Vomiting is common in babies. Digestive disorders, gastroenteritis, dental thrusts … We take stock of these multiple causes, with the pediatrician Eric Saban.
Parents are often impressed and worried by the baby’s vomiting, but they should not be confused with the regurgitations, linked to a “too full”, especially when meals are given too often or in large quantities for their small stomach. Jet vomiting are mainly linked to ENT or respiratory infections, gastroenteritis … But there are many causes and it is sometimes difficult for parents to understand what is going on. Let us recall above all in the event of vomiting, it is advisable to consult a doctor. We take stock with Dr. Eric Saban, pediatrician in Levallois-Perret.
– Gastroenteritis In infants is one of the most common causes of vomiting. “This digestive disorder often begins with a lack of appetite, fatigue, nausea and possibly vomiting. There can also be fever and diarrhea”, specifies Eric Saban.
– bronchitis. In the event of bronchial clipping, children may have to vomit their mucus. This is often observed following coughing fifths.
– ENT or dental causes. “Children who have angina or otitis are likely to vomit during an ENT infection or a dental breakthrough, which also happens very often”recalls the pediatrician. Finally, in the event of strong dental thrusts, toddlers can have side effects and in particular vomiting, under the effect of hyper-salivation.
– meningitis. “Among newborns who have fever associated with vomiting, you have to think of meningitis. The little ones also have a very grumpy behavior, a lack of appetite, they no longer play, no longer smile and are a little amorphous”, specifies the specialist. When meningitis occurs in a little larger children, they also complain of headache.
– drug treatmentscan also be responsible for vomiting in children. “We see little ones who start vomiting as soon as they are given antibiotic treatment. Especially when parents force them to take their medication. Indeed, vomiting can sometimes be linked to parents’ insistence, or when they want to give it absolutely pure”, Adds Eric Saban. We nevertheless advise to dilute the medication in the bottle, especially if he has a bad taste. In this case, it is easy to make the diagnosis since the child only vomited when taking the medication.
– Urinary infections can give fever, associated with vomiting in newborns. In this case, an urine analysis must be carried out.
– malformative causes. In infants (from the first hours of life), bilious vomiting can be linked to a digestive malformation responsible for intestinal occlusion. Another cause of vomiting associated with significant abdominal pain: acute intestinal invagination. What is this ? During an infectious viral disease, the child develops in the abdomen of mesenteric nodes, which compress the intestines. Result: part of the small intestine is invagued in the neighboring intestinal part, and the intestinal transit is interrupted. The child is in occlusion and begins to vomit as soon as he tries to swallow something, he then has absolute food intolerance.
Finally, The stenosis of pylorus is a malformation that occurs at three weeks of life. It mainly concerns boys, in 85% of cases. “The pyloric muscle is hypertrophy, which blocks the access of stomach food to the intestine, thus causing vomiting”, explains Dr. Eric Saban. This case also leads to absolute food intolerance, and to surgery. Thus, when a three -week little boy keeps vomiting, it is necessary to give him an abdominal ultrasound to highlight this stenosis of pylorus.
Parents are often surprised when their baby vomits jet. However, this type of vomiting is very common in infants. In question in particular: the sphincter which is still immature at this age. In general, in case of vomiting, or diarrhea, it is above all necessary to pay attention to the risk of dehydration in baby.
If your newborn vomit, do not hesitate to talk to your pediatrician, which will determine the cause of its vomiting. Depending on, if it is an infection, vomiting will disappear once the disease has been treated. “”It is better to consult in the event of a change in behavior of the baby. For example, if the baby regurgite since he is small because he has a reflux, it is enough to adjust the rations so that they do not exceed the capacity of his stomach. But in case of brutal change: the child suddenly starts to vomit, you must consult quickly “explains Dr. Eric Saban. It is a frequent cause of consultation, but it is generally necessary to react fairly quickly.