In babies:
Babies often bring up some of their milk with a burp
after a feed. This is usual and is not vomiting. If your
baby is bringing back all her feed and that too with such
force that it shoots out, it is vomiting. Vomiting is
unlikely in breast-fed babies. However, if your baby is
bottle-fed and is having bouts of vomiting accompanied with
diarrhoea, she may be suffering from gastro-enteritis. This
is very serious as it can make your baby dehydrated very
quickly. If you are breastfeeding, offer cooled boiled
water between feeds. If you are bottlefeeding, you will
need to dilute her feeds for the next 3 days. Your baby
will also need some oral rehydration mix which you can
purchase over-the-counter from a pharmacist. Contact your
doctor if your baby is still vomiting, has sunken eyes and
a sunken fontanelle. The doctor will send your baby to the
hospital if he thinks that she is seriously dehydrated.
In older children:
Vomiting can become serious if it happens continuosly
and depletes your child of her body fluids. Remember to
give as much fluids as possible. You will have to give oral
rehydration powder as well. If your child continues to
vomit, throws up greenish vomit or appears drowsy and
passes dark coloured urine, you must contact tthe doctor
immediately.
