child needs urgent help from a specialist; you need to call an ambulance.

Selecting medications on your own or using traditional medicine is quite dangerous. An inappropriate drug or an excessive dosage will only worsen the child’s condition. If possible, it is advisable to consult a specialist.

On their own, children are allowed to be given only products that are considered conditionally safe for a year. These include:

• water-salt substances: Regidron, Hydrovit;
• probiotics: Bifidumbacterin, Hilak Forte, Linex;
• sorbents: to choose from - Smecta, Polyphepan, Filtrum, Polysorb.

Medicines with a water-salt base are taken according to instructions. As a rule, they should be given to the child a few minutes after vomiting and the urge to feel sick has subsided. When choosing a dosage, both the baby’s age and his weight are taken into account. Children under 6 years of age are allowed to give about 10 ml per kilogram of weight. Infants have a different “standard”: a teaspoon at a time.

Probiotics help restore the natural “correct” microflora in the intestines and get rid of loose stools. The dosage is described in the instructions for use. The portion of sorbents is also selected according to weight, thanks to them the effect of substances that poison the baby’s body is neutralized.

What to give to a child over 1 year old for vomiting and diarrhea

Before you begin to treat a child who is over a year old, you will first have to find out the cause of the pathological condition. Not every parent can do this on their own. If the baby’s condition is satisfactory, parents should try to alleviate the symptoms as much as possible and contact their local pediatrician. If you have serious concerns, it is recommended not to delay; the best option is to call an ambulance.

In case of poisoning, it is advisable to rinse the stomach with plenty of water, and then consult a doctor. In case of vomiting due to allergies, eliminate all potentially dangerous factors. In addition, the child should be as calm as possible; bed rest is recommended. Drinking is allowed, the amount of food is significantly reduced.

One of the main tasks of parents is to prevent dehydration of the child’s body. The following drugs can be used:

• Regidron;
• Glucosolan;
• Ringer-Locke solution.

To suppress vomiting the following are prescribed:

• Cerucal;
• Motilak;
• Motilium.

Separately, anti-diarrhea drugs can be taken - Loperamide, Imodium, Stoperan. Before using any product, it is advisable to consult with your doctor and carefully study the instructions and contraindications.

What to feed the child?

As a rule, with diarrhea and vomiting, children themselves refuse to eat. You should not force feed your child: it is too difficult for a weakened stomach to cope with digestion of food. At first, you should only give water or weak sweet tea at room temperature. You need to drink it often, but in small sips and in small quantities, so as not to provoke a new attack of vomiting.

Only when the child develops an appetite are biscuits, crackers, and crackers added to the drinks. When symptoms subside, more nutritious foods are introduced:

• bananas;
• porridge in water without oil (oatmeal, wheat, rice);
• mashed potatoes;
• boiled vegetables;
• steamed meat or cutlets;
• lean fish;
• baked apples;
• vegetable or lean broths.

When the baby’s condition has stabilized, natural yogurt or cottage cheese, boiled meat, and a light omelet are allowed. It is recommended to dilute natural milk with water.

What not to do in such a situation

The main prohibition is uncontrolled treatment with antibiotics. They bring the desired effect only in the treatment of bacterial diseases, and the described pathologies more often arise due to viruses. Instead of benefit, the body will be harmed. Do not forget that antibiotics negatively affect the condition of the stomach and intestinal microflora.

In no case should you ignore the rules of dietary nutrition, even if temporary improvements are observed. Premature consumption of potentially dangerous products nullifies all therapeutic measures. Carbonated drinks, canned food, sweets, fatty foods - all this is strictly prohibited.

If the doctor has prescribed certain medications and clearly prescribed the dosage, it is also impossible to violate the treatment regimen without permission. Some parents try to replace pharmaceutical drugs with traditional medicine - this practice can be extremely dangerous.

To fix stool, “homemade” remedies can be used - rice or dill infusion or ginger water, but natural recipes do not replace medications.

What to do if treatment doesn't help

During the treatment period, it is necessary to carefully monitor the child's condition. Typically, noticeable improvements occur within the first three days of treatment. Abdominal pain stops, the child becomes active again, and appetite appears. Vomiting and diarrhea occur less and less often until they disappear altogether.

You need to see your doctor again if:

• noticeable deterioration in condition;
• diarrhea or vomiting worsens;
• the child is constantly drowsy and lethargic;
• The abdominal pain does not stop.

You should tell your doctor if old symptoms worsen or new symptoms appear. It may be necessary to revise the diagnosis or more serious treatment, including hospitalization of the child.

Possible complications

You should be wary of the following phenomena:

• severe dehydration;
• anemia;
• malnutrition;
• neurotoxicosis;
• infectious-toxic shock;
• dyskinesia;
• chronic gastroduodenitis;
• gastritis.

Some of the complications are fraught with disability and can irreversibly worsen the baby’s quality of life. The younger the child, the faster the negative consequences develop.

Prevention

It is almost impossible to completely exclude the possibility of such pathological phenomena occurring in a child. As part of preventive measures, parents’ actions include observing certain rules of nutrition and hygiene:

1. It is not recommended to give tap water to children. You can give your child boiled, purified or mineral liquid to drink.
2. It is necessary to look at the expiration date of any products.
3. It is important to wash vegetables and fruits before eating.
4. Complementary feeding is introduced to infants gradually, according to a scheme approved by the pediatrician.
5. Meat, fish and eggs must undergo appropriate heat treatment.
6. When breastfeeding, the mother needs to follow a diet.
7. To avoid decreased immunity, it is important to provide your child with sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals.

It is also important to teach your child from early childhood that they need to wash their hands after going outside or touching pets. While the baby is very small, toys and any objects that can get into the mouth are treated.

Diarrhea and vomiting in a child are quite alarming symptoms that may indicate serious disorders of the digestive system. Only timely treatment will help to avoid the development of chronic diseases.

The condition when a child feels sick and diarrhea does not allow you to relax for a minute is familiar to almost every mother. These unpleasant symptoms can be caused by various diseases, some of which pose a serious threat to life. In order not to miss the onset of a dangerous disease and not to provoke complications, you need to be able to determine the root cause of such manifestations and provide first aid to the baby in a timely manner.

Associated symptoms

Other symptoms accompanying vomiting and diarrhea may also indicate a specific disease. The first sign of a serious inflammatory process is elevated body temperature. Even a slight excess of the norm indicates an intestinal or viral infection. When the condition is not aggravated by additional symptoms, an allergic reaction, mild poisoning or digestive disorders may occur.

The presence of abdominal pain will help determine the possible causes of diarrhea and vomiting. It is necessary to ask the child about what specifically worries him at the moment:

• colic after eating, as well as discomfort and rumbling indicate dysbacteriosis;
• severe abdominal cramps may indicate food poisoning;
• colic independent of food intake almost certainly indicates an intestinal infection.

The doctor, identifying the cause of the ailment, focuses on a number of indicators and is based on his observations. For example, a strong smell of vomit may indicate the presence of an intestinal infection or intoxication, watery diarrhea is observed with a virus, and profuse vomiting is observed with pyloric stenosis.

Causes

It is always very difficult to determine the reasons for such serious symptoms as vomiting and diarrhea, especially if parents try to do this. Even an experienced doctor, before making a diagnosis, will analyze the child’s condition, based on his age, behavior and general condition of the baby.

Any manifestation of illness should not be ignored and self-medication should be done. To avoid serious consequences, it is necessary to immediately contact a medical institution after the manifestation of these symptoms, where the child can receive qualified assistance.

Diagnostics

To eliminate the cause of the symptoms, it is necessary to conduct a competent diagnosis. Specialists must examine stool for the presence of bacteria, do a general analysis of stool, check for the presence of worm eggs, dysbacteriosis, and also conduct a general blood test.

Sometimes additional studies using ultrasound or x-ray are required to check the abdominal organs for hidden diseases. Only a complete diagnosis will allow a specialist to prescribe effective treatment.

Why is it dangerous?

The condition when a child vomits and has diarrhea is most dangerous due to the loss of water reserves that come out along with bowel movements. Dehydration occurs, which can lead to severe complications and even death. Dehydration can be determined by the first signs - lethargy, dry mucous membranes, tearless crying, lack of urination, convulsions and weight loss. If you have such symptoms, you need to take immediate action.

Constant vomiting, if not stopped in time, can lead to other consequences. Among them:

• continuous vomiting leads to injuries and ruptures of the mucous membrane of the esophagus, stomach and pharynx;
• if vomit enters the respiratory system, aspiration pneumonia may begin;
• from the acidic environment inherent in vomit, the child may develop caries.

Important! Deaths sometimes occur when children choke on their own vomit. This happens when little patients are left without parental supervision and cannot provide first aid.

First aid

Parents should be able to provide first aid to a sick child before doctors arrive. At this moment, it is very important to calm the baby, as hysterics can only worsen the situation. In addition, after each attack of vomiting, it is necessary to rinse your mouth. This way you can be sure that bowel movements will not get back into the body.

Vomiting and diarrhea are often accompanied by lethargy and weakness, so the child should be placed on the bed. You just need to make sure that your head is not thrown back, but slightly raised and turned to the side. This will avoid a dangerous situation when the patient chokes on vomit. An infant should not be placed in a crib, as the mother must control the situation. It is better to hold it in your arms in a vertical position.

First medical aid must be provided before the ambulance arrives. The first step is to prevent dehydration and replenish the body with lost salts. To do this, the child needs to be given a saline solution, which you can prepare yourself from salt, soda and sugar, or use pharmaceutical powder. It is better to give the drug with regular drinking water, in small portions, so as not to cause repeated bouts of vomiting. It is strictly forbidden to give other medications to the patient, as this may interfere with the correct diagnosis and, as a result, the prescription of ineffective treatment. The exception is an antipyretic, which can be given if the temperature rises.

Treatment

There is no universal remedy that can stop vomiting and diarrhea in a child, regardless of their cause. Any situation requires an individual approach, because the causes of these symptoms may be different. In some cases, antiviral medications may be needed, in others, antibiotics or a combination of antiemetic and antidiarrheal medications. Treatment must be prescribed by a qualified doctor, and only sorbents or antipyretics are allowed to be given independently.

Medicines

Children under one year of age must be treated for vomiting and diarrhea in a hospital. Especially when such symptoms are caused by an infection. In this case, the doctor will prescribe medications designed to stop vomiting and diarrhea, such as Metoclopramide and Loperamide. In case of poisoning, gastric lavage is mandatory. In addition, they may prescribe antibiotics or antivirals, as well as probiotics to restore microflora. If the cause of the illness is an allergy, the patient will be prescribed antihistamines.

Sometimes a child feels sick without fever or diarrhea due to gastrointestinal diseases. For example, if gastritis is detected, the baby will be recommended bed rest, therapeutic fasting for 12 hours, gastric lavage, and taking prokinetic and antispasmodic medications. Gastroesophageal reflux is also accompanied by vomiting and is treated with medications that block the production of hydrochloric acid, adsorbents and prokinetics.

Most often prescribed drugs:

1. Antiemetics - Cerucal, Motilium or Domperidone.
2. Antidiarrheals – Imodium, Stoperan, Lopedium.
3. Antitoxic - activated carbon, Sorbex, Smecta, Enterosgel.
4. Rehydration (to replenish fluid) - Regidron, Glucosolan.
5. Probiotics – Linex, Hilak forte.
6. Antihistamines – Zodek, Zertec.
7. Antispasmodics – No-Shpa, Papaverine.

The choice of medications should only be entrusted to a doctor. You should not self-medicate so as not to harm the child.

Folk remedies

Sometimes, as an additional treatment, you can use folk remedies aimed at alleviating the child’s condition. Such methods can be effective when the baby has nausea and diarrhea, there is no fever, and there is no risk of complications.

The most common means:

• Dill water;
• chamomile or mint tea;
• ginger;
• lemon balm;
• baked quince;
• rice water

You can use traditional methods for minor food poisoning as a way to get rid of unpleasant symptoms.

Important! You should not use folk advice without consulting a pediatrician.

Nutrition

Typically, vomiting and diarrhea in a child is accompanied by a refusal to eat, so doctors recommend adjusting his diet. Breasts can be given milk less often than usual, and this will be enough to prevent dehydration. Older children will have to adhere to a special diet that will help them survive the illness.

Allowed products:

1. White crackers instead of fresh bread.
2. Bananas, baked apples, and boiled potatoes.
3. Low-fat soups.
4. Rice porridge on water.
5. Pasta made only from durum wheat.
6. Boiled chicken, beef and fish.
7. Drink plenty of fluids – unsweetened tea, compote, still water.

1. Smoked, fried and fatty foods.
2. Dairy products.
3. Fatty meats - lamb, pork, duck.

In this case, you need to reduce the portions offered and increase the frequency of meals, cook only by steaming, or boiling foods. It is necessary to switch to the usual diet gradually so as not to overload the body.

Possible complications

A condition accompanied by repeated bouts of vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dangerous complications:

1. Dehydration.
2. Weight loss.
3. Bleeding.
4. Suffocation.

Any delay in the occurrence of diarrhea or vomiting, regardless of whether there is a fever or not, can have life-threatening consequences for the child. Particular attention should be paid to these symptoms in cases where parents know about chronic diseases in advance.

Prevention

It is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of attacks of vomiting and diarrhea. The only thing parents can take care of in advance is prevention. It is necessary to monitor what the child eats and drinks, especially if he shows independence in this matter. Raw water and stale foods are strictly excluded from the diet. Food must comply with the cooking technology, and fresh fruits and vegetables must be thoroughly washed.

From a very early age, a child needs to learn to wash his hands with soap after going outside and before eating. This will help in the future to avoid a number of unpleasant diseases associated with gastrointestinal disorders.

The appearance of vomiting and diarrhea in a child always worries parents, regardless of the intensity of the symptoms. The cause can be either simple food poisoning or a dangerous disease that threatens the baby’s life. The sooner the patient receives qualified assistance, the greater the chance of a speedy recovery.

This is not uncommon and can be caused by a variety of factors. Therefore, when a child has diarrhea and vomiting, parents should know what to do, first of all, because these are serious symptoms. If you are not a doctor and do not know for sure how to act in such situations, then it is categorically not recommended to take everything under your control, otherwise this could result in serious complications for the child in the future; the first thing you need to do is call an ambulance.

The worst thing with diarrhea is dehydration.

The biggest threat to the baby’s life, which is also caused by vomiting, is severe dehydration of the body, and along with this, destabilization occurs in the body as a whole. The organs stop functioning properly, and a few days after the onset of such an illness, this can even be fatal for the baby. This is why you need to prevent dehydration as soon as possible.

The first step is to ensure the digestive organs, this will ensure the normal functioning of all organs. Many parents make the grave mistake of noticing that their child has diarrhea and vomiting. They leave it without special attention and do not take any action, hoping that everything will go away on its own; this is completely wrong.

You need to address dehydration in the first hours. You need to replenish lost fluid with the help of special solutions. They can be purchased at the nearest pharmacy, and for those babies who are still breastfed, they need to be applied to the mother’s breast more often.

Signs of a serious illness in your baby

The sudden appearance, literally an hour ago, of a completely healthy baby, diarrhea and vomiting is already enough to seek the help of a doctor. If the child’s condition is already critical, the best solution would be to call an ambulance at home. These 2 symptoms can most likely indicate the presence of a serious infection in the child’s body that needs to be eradicated; the sooner, the easier it will be. In the early stages, the doctor will be able to diagnose the cause of the symptoms much faster and begin taking measures to eliminate it. A doctor’s help with these symptoms will be needed in the following cases:

1. If the baby is less than 3 years old (this measure is extremely necessary if he has not reached six months of age)
2. When the child’s body temperature reaches +38 degrees and above
3. If a child is found in the stool
4. In case of regular, profuse diarrhea that does not stop throughout the day
5. has been going on more than a few times
6. Deterioration of appetite or its complete absence, refusal to accept the body with subsequent vomiting of everything, no matter what he drinks or eats
7. The child is crying, and the lips and eyes are dry, at the same time the eyes are sunken, and the state has become lethargic, drowsiness may occur

The fact is that symptoms such as diarrhea in a child can occur even when he is completely healthy. It’s just that children under 3 years old eat mostly soft foods, so the stool can also be quite liquid. But it is important to pay attention to whether there is blood or other suspicious discharge.

What can cause diarrhea and vomiting in a child?

Lack of appetite with diarrhea is common

In most cases, the cause of these symptoms is pathogenic microorganisms. This can happen if the child eats foods that have not been properly washed or not washed at all. Also, if the child eats with unwashed hands or if the food was stored incorrectly.

That is, this is mainly due to poor hygiene. But the occurrence of diarrhea and vomiting can be accompanied by an incorrect diet. For example, if the child is overfed. Often, the appearance of similar symptoms can occur in the body due to certain foods. But in this case, everything is purely individual, in terms of treatment too.

Diarrhea or vomiting in a child can be caused by common food poisoning. This happens because the body tries to get rid of the harmful product as quickly as possible in order to prevent the absorption of harmful toxins. Some medications can also cause diarrhea, most often those based on iron. In such cases, you cannot do without the intervention of a doctor:

• Dehydration is rapidly increasing
• The baby's weight decreased by 5-10%
• Apathy increases
• Body temperature is consistently high and does not decrease
• Vomiting does not stop
• Strong, unceasing
• Ways to treat diarrhea and vomiting at home

All parents should remember that the baby’s body is just beginning to form, which means that any mistakes made during its treatment can cause acute complications over time. There are no specific treatments for vomiting and diarrhea for children, because each individual case requires an individual approach. It all depends on the reason that caused the diarrhea or vomiting.

How can I help my child?

Symptoms of general intoxication should alert you

If diarrhea and vomiting in a child occur due to any other cause, antibacterial treatment is needed, which effectively affects pathogens. But you need to exercise maximum caution so as not to damage or destroy natural bioprotection along with the infection. In case of improper treatment, other symptoms may arise; this line is very easy to break, and restoring the microflora is a very labor-intensive task, even for doctors.

Do not forget that toxins also enter the body. Therefore, it is necessary not to stop the absorption of toxins into the blood, but only to limit the intake. There are substances such as Enterosorbents that reduce the intake of toxins, thereby the child’s condition noticeably improves.
A proper diet can also help in the treatment of diarrhea and vomiting, since these symptoms remove a lot of fluid and useful components from the body, you need to take care of its nutrition.

It will be necessary to increase the number of servings of food and reduce the volume. If the baby is less than a year old, breastfeeding should be done more often than usual. You need to feed him the same milk as before the disease, only now you need to add a special solution to the diet, from 50 to 110 ml. This is done after regular vomiting or diarrhea.

If the baby is not accustomed to lactation through a bottle, you can feed him with a teaspoon or even a syringe without a needle. If after you give him something to drink, he wants more, do not refuse him, let him drink as much as he wants, the body must replenish the lost fluid. If, while feeding the child, the intake of milk is accompanied by subsequent vomiting, then you need to continue to feed, but now slowly and in small portions. When this does not help for several hours, the situation does not change for the better, then seeking the help of a doctor will be a mandatory measure.

For children who are over one year old and no longer eat only milk, the diet should remain the same, but you can add more meat, vegetables, flour and fermented milk products, such as yogurt.

It is better to eat foods such as banana, apples or mashed potatoes in the first days of the disease. But sugary drinks and all sweets must be completely avoided; they can cause diarrhea and vomiting. In the first hours after detecting diarrhea or vomiting in a child, you need to give him a special solution to drink, 50 ml per kg of the child’s total weight. Subsequently, the dose should be taken after each vomiting or loose stool in an amount of 12-130 ml.

What can you do before the doctor arrives?

• If you are very weak and cannot sit, then lay him down
• Turn your head to the side so that in case of another urge to vomit, protect the airways from vomit.
• After vomiting, wipe his lips and face, and other parts of his body, with warm water.
• Give him a glucose-saline solution
• Don't give him anti-vomiting medications, this will make it harder for the doctor to diagnose the problem.

Medicines and precautions for diarrhea and vomiting in a baby

An increase in temperature is an alarming symptom

When starting to treat childhood diarrhea, it is important to always remember that even such a medicine must be used with extreme caution, as intestinal obstruction may occur. If diarrhea is caused by an infection in the intestines, taking medications against diarrhea can slow down the body's ridding of toxins, and this can lead to a general deterioration in the condition of the child, who has not yet had time to recover from the illness.

If a child has blood when excreting feces, and the body temperature is elevated, even if not greatly, medications for diarrhea are generally contraindicated. After all, on the one hand, diarrhea removes all harmful substances and toxins, but, on the other hand, the body at the same time loses a lot of fluid, which needs to be constantly replenished. Thus, the intestines will be completely cleansed and there will be no harm to health. But this should happen under the strict supervision of a pediatrician.

As for anti-vomiting medications, it is better to hold off on using them if vomiting can be suppressed by other means. They are used only when it has not stopped for a very long time. This should only be done by a doctor, and not by the parents of a sick child themselves.

Before going to the doctor, you should not give your child antiemetic drugs, as this will not cure the vomiting and the child will not get better. This can only hide the cause of the disease, reduce other symptoms, thereby making it more difficult for the doctor to understand the cause of the disease.

Proper treatment of diarrhea and vomiting in a child

After diarrhea, it is imperative to restore the intestinal microflora

Naturally, the right approach to treatment is needed. Often parents, observing diarrhea and vomiting in their baby, without thinking twice, begin treatment with antibiotics. They can get the child back on his feet in a short time, so the treatment is effective. But this may not happen because antibiotics fight harmful bacteria, and if a child's diarrhea and nausea are caused by viruses, antibiotics will not be an effective treatment.

And even, on the contrary, these are potent drugs and if they are used where another method of treatment is required, this can result in serious consequences for the child. Some antibiotics, which have a very strong effect, inhibit blood formation and destroy immune cells, so the environment for the virus will become even more favorable. In addition, antibiotics can destroy beneficial microflora in the stomach, which can cause dysbiosis (excessive, uncontrolled salivation) in the child.

Some viruses even manage to develop resistance to certain antibiotics, so the child can be harmed much more by the antibiotic treatment itself. Therefore, treatment must be prescribed by a doctor. It is best to resort to using not antibiotics, but also. Modern research shows that these drugs are the most effective. Primarily due to Lactobacilli, yeast-like fungi. These substances help cope with diarrhea, which has become acute due to not only pathogenic microbes, but also viruses.