Nausea in Kids – Reasons, Remedies and Prevention
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Some kids experience nausea due to a variety of reasons. While some of them throw up, nausea may not always cause vomiting. Chronic nausea in a child can be quite discomforting and lead him to avoid certain things for fear of feeling nauseous all over again. Here’s how you can have a better understanding of the phenomena and take corrective actions.
Video : Nausea in Kids – Reasons, Remedies and Prevention
Causes of Nausea in Children
Some reasons for nausea can stem from environmental or behavioural conditions, while others could usually be a result of something wrong inside the body itself.
1. Food Poisoning
For many children, this is one of the major reasons for nausea. The propensity to eat outside, whether it is at restaurants or at the street stalls, can expose kids to various food items that are not prepared the right way. If your child already has a weak digestive system, he is more vulnerable to it, and eating undercooked or contaminated food can result in nausea, accompanied by vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach ache.
2. Excessive Eating
Children need to be told to eat properly when they are young. This involves telling them to eat appropriate quantities. Every time a child encounters his favourite food item, he goes all out and eats as much as he can before realising that his stomach is already full. Overeating or binging can make the stomach feel fuller than usual and make the child nauseous.
3. Various Illnesses
Illnesses due to a disease or an infection can upset a child’s stomach or even cause symptoms of nausea, especially when he sits up. Most of these illnesses are caused by infections of the ear or stomach, along with influenza and fever.
4. The Result of Anxiety
This might come as a surprise, but despite being subjective to each individual, your little kid might feel the full blast of anxiety in certain instances. His school life can present a ton of overwhelming challenges revolving around incomplete homework, not being prepared for an exam, nervousness before going on stage, etc. This stress can manifest in severe anxiety and result in a proper biological reaction reminiscent of nausea.
5. Allergic Reaction
Similar to food poisoning, consuming certain food items that your kid is allergic too, could trigger reactions within his body, causing him to feel nauseous. Some food items have higher chances of allergies, such as eggs, milk, peanuts, wheat, seafood, etc. Nausea is usually accompanied by pain in the stomach when it is a food-based allergy and occurs within an hour or so after consuming food.
6. Stomach Infection
A number of bacteria, parasites, viruses, and other harmful microbes target the stomach and cause immense discomfort in a child. When this happens repeatedly, the stomach starts reacting to it by wanting to expel them out and cause nausea to set in. This could also ultimately cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
7. Motion Sickness
Children and adults alike suffer from this problem to varying degrees. When the eyes see motion taking place inside the car, but other senses fail to notice it, the brain diagnoses it as a sign of being poisoned and triggers nausea to set in so that the poison can be vomited out.
How Can You Help Your Child Deal With Nausea?
There are precautions you can take to reduce the chances of nausea triggering and help your child get through it.
1. Avoid Eating Solids
If your child is already has a feeling of throwing up, avoid giving him solid food. They can make matters worse as the stomach will have to work towards digesting the food and throw that up as well as a result. Once nausea wears off, let your child eat easy-to-digest food like simple fruits or porridge to feel better.
2. Hydrate Cautiously
Nausea can mostly result in vomiting, which can result in dehydration and lead you to believe that your child should drink a lot of water. Let your kid sip on water in small amounts or get him a fruit juice to keep a good taste in the mouth. Too much water might make him want to throw up again.
3. Take Good Rest
The feeling of nausea can take quite a toll on the body, bringing in exhaustion and fatigue. Once the feeling starts wearing off, let your child lie down for a while and take a nap if needed.
When to Consult a Doctor?
Most instances of nausea don’t merit calling a doctor since they are short-lived, and your kid will be back to normal. However, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor if you notice that your child:
- Has high fever
- Is confused and has fainted
- Complains of poor vision and dizziness
- Has pain in the chest and vomits repeatedly
- Vomits along with blood and has severe dehydration
How Can Nausea Be Prevented in Kids?
These tips can help you prevent nausea in your kid:
- Always teach your child to eat in moderation.
- Keep away from strong aromas since they can trigger nausea.
- Don’t let your child eat before travelling if he has motion sickness.
- Maintain hygiene at home and outside to avoid food contamination.
Experiencing nausea is never a pleasant thing. And for kids, it is even more discomforting than adults since it leaves them exhausted and fatigued. Make use of medication to treat motion sickness if it is too severe, and give your child the rest he needs so that he can revive his energy and continue being the wonderful kid he is.
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