Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
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Vomiting - Brief Version
What causes vomiting?
When your child throws up, it is often caused by a virus.
Your child may also have watery bowel movements (diarrhea).
Most of the time, vomiting stops in 6 to 24 hours. The
diarrhea may keep going for a day or 2 more.
How can I take care of my child?
- Give clear fluids for 8 hours. Give 1 teaspoon to 1
tablespoon of clear fluid every 10 minutes. After 4
hours, double the amount each hour.
- For babies under 1 year old. Give your baby a clear
fluid drink like Pedialyte or Kao Lectrolyte. These
drinks help give your baby important minerals that
can be lost when throwing up and sick.
- For babies over 1 year old. The best clear fluid is
water or ice chips.
- For children over 2 years old. Give your child water
or ice chips. You can also give your child flat,
lemon-lime soda. Make a drink of half water and half
soda.
- Give bland foods 8 hours after your child stops throwing
up.
- Babies who eat solid food can have applesauce,
strained bananas and rice cereal.
- Older children can have saltine crackers, bland
soups, and mashed potatoes, or honey on white bread.
- Give the bland foods for 24 hours.
- Do not give medicine your child doesn't need. Do not
give any medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
Call your child's doctor right away if:
- Your child shows signs of not getting enough fluids:
- Your child does not urinate (pee) in 8 hours.
- Your child has a very dry mouth.
- Your child has no tears when he cries.
- Your child starts to act very sick.
Call your doctor during office hours if:
- Your child is under age 2 and throws up for more than 24
hours.
- Your child is over age 2 and throws up for more than 48
hours.
- You have other concerns or questions.
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