Vomiting in children

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Adenike Eketunde

Synonyms and keywords: Vomiting in kids

Overview[edit | edit source]

Vomiting in children is common and can range from a benign condition to a life-threatening condition. Most cases of vomiting are gastrointestinal in origin, most commonly gastroesophageal reflux disease and gastroenteritis. Vomiting, also known as emesis, is the oral expulsion of gastrointestinal content from the mouth due to the gut and thoracoabdominal wall muscles' contraction. At the same time, nausea refers to the need to vomit. Retching is used to describe the muscular event of vomiting with the expulsion of vomitus.

Historical Perspective[edit | edit source]

There is limited information about the historical perspective of vomiting in children.

Classification[edit | edit source]

Vomiting in children may be classified according to the content of vomitus, motion, and duration into:

• Bloody and non-bloody
• Bilious and non-bilious
• Projectile and non-projectile
• Acute and chronic ^[1][2][3]

Pathophysiology[edit | edit source]

• The vomiting center can be triggered by the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the vestibular system, the chemoreceptor trigger zone, and higher centers in the cortex and thalamus.
• The vomiting center is found in the medulla oblongata's reticular formation with muscarinic type receptor, which activates the vomiting center. Signals are then sent out to the abdominal muscle via the efferent pathway with the trigeminal (CN V), facial (CN VII), glossopharyngeal (CN IX), vagus (CN X), and hypoglossal (CN XII) to the upper gastrointestinal tract, within vagal and sympathetic nerves to the lower tract, and within spinal nerves to the diaphragm and abdominal muscles causing vomiting.
• The chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTRZ), which contains the Dopamine 2 receptor, is located outside the blood-brain barrier and can be activated directly by an irritant.^[4]

Causes[edit | edit source]

Common causes of vomiting in children include:

• Acute gastroenteritis
• Obstruction of the GI tracts
• Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
• Intussusception
• Indirect inguinal hernia
• Appendicitis
• Volvulus
• Inflammation of the GI tract including esophagitis, gastroenteritis, peptic ulcer disease, hepatitis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis or appendicitis may cause vomiting
• Hepatitis
• Gallbladder disease
• Pancreatitis
• CNS injury concussion/post-concussion syndrome, increased intracranial pressure (ICP), migraine headache and viral meningitis.
• Renal disease
• Drugs ^[5][6]

Differentiating [disease name] from other Diseases[edit | edit source]

Vomiting in children must be differentiated from other diseases that cause vomiting in children such as cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) ^[7], gastrointestinal disease (obstructive and inflammatory) ^[8], central nervous system (CNS) disease, pulmonary disease, renal disease, endocrine/metabolic disorders, drugs (either as side effects or in Overdose), or psychiatric disorders.

Epidemiology and Demographics[edit | edit source]

Vomiting in children is very common and there are no racial, gender, age, or race predispstions to vomiting in children.

Risk Factors[edit | edit source]

There are no established risk factors for vomiting in children.

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis[edit | edit source]

• The majority of children with vomiting is mostly due to gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis ranges from asymptomatic to dehydration to death, and usually starts with mild fever and vomiting, followed by 1-4 days of non-bloody, watery diarrhea.^[1]
• Common complications of vomiting in children is dehydration.
• Prognosis ranges from excellent to poor depending on the etiology of the vomiting (include gastroenteritis to meningitis respectively)

Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

Diagnostic Criteria[edit | edit source]

• The diagnosis of vomiting in children is made with both medical history and physical examination.

Symptoms[edit | edit source]

• Symptoms of vomiting in children include the following:

• Fever
• Lightheadedness
• Vertigo
• Rapid pulse
• Excessive sweating
• Dry mouth
• Decreased urination
• Chest pain
• Fainting
• Confusion
• Excessive sleepiness ^[9]

Physical Examination[edit | edit source]

• Physical examination may be remarkable for signs of dehydration:

• Dry skin
• Cracked lips
• Dark-Color urine
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Sweating
• Frequent urination. ^[10]

Laboratory Findings[edit | edit source]

• There are no specific laboratory findings associated with vomiting in children. However, blood and urine tests are helpful in diagnosis to check for infection and kidney function.

Electrocardiogram[edit | edit source]

There are no ECG findings associated with vomiting in children.

X-ray[edit | edit source]

There are no x-ray findings associated with vomiting in children.

Echocardiography or Ultrasound[edit | edit source]

There are no echocardiography/ultrasound findings associated with vomiting in children.

CT scan[edit | edit source]

There are no CT scan findings associated with vomiting in children.

MRI[edit | edit source]

There are no MRI findings associated with vomiting in children.

Other Imaging Findings[edit | edit source]

There are no other imaging findings associated with vomiting in children.

Other Diagnostic Studies[edit | edit source]

• There are no other imaging findings associated with vomiting in children.

Treatment[edit | edit source]

Medical Therapy[edit | edit source]

• The mainstay of therapy for vomiting in children is to treat underlying conditions and rehydration. Antiemetic can be used in the treatment of vomiting.^[11]
• Hydration includes giving fluid in small amounts; electrolytes can be used in some situations as determined by the doctor to treat dehydration. Children with vomiting might stop oral intake and decompression of the stomach with a nasogastric tube necessary for a certain patient depending on the cause. Indications for nasogastric tube include duodenal atresia, midgut malrotation, volvulus, jejunoileal atresia, and meconium ileus, necrotizing enterocolitis, etc.^[12]
• A study shows that Ondasteron reduces required intravenous hydration by 51% and increase oral rehydration therapy in children with acute gastritis and acute gastroenteritis.^[13]
• Another antiemetic; metoclopramide, often used in adults with refractory chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CIN V), is also used for CINV prevention in children. Regulatory bodies advised against its use in children aged <1 years and to caution against its use in children aged <5 years and its duration of service beyond five days.^[14]

Surgery[edit | edit source]

• Surgical intervention is not recommended for the management of vomiting in children.

Prevention[edit | edit source]

• There are no primary preventive measures available for vomiting in children.

References[edit | edit source]