child throwing up of and on for 1 week

[johnlinda]

My 2 1/2 yo male child started throwing up last WED night and threw up all night, until yellow started coming up.  Threw up Thurs. morning at 9 a.m.  Little appetite drank clear fluids well. stayed hydrated and urinated well.  Diarrhea 1x daily on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, no BM Monday and Normal BM on Tuesday. Anyway he slept most of the day on Friday.  Threw up again on Saturday night about 7 p.m. and again on Sunday night at 7 p.m.  did not throw up again until Tuesday at 3:30 a.m.  Currently appetite is good and fluid intake is good.  He also acted like he felt ok on Sun and Mon before he threw up on Tuesday a.m.  He is otherwise healthy, UPD on immunizations and check ups.. not in childcare.he was term birth 8lbs.4 oz. No other sick faimily members.  He had taken a swimming lesson the day he got sick with another child.  The other child is not sick. I saw Pediatrician on Mon and Tues.  they feel it is viral.  No fever any of the time. UA looked good and not Rotavirus.  Could something viral present like this with the on and off throwing up?  Are in the process of collecting stool studies.  Does this sound serious? Very worried

[Kevin Pho, MD]

A viral cause can lead to refractory vomiting, and I agree with the testing thus far.

However, if it continues, you may want to consider more serious conditions, like gastroparesis, intussusseption, or other, bacterial-based, infections.

Obtaining further tests, including abdominal imaging, or an upper GI series, can be considered to look for these causes.  

If there is a headache associated with the symptoms, a neurological cause can be evaluated for as well.

These options can be discussed with your child's personal physician.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin Pho, M.D.

KevinMD.com
Twitter.com/kevinmd

[johnlinda]

Correction Dr.  He vomited on Friday and Saturday night around  7p.m.  He did not vomit Sunday or Monday.  Sorry for the confusion. He had been  to swimming lessons the previous Monday and Tuesday also before the vomiting started