Causes of Frequent Vomiting in Infants - Evaluation and Treatment

Introduction:

Vomiting is a common sign in children of age between one and five years, which shows complications related to health. In cases of infection or allergy, vomiting is the most common symptom. It not only weakens a child but also makes him fussy. In most cases, children have a sensation of nausea or a stomach ache and discomfort before vomiting. Except for all its harmful effects, vomiting is the best way to eliminate any toxic substance from the body. Additionally, the baby, after vomiting, usually does not need any treatment, but if it is persistent and of a different color or there is blood present, it is time to seek medical attention.

What Are the Causes of Vomiting in Infants?

Since the infant is on steady milk or a formula diet, it is challenging for parents to identify the difference between vomiting and spitting. The only thing that can differentiate both is the cause or the reason behind it.

Vomiting occurs due to strong triggers affecting the brain or body to act in a certain way. These triggers can be infections, medications, food allergies, or motion.

1. Feeding Difficulties: Newborns, after birth, are learning to feed and digest.

• Cause: If a baby is overfed and is held in an awkward position, there are chances of vomiting the milk.

• Treatment: After the first month, post-feeding vomiting stops on its own. Moreover, a mother should give smaller and more frequent feeds to a baby for proper digestion.

2. Gastroenteritis: It is also known as “tummy bug” or “stomach flu,” and it is the most common cause of vomiting in babies.

• Cause: It is caused by a highly contagious rotavirus or norovirus infection that directly causes swelling and irritation of the intestine.

• Symptoms: Babies with this infection have symptoms such as vomiting, fever, clammy skin, and loss of appetite.

• Treatment: Pediatricians treat this condition in babies by giving them intravenous fluids for dehydration, oral rehydration products, and antiviral medication.

3. Infant Reflux: If a baby has frequently spitting up after every meal, he might be facing an issue of acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux (GER).

• Cause: There is a ring-like muscle between the stomach and esophagus. In babies, it is immaturely developed. Babies usually lie on their backs or stomach, or sometimes they are overfed, which causes acid reflux in them.

• Symptoms: If a baby is facing reflux persistently after feeding, there are a few symptoms associated with infants, such as reduced feeding, nausea and vomiting, chronic cough, fussiness, and spitting of yellow or green fluid after feeding.

• Treatment: Few changes in feeding pattern and baby’s position during and after feeding can reduce this complication in the babies.

4. Cold and Flu: Cold and flu can be quite common in babies due to their underdeveloped immune systems.

• Cause: It is caused by a viral infection and can be contagious.

• Symptoms: If a baby is facing this complication, he might have nasal congestion and a runny nose. Moreover, in severe conditions, it can cause fever, vomiting, and breathing difficulties.

• Treatment: Parents should immediately visit their pediatrician and seek medical attention if there is a persistently high fever, other colored mucus excretion, or difficulty in breathing.

5. Ear Infection: It is the infection spread from a cold or upper respiratory bacterial infection.

• Cause: Ear infection is caused by bacteria, and there are two factors affecting this, such as underdeveloped immune systems and narrow eustachian tube that makes drainage of the fluid more difficult.

• Symptoms: Ear infection can make a baby fussy. It can also cause fever, loss of balance, vomiting, and difficulty sleeping. Moreover, a baby with an ear infection often pulls his ear, and this can be another sign of an ear infection.

• Treatment: Treatment of this complication is antibiotic therapy, recommended by the doctor as per age and weight.

6. Milk Intolerance: It is the condition where babies are not able to digest cow’s milk.

• Cause: Intolerance to milk can be caused by gastroenteritis or food allergy.

• Symptoms: Babies with milk intolerance have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after drinking the milk.

• Treatment: Changing the diet for children is the only option.

7. Intussusception: It is the condition causing excruciating pain in the stomach.

• Cause: Intussusception is when the small intestine slides into the adjacent space, and this causes severe pain in the stomach.

• Symptoms: Due to this condition, infants may have symptoms such as severe stomach ache, fussiness, diarrhea, and vomiting.

• Treatment: Parents should immediately seek medical help if their infant is facing these symptoms.

How to Evaluate Vomiting in Infants?

There are a few steps to follow for diagnosing the condition such as:

• Physical Examination: This step can show any physical symptoms associated with the condition, and this can further help in the diagnosis of its causative factor.

• Blood Test: If a child has any infectious condition, this evaluation method can be used to diagnose it.

• Stool Test: It is the method used for evaluating allergies, digestive problems, or any kind of infectious condition.

• Urinalysis: It is the test of the urine sample collected from the patient. It is used to evaluate kidney function or urinary tract infections.

• X-ray: This can be a good evaluation method to check for any kind of abnormality related to the abdominal cavity.

• Ultrasound: It is the diagnostic method used to check structures inside the body.

• Endoscopy: It is the diagnostic method used for the detection of complications related to the esophagus. A small camera with a thin tube is inserted through the natural opening of the body, such as the oral cavity.

What Are the Treatment Options for Vomiting in Infants?

• Various steps that parents can follow for treating vomiting in an infant, such as:

• Parents should look for signs of dehydration in case of persistent vomiting. They should give a little amount of fluid.

• The mother should take care of the position of a child while breastfeeding. Following breastfeeding, parents should remember to hold the baby upright for a while until he burps.

• Mother should avoid overfeeding their child, as overfeeding and indigestion is the most common cause of vomiting.

• In severe cases, parents should immediately seek medical attention.

Conclusion:

Vomiting can be caused by simple reasons like indigestion to severe infectious conditions. Also, it is a symptom associated with fatal conditions too. It is crucial for parents to look for any other complications related to it and go for a doctor’s attention if necessary. Moreover, if the condition is severe and frequent, it is wise to seek immediate medical attention. Also, go for regular follow-ups until the condition is better.