Vomiting in Children — Causes, Treatment, ORS and When to Rush to Hospital

Dr. Sandip Gupta

Vomiting is a very common symptom in children, and parents often get extremely worried when a child keeps vomiting everything they eat, sometimes staying up all night trying to feed the child again and again. This video covers why it happens and how to manage it. Why syrups don't work well during vomiting: A swallowed syrup or tablet has to work from inside the stomach, but if the child vomits again soon after, the syrup comes right back out with it and gives no benefit. A better option is a mouth-dissolving anti-vomiting tablet (ondansetron, sold as brands like Onam MD or Emeset MD) or an anti-vomiting oral strip, which dissolves directly on the tongue and starts working immediately without needing to reach the stomach. Most common causes of vomiting in children: Acute gastroenteritis (food poisoning) – the most common cause by far. A virus or bacteria enters the body through contaminated water or food, damages and inflames the stomach and intestine, and this infection causes repeated vomiting. Vomiting also causes loss of water and essential salts, putting the child at risk of dehydration. Food allergy – another common and major cause. Less common causes include fever from an infection such as a brain infection, or intestinal issues like appendicitis or entercolitis, and various chronic illnesses — but these usually cause vomiting that lasts more than a week, so they are rare compared to the two common causes above. Treatment: Use a mouth-dissolving anti-vomiting tablet or strip rather than a syrup, for the reason explained above. ORS is very important to replace the water and salt lost through vomiting. (A separate detailed ORS video, made for diarrhoea, is referenced.) ORS comes in a 1-litre sachet and a 200 ml sachet; children under 1 year can be given 50–100 ml from the 200 ml sachet after each episode, while children above 1 year can be given as much as they want/need. Alternatives to ORS: coconut water, rice water, dal water, lemon water, and lassi — all contain water, salt and sugar, and help keep the child hydrated. Probiotics and zinc are sometimes used alongside treating the underlying infection — use these only on your doctor's advice. When to take the child to hospital or a doctor: Vomiting repeatedly, e.g. 6 to 8 times a day. Signs of dehydration from vomiting — sunken eyes, dry tongue, loss of skin turgor (skin doesn't spring back when pinched). Vomiting continuing for more than 24 hours without stopping. Blood in the vomit, or green-coloured bile in the vomit. Any of these indicate a serious underlying cause, and you should go to hospital or emergency for a doctor's advice immediately. Questions this video addresses: Why does vomiting happen in children; why doesn't a vomiting syrup work when the child keeps throwing up; what medicine actually helps stop vomiting; what are the most common causes of vomiting in kids; how much ORS should be given during vomiting; what can be given instead of ORS; and when does vomiting in a child need a hospital or emergency visit. Relevant for: parents whose child is vomiting repeatedly and can't keep food down; parents asking why a syrup for vomiting doesn't seem to work; parents asking what medicine actually helps stop vomiting; parents wanting to understand the common causes of vomiting in children; parents asking how much ORS or which fluids to give during vomiting; and parents trying to judge whether their child's vomiting is serious enough for a hospital visit. Disclaimer: This video is for general information and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child is different — please consult your pediatrician before giving any anti-vomiting medicine, probiotic, or zinc, and seek immediate medical attention if your child vomits repeatedly, shows signs of dehydration, vomits for more than 24 hours continuously, or vomits blood or green bile.