5 year old who vomits everyday

[teach72]

I am a kindergarten teacher.  I have a student in my class who vomits everyday when he enters the building.  When I ask him why he states that its his nerves.  I strongly believe that he is to young for this to happen.  In the eight years I have been teaching this has never happened.  He has lunch immediately upon entering so he will sit in the lunchroom and make himself vomit.  

He has also lost weight in the last 12 weeks.  His classmates refuse to eat with him and three of them have refused to come back and they cry when they see him.  He has also hit other students and called them insulting names.  He attempted to hit two teacher aides and kick a teacher.  His behavior has become aggressive.

Parents are semi-involved. Dad comes and accuses me and other students of his son's behavior.  Mom only comes when situation is bad.  Someone suggested I call Department of Children and Family Services.

Please help!!!!

[specialmom]

Could he eat lunch in the nurses room with a bucket with him?  Does he eat until he vomits or stick his finger or something down to do it or does it happen on its own?  Very strange.  I do think something serious is going on with him.  He is such a young child at 5 that manipulation of that magnitude seems unlikely to me but I guess you never know.  If he were purposely doing it, it would indicate quite an issue, I'm afraid.  I don't know what the family is accusing you of-----  but I guess you do need to protect yourself too.  But I do feel sorry for this little guy.  I hope that the team you put together can figure it out.  Does he have any older siblings at the school that can shed any light on it?  Perhaps the cousin has said something . . .

[teach72]

Sandman 2 Thank you for advice I was keeping a written record I will submit my findings to principal, school nurse and psychologist.  I have also documented what father has accused me and the my other students about and my response to father.  Colleagues have suggested that I have a witness everytime I talk to father from now on.


Specialmom
He does it during lunch when other students are eating. We have tried getting an adult (teacher aide) to sit with him and he vomits.  We also have tried having an adult family member sit with him and he still vomits. We have also tried having an older cousin who happens to be in the lunchroom at that hour sit with him and he vomits.  

After 12 weeks going on 13 I can also understand the other students reaction.  I dont want to see someone vomit at the same time I am eating.  It's kind of disgusting.  My class is not the only one in the lunchroom there are 5 or 6 classes eating lunch. (One day he started a chain reaction with 6 students.  (All I can say is what a mess and thank the janitoral staff profusely)  

I have tried having him skip lunch altogether and he vomits in the classroom or if he goes to the bathroom to vomit he will sit in the locked bathroom stall for 45 minutes and not come out.

[specialmom]

I am feeling very sorry for this child.  Something is wrong.  He very well could be extremely nervous----  anxiety takes on physical manifestations.  But those nerves as he calls them could be from several sources.  School counselor needs to be involved as well as principals and if there is a psychologist over and above the counselor too.  What I don't like here, however, is the way everyone is reacting.  If you are aware that he does this, torwards the end of lunch and adult should be with him and escort him out.  Why subject him to riducule from his peers?  This is just my thought here.  I also think calling social services is extreme until more info is gathered.  You don't want a parent accusing anyone but who knows what stories he is hearing from his son.  I've seen social services called and that takes everything to a new level and at this point, what can you actually tell them that sounds abusive?  Whether it is for attention or it is due to a psychiatric issue or a gi issue (and by the way, I threw up every day for 2 months in the 5th grade and no one knew why.  I had every test run and was about to be sent to a psychiatrist when a GI doc asked for a full endoscopy.  I ended up having a small ulcer in my small intenstines.  I lost weight, lost school time, and was about to be sent to a psych.  Point is, things do happen to  kids.)  ----  this boy should be treated with empathy.  Just my opinion.  Call in the troops at your school for this one in my opinion.  Good luck.  

[Sandman2]

   Also don't be involved in this all by yourself.  Get your school principal involved (although I would think since he has been hitting people, the principal is involved).  The school nurse should be aware.  Definitely the school psychologist.  Actually, I would have someone contact somebody at the district level for help.  Consistent throwing up can cause serious damage to the throat tissues, so this is not something to be ignored.
   What happens if he eats at home before coming to school?  Or - have him eat in the nurses office or somewhere that he cannot get a reaction when he throws up. Does he throw up at home or only at school?  
    And yes, this is very weird.  And I would be careful, if the dad is accusing you and other students for what is going on - there is even more reason for concern on several levels.  If you haven't -  start documenting everything.  And I want to really stress.  Get your principal involved.  Good Luck

[margypops]

Sounds like a cry for help I think you be right in asking for professional advice ,as his teacher its the way to go .Good luck he needs help.let us know his progress.

[teach72]

Yes when I observed this I was shocked. He will actually start doing the gagging until he is successful and actually vomits.

[Sarah1013]

He makes himself vomit? He could be acting like this for attention. It seems to me that his parents arent all that attentive. I agree with whoever suggested that you call child services.