Causes of children vomiting in the middle of the night
Many parents are startled when their children are sleeping well and suddenly wake up vomiting, while still playing healthy all day. According to Dr. Chigullapalli Shravanthi, a pediatrician at Apollo Hospitals (India), this is a common phenomenon and can stem from many different causes.
The most common case is food poisoning. Children eating contaminated foods like salmonella can take several hours to half a day to develop symptoms. Therefore, it is fine during the day but at night, I vomit, have a mild fever or have a stomachache.
Another reason is acid reflux, which often occurs when children lie down, causing stomach acid to spike, causing burning, discomfort and vomiting. For children with asthma, sensitive airways at night can trigger coughs that are so strong that they can cause vomiting.
In addition, infections such as meningitis, excess gut inflammation or urinary tract infections can also lead to vomiting while children do not have clear signs during the day. Some children who experience sleep apnea also breathe through their mouths, have a dry throat, are prone to coughing and vomiting.
What should parents do when their children vomit at night?
The first thing is to stay calm. If the child vomits 1-2 times but is still alert, has rosy skin and drinks water well, parents can give their child a rest and rehydrate slowly.
How to make a simple rehydration solution: 4 cups of water + 4 teaspoons of sugar + 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
Dr. Shravanthi recommends that parents monitor their water intake, urine intake, and body temperature. For children who vomit a lot, have signs of dehydration (dried nose, little urine), high fever, convulsions, severe abdominal pain or vomiting with blue, brown or blood, need to take the child to a medical facility immediately.
Night is the time when children are more sensitive, and a small sign can also signal serious health problems. Listening to your child's body, observing changes and handling them at the right time will help children overcome discomfort more gently, while keeping the family sleepy.
The information in the article is for reference only, not a replacement for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should talk directly to your doctor for accurate advice that is suitable for your health condition.
