2 Year Old Throwing up for Three Days

My 20 month old has been doing the same thing over the weekend. He actually throws up mainly at night after he has had his cup of milk. My doctor (OBGYN) said that sometimes they can get a stomach iritation after they have been sick and that it can last for a several days. She said milk is especially sensitive in the stomach and to hold off for a week. So far we have had 2 good days without throwing up.

Hi E.,

I went through that a couple of months ago. My 5 year old son would be fine all day and then in the middle of the night just start puking. I think he did it in his sleep, because he would come tell us that he puked, but doesn't remember doing it, just waking up feeling wet. I took him to the doctor and he told me that the virus work in weird ways. He puked at night for 4 nights and then he was fine. But each day he had tons of energy, no fever, and ate everything. So just hold out, I think she will be just fine. It was really weird though and I got really worried about it too.

It's probably just a virus, but I did see something on TV the other night that would be something to keep filed in the back of your mind if the vomiting continues. There was a little girl who would wake up an hour or so after she went to bed, go right back to sleep afterwards, and then be fine all the next day. The whole pattern continued every night for over a year with the Drs. saying it was a virus, allergy, etc. Finally the mother took her to a neurologist and a sleep disorder clinic. Turns out the vomiting was a sign of epilepsy. I hope this doesn't increase the worry factor - but if it continues, it could help the diagnosis process. That other poor little girl continued the pattern for over a year. Good luck!

I am sure it is a tummy bug. They can last up to five days.
Make sure she stays hydrated and realize that the Dr cannot really narrow it down a whole lot if it is viral.
He or she will take into account all the symptoms and probably just diagnose a virus of the stomach.
Sometimes strep can rear it's head with upset stomachs but if she isn't really feverish or doesn't have a sore throat I don't know.
I am sure the Dr will be able to help you feel better about it. Kids get all sorts of mystery viruses.

My 5 year old son had the same thing a few weeks ago. It lasted about a week. He had no fever, but kept throwing up in the middle of the night. He also had diarrhea. It probably is just a virus, but it's always good to check in with the doctor. But I'm guessing that it will pass in a few days.

E.,

I'm sure your daughter just has some kind of bug. My daughter is 4 and has done exactly the same thing. She would act fine, eat fine and then out of nowhere, usually at night and early early morning she would get sick. I called the after hours care line and they just said to keep an eye on her and watch for fever and dehydration. Sure enough 4-5 days later she was just fine. She has done this a couple times now. But I would still bring her in just to make sure and for peace of mind.

I had unexplained vomiting and it turned-out to be a sinus infection I was sick at night because the drainage was irritating my stomach, but I didn't feel sick at all. Everyone else said have lots of water and avoid milk, I agree with them.

I went through this several years ago with my now 17 year old (he was 3 at the time). He would be fine all day sick all night for 3-4 nights then be fine for a few weeks and then start all over again. After about the fifth time I finally got the dr. to check him out and he was so severely dehydrated that the episodes kept happening. After a few days of fluid in the hosp he was fine and they never really figured anything else out. The most important thing as I found out was make sure she gets fluids, fluids, fluids and stay away from milk completly until you are absolutley sure she is over this. I would also keep her diet bland for a few days to help her stomach recover. Good luck and I hope she's better real soon.

I would definitly get her to the doctor soon.
Other ideas...
Has she had any new foods introduced, vaccinations, other potential allergens (pets, etc.)
I know that when I get sick I seldom ever get a fever, so it may just be a bug anyway.
HTH,
S.

I wish we had it as lucky as you! Our 2-yr old son has been rotating between throwing up and having extremely violent diarrhea since early Sunday morning. Very low grade`fever that comes on in the afternoon. Apparently we're to expect it to remain this way for 7 days (until Sunday). I don't think he's slept this much since he was a newborn, either! I plan on getting him in to his pediatrician today, though we've been in contact with Children's Hospital twice over the past days.

Oh, and my husband has it now, too. He's in a lot worse shape than our boy...yippee.

Good luck!

Hi E.,
as a mother of three my advice is to skip the Dr. I can almost guarantee it is viral. My kids have had episodes like that before, I know it is hard to see them sick and scary too when it lasts for so long! As long as she is urinating and has that energy try to just do the bland/mild food diet( and no milk!), of foods like dry toast, oatmeal, applesauce, popsicles are good and clear gatoraide. So don't pay that co pay or send your time going to the Dr.s office! SO unless she is sick for more than five or even six straight days hang in there, she will get better!

I know this will sound totally random, but, does she remember throwing up?

I ask because I watch a lot of mystery diagnosis and there was one 5yo who would throw up at night and go right back to sleep. She'd be fine all day long, then throw up at night. Turned out the vomiting was a form of a seizure she was having in her sleep.

Obviously I dont want to scare you, but its something to be aware of if she doesnt get better in a few days or weeks.

Hope its just a stomach virus!

Hi it sounds like the stomach virus that has been going around. We all had it last month. My daughter who is almost a year got it and had symptoms for 8 days-we took her to the doctor and they told me that it will last longer with younger children and babies though my husband and I only had it for about 12 hours. Anyway, I wouldn't be too concerned about it as long as she is staying hydrated and drinking fluids. It's probably still good to take her to the doctor though just to check and for your peace of mind. Good luck!

Hi E., I'm sure she is fine but I would just take her to the doctor anyway. One thing I've noticed about kid illnesses is that they are very different from ours. When I get the stomach flu, I'm sick for 12-24 hours then it's over. When my son gets a tummy bug, he will do exactly what your daughter is doing. He won't be so horribly ill as I am when I get it, but it is spread out over a longer period of time and the fever will come and go. Same thing with respiratory viruses. He'll get better and worse and the fever will come and go over a period of 7-10 days or so.

My 3 year old was up every 20 minutes about a week ago with this stomach bug that has been going around (it is just finishing the rounds in the family with my hubby). She had dry heaves every 20-30 minutes for about 4 hours straight. It was a rough night to say the least. The next day she was better, able to drink milk, but still got sick once or twice. It is likely just this bug going around. It is always good to check with the DR though. Oh and my little one didn't run a fever with the virus and neither did I. Hubby did though. It is odd how each person reacts differently do the same virus.

-M.

A bug like that seems to be going around in our apartment building. My daughter had it for two weeks. She would be ok for a day or 2 and then throw up in the evening or night. It seemed like it was never going to go away. It was just a virus and now she is back to normal.

She may actually have a stomach bug. My daughter just had one. She threw up for a day or so, no fever, but now she is in the "runs" stage, and she's had this for about four days now. Our MD said this can last for a week or so. If it gets really watery, mucusy or bloody (sorry for the graphics), to bring her in. If you're really worried, take her in.

By the way, our daugther passed this on to us, and we went through the same cycle! There's a NASTY stomach bug going around right now . . .try to stay healthy!

Typically the lack of fever indicates that it actually is a virus. If it's some other kind of bacterial infection or something serious, you usually see a high fever and they act really sick all the time - no periods of feeling fine in between. My guess would be that it's a virus unless it lasts longer than 7-10 days. That being said, anytime you have concerns you should talk to your doctor. Good luck - I hope she feels better.