Looking after your child at home

In most cases, you can treat your child safely at home. The most important thing you can do is make sure they keep drinking fluids to prevent dehydration.

If your baby is vomiting, carry on breastfeeding or giving them milk feeds. If they seem dehydrated, they will need extra fluids.Ask your GP or pharmacist whetheryou should give your baby oral rehydration solution.

Oral rehydrationsolution isa special powder that you make into a drink. Itcontains sugar and salts to help replace the water and salts lost through vomiting and diarrhoea.

Children who are vomiting shouldkeep taking small sips of clear fluid, such as water or clear broth. Fruit juice and fizzy drinks should be avoided until they're feeling better. If they're not dehydrated and haven't lost their appetite, it's fine for your child to eat solid foods as normal.

Again, speak to your GP or pharmacist if you're concerned about dehydration. They may recommend an oral rehydration solution for your child. Contact your GP or practicenurse if your child is unable to hold down oral rehydration solution.

If your child has diarrhoea and is vomiting, they shouldn't go to school or any other childcare facility until 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting.

It's a common cause of vomiting in children and usuallylasts a fewdays.

Food allergy

Food allergies can cause vomiting in children, as well as other symptoms, such as a raised, red, itchy skin rash ( urticaria ) and swelling of the face, around the eyes, lips, tongue or the roof of the mouth.

Watch outforfoods that may bring on vomiting andsee your GP for a diagnosis if you think your child may have a food allergy.

Otherinfections

Vomiting can sometimes be a sign of an infection other than gastroenteritis,such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) , middle ear infections , pneumonia or meningitis .

Contact your child's GP if they're vomiting andexperiencing additional symptoms of an infection, such as a high temperature (fever) and irritability.

Appendicitis

Appendicitis isa painful swelling of the appendix, a finger-like pouch connected to the large intestine. It causes severe tummy pain that gets worse over time.

If your child hastummy pain that's gradually getting worse, contact your GP, local out-of-hours service or NHS 111 immediately. You should call 999 for an ambulance if they have pain that gets worse quicklyand spreads across their tummy.

In most cases of appendicitis, the appendix will need to be surgically removed as soon as possible.

Poison

Accidentally swallowing something poisonous can cause your child to vomit.If you think this is the case, contact your GPimmediately or take your childto your nearest accident and emergency (A&E)department .