Vomiting

Causes of vomiting

• Virus or bacterial infection
• Food poisoning
• A reaction to medicines
• Eating or drinking something poisonous
• A problem in your bowel, like a blockage

Vomiting can also be a symptom of diabetes, heart attack or a disease in the brain. It is very common in pregnancy.

Dehydration

There’s a greater risk of dehydration when diarrhoea and vomiting occur at the same time. Those most at risk are infants, children and older people.

Continued vomiting, or repeated episodes, can lead to dehydration – which can be dangerous.

If a friend or family member is dehydrated, the main sign will be very little (or no) urine being passed, or the urine being very dark and smelly.

A useful test is to pinch some skin on their tummy or inner thigh. If it stays in the pinched shape after you let go, that is a clear sign of dehydration.

Self care –general

Most episodes of vomiting won’t last long.

Some painkillers (called NSAID, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac) will irritate your stomach and intestines, so don’t take these when you’re vomiting.

• You can buy sachets from your pharmacy to make up rehydration drinks that will replace electrolytes that are lost during vomiting (Gastrolyte and Pedialyte are two products that are available). Electrolytes are salts your body needs to function properly, such as potassium and sodium. The drinks also help prevent dehydration.
• If the person has stomach cramps, give them a hot water bottle or wheat pack for their tummy. If necessary, they could take paracetamol (such as Panadol).
• Give them foods that are likely to be non-irritating to their gut and easy to absorb (eg, bananas, yoghurt, bread).

There are medicines that stop vomiting – but in doing this they also stop your body from getting rid of whatever is causing the vomiting. They can also mask the symptoms of something more serious, like a blockage in your bowel. Therefore, don’t use these medicines unless they’re prescribed by your doctor.

Call Healthline 0800 611 116 if you are unsure what you should do.

Self-care –infants up to 1 year

Babies should not go more than 4 hours between feeds during the day. Wake your baby if they’re sleeping when they need to be fed.

• Continue to breastfeed or give formula as usual.
• Give extra fluids such as Gastrolyte or Pedialyte, or 1 part fruit juice to 5 parts water.
• Go back to your baby’s normal diet as soon as they have no signs of dehydration (ie, they’re passing urine and their skin relaxes when pinched). This will help them recover more quickly and not lose as much weight. If your baby eats solids, start off with starchy foods such as baby rice, bread, mashed potatoes and bananas.

Self-care –children aged 1–4 years

• Give extra fluids, such as water, Pedialyte or Gastrolyte. Try freezing the rehydration drink into iceblocks if your child doesn’t like the taste.
• If your child doesn’t want to drink, offer ice to suck, use a novelty straw or try a timer to encourage them to have a small drink every 10–15 minutes.
• You can also offer diluted fruit juice – 1 part fruit juice to 5 parts water. Give small amounts (1 tablespoon) every 5 minutes. After 4 hours without vomiting, increase the amount.
• If your child is hungry let them eat small amounts. Otherwise, don’t worry about food.
• Start with bland, starchy foods that are easily absorbed, such as bread, crackers, rice, pasta, noodles and mashed potatoes. Chicken with the skin removed, and bananas, are also good for the first 24 hours.
• Go back to your child’s normal diet after 24–48 hours.

Self-care – adults and older children

• Rest your stomach for an hour or two.
• Start introducing small amounts of clear fluids (sips or a teaspoon every 10–15 minutes, then slowly increase). Water, clear soup, a rehydration drink like Gastrolyte or Pedialyte, or diluted fruit juice (1 part fruit juice to 5 parts water) are all good options. Try freezing the rehydration drink into iceblocks if your child doesn’t like the taste.
• Avoid milk and milk products, fizzy drinks (which bloat your stomach and can trigger vomiting) and full-strength fruit drinks.
• Adults should aim for 2–3 litres of fluid a day (unless your doctor has told you to restrict fluids for some reason).
• When you’ve stopped vomiting, begin to reintroduce solids. Start with starchy foods that are easily absorbed, such as bread, crackers, rice, pasta, noodles and mashed potatoes. Chicken with the skin removed and bananas are also good.
• Avoid foods that are high in fibre (like bran), whole fruits (except bananas) and vegetables, spicy or fatty foods, alcohol and caffeinated drinks (like coffee, tea).

When to go to the doctor

See your doctor if you or a family member who has been vomiting has any of the following:

• blood in their vomit (this could be bright red or more brownish)
• a severe headache, neck stiffness, a bruising rash, or an altered mental state (for example, they may be confused, hard to wake, or can’t be woken)
• they get any new or worse symptoms
• their vomiting lasts longer than 2–3 days
• they’re badly dehydrated. The signs include:
  • little or no urine passed in the last 8 hours and the urine is dark and smelly
  • reduced saliva in their mouth, no tears, sunken eyes, sunken fontanelle in infants
  • dizziness, lethargy (no energy), floppiness, a rapid heart rate and breathing, cool hands and feet or grey cold skin
  • their skin doesn’t relax after being pinched.

Call Healthline 0800 611 116 if you are unsure what you should do.