aetiology

Last reviewed 01/2018

Possible causes of vomiting in children include:

  • viral or bacterial infection of the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract are the most common causes
  • neurological causes: intracranial neoplasm, subdural haematoma, hydrocephalus, meningitis, encephalitis, cerebral abscess
  • migraine
  • poisoning, e.g. lead poisoning
  • acute appendicitis, peritonitis
  • gut malrotation
  • metabolic disease
  • poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis
  • urinary tract infection
  • diabetic ketoacidosis
  • acute hepatitis
  • Reye's syndrome
  • recurrent intestinal volvulus - this may cause the syndrome of persistent periodic vomiting of childhood