Causes of nausea in a child and first aid

Children have headaches for a variety of reasons, and only in one case out of twenty does the child’s condition require serious attention and consultation with a doctor. But the symptoms themselves should not be ignored.

A condition in which nausea is added to the headache can be dangerous. In this case, it is better to consult a therapist, and if vomiting occurs, immediately call an ambulance. The cause can be either banal poisoning or a deadly disease such as meningitis.

Causes of headache and nausea

If you experience nausea and headache, what could it be?

A common cause that does not require serious treatment is overwork .

Lack of sleep, psychological trauma, neurosis due to exams, lack of fresh air can lead to mild headaches and mild nausea.

In this case, after rest and a walk, the baby’s condition usually returns to normal.

Also, symptoms sometimes appear after being in the sun for more than three hours or in a hot, stuffy room. After the provoking factors are removed, the child’s headache will go away within a few hours.

Important! In 20% of cases, such symptoms, accompanied by several more alarming signals, serve as the beginning of extremely unpleasant diseases - a viral infection, encephalitis, poisoning or head injury, which parents may not know about.

What is nausea

Nausea is a sensation that precedes the reflex release of stomach contents (less commonly, the duodenum) through the mouth and nasal passages (vomiting).

Regular nausea and vomiting in the morning in a child is an indication for hospitalization and a thorough examination.

The uncomfortable state can be observed constantly (for some time), before or after meals, in the morning and under other circumstances. The doctor identifies the cause of the pathological condition depending on the regularity of the manifestation, medical history and the presence of other symptoms: for example, frequent morning sickness in a child is considered a clear sign of many gastrointestinal and central nervous system pathologies, as well as infections. In addition to decreased appetite and weakness, the symptom may be accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms.

Symptoms

Nausea in children is not necessarily accompanied by vomiting. For a long time, the child may only feel an unpleasant feeling of emptiness or fullness in the stomach and the periodic approach of gastric contents to the throat. External signs that parents may notice include:

• increased salivation;
• cold palms and feet;
• pale face;
• sweating (during severe attacks, cold sweat may appear on the skin);
• weakness;
• refusal of physical activity, sleep disturbances;
• loss of appetite or, conversely, a constant feeling of hunger and thirst.

Over time, the condition may worsen to the point of vomiting. Nausea is often accompanied by diarrhea, fever (temperature 38°C and above), headache, dizziness, acute abdominal syndrome, chest pain, stiff neck muscles, etc.

What symptoms should you be concerned about?

You should start to worry when nausea and headache are combined with other symptoms.

An increase in temperature to 37-37.5 degrees may indicate the onset of a cold. If your baby is dizzy, this indicates problems with the vestibular system, ingestion of spoiled food (poisoning) or dehydration.

Also, constant food restrictions, typical of young children and adolescents involved in sports or dancing, can lead to dizziness against a background of nausea and background headaches.

General weakness and lethargy of the baby indicates both the onset of a serious infectious disease and severe fatigue.

Cold hands and feet accompanied by a headache and mild nausea indicate vascular disorders.

Important! It is necessary to urgently call a doctor or an ambulance if a child has a painful, sharp headache accompanied by a temperature above 38 degrees and vomiting.

The teenager often feels sick

> Medicine
04.05.2020

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If a child feels sick or vomits, but there is no body temperature or diarrhea, this cannot be called a disease. But this symptom is an alarming sign for the parent, indicating a disruption in the functioning of the baby’s body or the first sign of illness.

Vomiting is an unpleasant symptom, provoked by a person’s unconditioned reflex, which helps to get rid of what prevents him from functioning normally, the cause of which is a variety of diseases. The process occurs with undigested food, through contraction of the pylorus.

Symptoms

Vomiting without diarrhea and without fever may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Morning and general lethargy, impotence.
• Frequent salivation and involuntary swallowing.
• Strong heartbeat and shortness of breath.
• Prolonged nausea.
• Sweating.
• Pale skin.

Fever and diarrhea are absent when the baby regurgitates. It occurs both in a month-old baby and in one year, two years and up to three years. More often, regurgitation stops at 7 months.

• Repeated sudden, one-time fountain, no nausea.
• Pale facial skin.
• Tense, hard abdomen.

If the child feels well and has the listed symptoms, there is no need to worry. Regurgitation after eating is a natural phenomenon of the development of the digestive system. Signs of regurgitation independent of food consumption are dangerous: when the skin turns blue, the baby’s temperature drops, and repeated vomiting occurs.

The process of eruption through the mouth without diarrhea, temperature, depending on the influencing factor, is divided into types:

• Psychogenic vomiting, the cause of which is problems with the central nervous system in children. The psychogenic form is diagnosed in a teenager, a child of 6-7 years old, and rarely in a small child. This type includes kinetosis - the process of motion sickness in transport: land, water, which results in vomiting.
• The urge to vomit is caused by the presence of gastrointestinal diseases.
• Eruption of stomach contents without fever, caused by poisoning.

Causes

Vomiting without fever or diarrhea indicates the absence of pathological health problems. An exception to the rule may be a traumatic brain injury or problems with the cardiovascular system. Eruption of stomach contents without additional symptoms.

Vomiting is a consequence of a number of diseases, the causes of which are many. The causes of the psychogenic type are mental disorders, rumination, severe anxiety, and stress. Associative (appearance and smell) eruption also occurs through a psychogenic type.

Diseases of the central nervous system: epilepsy, hypoxia, meningitis, migraine, increased cranial pressure are accompanied by the eruption of gastric contents. Foreign body in the stomach, reflux disease, impaired motility and congenital diseases, which result in gastric emptying.

An infectious spectrum disease is always accompanied by fever. Parasites, bacteria and viruses are provocateurs of fever, stomach upset, and diarrhea. The only exceptions are diseases of the urinary system, bronchi and lungs. The disease develops into a chronic form without symptoms.

Vomiting without other symptoms is a consequence of pathologies: lactic acidosis, cyclic gastric eruption syndrome, which occurs periodically with severe migraines, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

Complications

Severe consequences can occur when vomiting with fever. But the presence of such in asymptomatic eruptions of stomach contents is extremely rarely diagnosed.

Regurgitation observed in babies does not cause health complications. Psychogenic types in a child also do not cause consequences. Complications may arise if the association related to this type becomes established and there is repeated vomiting.

Frequent, severe vomiting does not go away without consequences. Dehydration is a sign of complications. Occasional vomiting rarely causes the mass to enter the lung system, causing aspiration pneumonia.

Periodic urges with accompanying intense sweating lead to hyperkalemia.

Diagnostics

Making a diagnosis is not difficult. Vomiting, which is not characterized by fever, loose stools, narrows the list of possible diseases. Examination of the baby and medical history is the first thing the doctor should do. Anamnesis will allow you to find out about the child’s past illnesses and his condition since birth.

The information necessary to make a correct diagnosis is the baby’s age and weight. Next, the skin is examined for the presence of a rash, the neurological condition is assessed - a convulsive syndrome is excluded or confirmed. The abdomen is palpated to check the condition of the muscles.

The parent tells the doctor about the accompanying symptoms: pain in the abdomen, head, pallor, tinnitus and others.

The specialist should tell about its nature: one-time or multiple, unexpected, indomitable, whether it was at night or happened in the morning. It is important to say about frequency: every hour or less.

Did the baby feel better after vomiting, did the condition remain unchanged or did it worsen? Color, consistency, smell, presence of foreign objects, mucus are necessary characteristics.

Taking tests

To obtain additional information, it is worth getting tested. An appointment for testing by a child occurs in rare cases when the doctor doubts the reliability of the data obtained or there is a suspicion of the presence of a certain illness.

The procedure involves donating blood and urine for a general analysis. The blood is examined for the level of reticulocytes, albinum, and coagulation is studied.

What to do

Without fever or diarrhea, vomiting is generally rare. In this case, there is no need for treatment. All you have to do is conduct independent monitoring of the child’s condition. The presence of repeated attacks with deterioration of the condition requires urgent intervention from a specialist.

Home treatment

Treating at home means providing your baby with a gentle diet. The injured gastric mucosa requires special attention. It does not matter whether it was a one-time or continuous vomiting.

To eliminate dehydration, you should give your child water or other liquid to drink. It is better to give rehydron purchased at a pharmacy. Children under one year of age should be given a spoonful to drink every few minutes. After vomiting in a three-year-old, drink rehydron several spoons at the same intervals. From three years of age and older – one and a half, two spoons.

Alternative medicine

Safe methods of treating the consequences of gastric dysfunction include:

• Weak tea, preferably green, eliminates the feeling of nausea and alleviates the condition.
• Making mint and chamomile tea helps with psychogenic vomiting. The baby calms down and his condition returns to normal.
• Currant juice (freshly squeezed) helps relieve nausea.
• Baked quince helps to recover from vomiting and subsequent drinking.
• Boiled, cooled water with the addition of lemon and honey.

Nausea with urge is a case when a child should drink more fluids, including sour juices. The reason for this is the presence of vitamin C in them, which helps restore the body and give strength. Before using this treatment method, consult your doctor. Alternative medicine, which has a different range of herbs, has contraindications for treating children.

Prevention

The post-vomiting state of a child needs plenty of fluids and good nutrition. Especially if a girl or boy is found to be dehydrated. The amount of water needed to drink depends on the age of the child.

You should eat porridge with water, lean meat, and choose dairy products with less fat content. Reduce portions, increase the number of times you eat. Sweets and fatty foods should be excluded from the diet until complete recovery. Fruits, mainly citrus fruits, freshly squeezed juices are a necessity for complete recovery; the body requires vitamins and microelements.

Walking in the fresh air is necessary to improve your well-being. Many diseases occur due to oxygen starvation. Constant work with the psychological health of your child is required if the cause of vomiting was a traumatic event.

Source: https://infomm.ru/podrostka-chasto-toshnit/

Provocateurs

A number of diseases that cause headaches and nausea in a child require treatment or lifestyle changes.

Once the underlying causes are eliminated, the pain in the head will also go away.

Migraine

Severe , throbbing pain in the left or right side of the head, eyes or back of the head is characteristic of migraine . It manifests itself in children at least eight years old; girls are affected more often than boys.

The pain is accompanied by photophobia, worsening of the condition with loud sounds, and a sharp reaction to odors. Nausea occurs at the peak of a wave of pain. In rare cases, a child may vomit during an attack, which leads to relief. Migraine occurs without fever.

For regular migraines, a visit to a therapist and neurologist is required.

Concussion and head injuries

If you have a headache and nausea, you should check with the child and the adults accompanying him whether the baby fell that day or hit his head.

Sometimes, while talking, a child suddenly remembers that in the evening he fell from a swing or got into a fight with a classmate.

Important! Even a mild head injury requires complete rest and consultation with a neurologist.

Dehydration

The painful state of the child with acute lack of fluid is complemented by lethargy and increased anxiety.

The main sign of severe dehydration is “dry” crying , in which tears do not flow. It is difficult for the baby to chew, his appetite decreases, and walks and games are not of interest.

Important! With prolonged dehydration, the hands and legs begin to shake, the child cannot write with a pen, and from time to time he experiences convulsions.

Do not underestimate this problem, since water is needed for metabolism. The younger the child, the more severe the consequences of dehydration can be.

Vascular disorders

Symptoms that appear only in the morning indicate a violation of blood circulation in the vessels of the brain.

Rub your baby's arms and legs if they are cold.

If a child is pale and sweaty after sleep, this indicates the onset of vegetative-vascular dystonia.

Poor nutrition

The presence of smoked meats, French fries, canned food, fast food and sugary drinks in a minor’s diet can cause migraines and cause the child to feel constantly sick. When you change your diet, symptoms go away within two to three months.

Acetonemic syndrome

It is extremely rare that headaches and nausea indicate a pathological condition accompanied by an increase in the content of ketone bodies in the blood . Symptoms of poisoning, the smell of acetone from the mouth and repeated severe vomiting are added to the basic ones.

The disease develops due to metabolic disorders.

Viral infections

Headaches and nausea with periodic vomiting indicate intoxication of the body. The cause is viruses or bacteria. The condition is accompanied by general lethargy of the child, loss of appetite, irritability, and an increase in temperature to subfernal (37-37.3).

What to do

The treatment regimen for nausea and vomiting depends on the cause of its occurrence. Removal of these symptoms most often does not affect the underlying pathology. If nausea is accompanied by vomiting, then parents need to take the following measures:

1. Place the child on his side to prevent food from entering the respiratory tract.
2. Assess the danger of the situation and decide whether to call a doctor at home. If vomiting occurred once, and the child’s general condition remains satisfactory (no disturbances in appetite or bowel movements, lethargy, pallor, crying or complaints of pain), then the consultation with the pediatrician can be rescheduled for the next day. If pathological symptoms are observed or vomiting is repeated, you should call a doctor immediately. The pediatrician will assess the patient’s condition, determine the need for inpatient treatment or prescribe therapy and the necessary tests.
3. Before the doctor arrives, give the child water to drink to prevent massive fluid loss and intoxication. Give water often and little by little. Infants (up to one year) should be given no more than 2 tsp. liquids every 3-5 minutes, children 1-3 years old - up to 1 tbsp. l. water at the same frequency, over 3 years - up to 2 tbsp. l. every 5 minutes. The amount of liquid that a child should drink per day is 100-150 ml per 1 kg of body weight. If there is severe abdominal pain or poisoning with foaming liquid, the patient should not be given anything to drink.
4. Replenish losses of mineral salts and glucose. With severe vomiting, not only fluid is lost, but also chemical compounds necessary for the body. To compensate for these losses, you can use special solutions (Regidron, glucose) or a self-prepared replacement (2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt and 0.5 teaspoon of soda per 1 liter of warm water).
5. If a child is poisoned by bad food, then it is necessary to pour up to 300 ml of water into the stomach and induce vomiting by pressing on the root of the tongue. Then place a bottle of cold water on your stomach. In case of food poisoning, it is allowed to give the patient activated carbon (1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight) or other sorbents, but in case of chemical poisoning, this is not recommended.

In what cases is it necessary to call an ambulance immediately:

• when the child’s condition rapidly deteriorates;
• in the presence of indomitable repeated vomiting, high fever, diarrhea, convulsions, blood in the stool, rare urination, severe abdominal pain, fainting;
• if you suspect ingestion of a foreign body;
• in case of poisoning with household chemicals (mass moving in the opposite direction during self-induced vomiting aggravates the burn of the mucous membrane);
• when vomiting with blood (pink, scarlet, brown or coffee colored masses indicate bleeding in the stomach or esophagus).

When calling an ambulance, you need to clearly describe the problem to the dispatcher, specify the drug that poisoned the child, or a list of pathological symptoms, and then listen to the recommendations that must be followed until the team arrives. In case of poisoning, the label of the household product or medicine is given to the doctor.

First aid for vomiting, which parents can provide to a child, does not include self-correction of nutrition and taking medications to relieve symptoms.

Antiemetic drugs are prescribed according to indications and only after consultation with a doctor. Each clinical case requires clarification of the circumstances and adequate therapeutic measures. You should not refuse to hospitalize your child if the pediatrician recommends diagnosis or treatment in a hospital setting.

How to give first aid

If the symptoms are pronounced, there is no need to risk the baby’s health; it is better to play it safe and call the clinic. Before the local pediatrician arrives, in order to alleviate the condition of the little patient, it is necessary:

1. put the patient on a bed or sofa;
2. if he vomits, put him on his side, bring a basin;
3. constantly drink clean water or fruit drink;
4. if the temperature is very high, give children's Paracetamol, put a compress of crushed ice on the temples;
5. open the windows, while closing the curtains - the light can disturb the child, but air flow is necessary.

In case of poisoning, provide plenty of fluids. Under no circumstances should you give your child antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs on your own. This can blur the symptoms and complicate further diagnosis of the disease.

When should you consult a doctor?

It is necessary to call a doctor at home or call an ambulance if the following symptoms are added to the pain:

1. severe nausea accompanied by vomiting;
2. temperature above 38 degrees;
3. confusion;
4. the baby is shaking;
5. the stomach hurts or “twists”;
6. diarrhea with a pungent odor of stool;
7. the baby lost consciousness, including for a short time.

Reference. You should also consult a therapist if such discomfort becomes regular and is accompanied by lethargy and nausea. In this case, you need to seek help from a neurologist, cardiologist and ophthalmologist, and also undergo a series of tests to identify the cause of the disease.

Useful video on the topic:

What does severe nausea in a child mean?

Severe nausea in a child

• Severe nausea in a child may be a sign of one of the above diseases. Or maybe it also indicates the baby’s usual fatigue. Perhaps during the day he had to experience many very exciting or even several stressful events
• At the end of the day, such a child may feel unwell and even nauseous.
• If nausea does not stop over a long period of time or returns regularly, such a baby should be taken to the doctor.

Preventive methods

For prevention, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures aimed at eliminating the causes of headaches:

1. Teach your child to thoroughly wash their hands with an antiseptic, rinse fruits well before eating, and not put dirty toys in their mouth - this will avoid poisoning and infection with pathogenic bacteria;
2. carefully monitor the child's nutrition ;
3. provide him with good sleep , walks in the fresh air .

If headaches are regular, be sure to undergo an examination, and also take your child for a massage or to an osteopath at least once a year.

Features of the course of the disease in children

The peculiarities of physical development and nervous regulation of the child’s body give reason to identify characteristic causes that are objective and subsequently gradually disappear.

Course of the disease in infants

Increased attention should be paid to infants. Establishing the functioning of the digestive system takes time. Developmental imbalance can be considered a natural phenomenon in the first year of life.

The causes of infant nausea are:

1. Specific work of the gastrointestinal tract of a small child in the first months. Too active, “greedy” sucking, weak contact of the mother’s nipple contributes to the baby swallowing air. The consequence is regurgitation of food. The growth of the child eliminates the imbalance, the discomfort disappears, digestion is normalized, and the symptoms disappear.
2. Premature introduction of complementary foods. The child’s stomach experiences difficulties with digestive adaptation. Different compositions of products result in regurgitation and intestinal upset. Parents must properly organize nutrition for 1 year of life and follow the schedule for introducing the new menu. Following the rules will help avoid problems.
3. Teething causes infant nausea, accompanied by pain and copious amounts of saliva.

Course of the disease in preschool children

The causes of illness in preschool age are increased physical activity, curiosity, and expanding social circle. The child has increased sources of danger:

1. Ingestion of a foreign body by a child.
2. Infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract (sore throat, flu). The virus releases toxins and ingests purulent discharge (tonsillitis).
3. Helminthic infestations. A child exposed to pinworm infection, through contact, transmits the infection through toys and clothing. Poor health, loss of appetite, lethargy are the result of poisoning by helminth waste products.
4. Poisoning with drugs and household chemicals. Gagging can be a lifesaver. The toxic substance will be eliminated naturally.
5. Excessive afternoon activity disrupts the balance of gastric juice - alkali. It is necessary to delimit the alternation of outdoor games and food intake, and control the volume of food eaten.

Features of the disease at school age

School age is characterized by causes characterized by the consequences of physical and mental stress. Increased emotionality and lability of the nervous system result in stress.

• Psychogenic nausea is the result of adaptation of a growing organism and the increased demands of the children's team. A case of nervous tension in a teenager is a common occurrence. The skillful behavior of parents and the help of teachers will help restore the psychological background of the student, and nervous nausea will pass.
• Irregularity of food intake, non-compliance with the regime, quality of nutrition.
• Violation of the vestibular apparatus, “seasickness”. The center of balance in the inner ear is sometimes underdeveloped. “Seasickness” can disrupt the usual rhythm of a person’s life. Symptomatic treatment is necessary: ​​restriction of food intake before the trip, the presence of a drug containing mint, valerian, mint leaf.

The classification of the causes of different age groups is due to the specific diversity of manifestations. Children and adults can get poisoned, swallow a foreign body, or get the flu.