Vomiting after feeding is considered a pathology when the child shows how?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was written by Doctor Ngo Van Dan - Department of Neonatology - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.

Vomiting in infants is a common phenomenon in the first weeks after birth, when the baby has just finished eating or the baby twists.

1. What are the accompanying pathological manifestations when the child vomits after feeding?

Distinguish between vomiting and regurgitation: Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of all or part of gastric contents. Therefore, vomiting requires contractions of the stomach combined with contractions of the abdominal muscles. And vomiting is considered a protective reflex for the body. Vomiting can be a symptom of many different diseases. Regurgitation is the movement of refluxed substances from the stomach through the pharynx to the mouth, or can be out through the mouth in small amounts. And spitting is only due to the mere contraction of the stomach. Often regurgitation is often accompanied by belching. Regurgitation is very common in infants, especially after breastfeeding. Some signs associated with pathological regurgitation: The child does not gain weight, or loses weight Crying all day because of discomfort The child refuses to drink milk The lips and mouth of the child are dry. This condition can be caused by the child being dehydrated. The fluid that comes out is unusual in color. Like green, yellow, rose red. Or the child vomits something like coffee grounds Vomiting blood Diarrhea, bloody stools Difficulty breathing Fever Starts spitting up for 6 months or more If the child vomits with the above abnormal signs, parents need to take the child to doctor right away. Or even if the parent doesn't feel well, don't hesitate to take the child to the doctor.

2. Solution for regurgitation?

Except for the medical cause, the normal cases of vomiting in infants can be improved. The fixes:
2.1. Ensure the correct position and latch on the breast The right way to breastfeed can also be the cause of a baby's vomiting. The wrong position and way of latching on to the breast will cause the baby to "suck" in a significant amount of excess air at the same time. While the baby's stomach volume is too small. Therefore, it is easy to cause vomiting in children. To avoid this situation, when breastfeeding, you should only breastfeed your baby slowly, avoiding letting your baby eat too much each time. With bottle-fed babies, the mother should keep the bottle tilted 45 degrees. Make sure the milk is always flooded with the neck of the bottle, not allowing air to "creep" into the baby's stomach. 2.2. Divide the child's portion size. Do not feed too much at one time. Parents should divide children's daily meals. With the amount of milk has been reduced each time, helping the baby digest faster and easier.
2.3. Do not let the baby lie down immediately after feeding After feeding, you should not put the baby to lie down immediately. Ideally, parents should burp their baby to "release" the excess gas, avoiding bloating and indigestion. Your baby may be in an upright position for 20-30 minutes, burping his back after feeding. Do not bounce or rock the baby too much after feeding.
2.4. Massage around the navel gently The massage around the navel, clockwise helps to increase the activity of the intestines, increase the secretion of fluid. Help children digest faster, excrete stool regularly every day, reduce bloating and vomiting.
2.5. Avoid clothes or diapers that are too tight on your baby's belly Wearing clothes that are too tight or tight can put pressure on the abdomen, causing the child to vomit.
2.6. Supplemental calcium for children Vomiting accompanied by symptoms of twisting, difficulty sleeping, night sweats, ... may be a sign that the child may not have enough calcium needed. In this case, you should discuss with your doctor, if necessary, blood calcium should be measured to decide on calcium supplements for children.

After adjustment, vomiting does not improve and is accompanied by unusual signs. Including: fever, constant fussiness, lethargy, convulsions, continuous vomiting, unusual vomiting, ... need to take the child to a medical facility immediately.

3. When to be hospitalized for treatment? Diagnostic measures in hospital

If the child has symptoms of pathological regurgitation, they need to be hospitalized such as:
Vomiting a lot, vomiting green, yellow fluid, or vomiting blood, vomiting everything. Abdominal distention, often accompanied by an inability to defecate. The baby sucks poorly or refuses to breastfeed. Accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, difficulty breathing, dry lips, sunken eyes. Babies cry a lot and can't be comforted. Or the parents feel that the child is not well. Diagnostic methods at the hospital:
Children will be asked carefully for their medical history, feeding methods, and symptoms to determine the cause. The doctor will do a thorough examination of the child: look for pathological symptoms. Children may need blood tests: Complete blood count, electrolytes, CRP for diagnosis and treatment. Abdominal X-ray: Some cases of suspected surgical pathology such as intestinal obstruction, intussusception, intestinal volvulus. In many cases, the child may need a colostomy or a contrast-enhanced colonoscopy for an accurate diagnosis. Abdominal ultrasound: Additional support with X-ray to find the cause (reflux flow, intestinal volvulus,...) The doctor will comprehensively examine the child: Find the pathological symptoms. surgical treatment.

To avoid vomiting in young children, parents should give their children a reasonable amount of zinc, along with other important vitamins and minerals such as lysine, chromium, B vitamins,... help children eat well, have a good immune system, enhance resistance to less sick and less digestive problems.