What Causes Vomiting Sensation And Severe Headache In A Child?

Posted on Tue, 1 Sep 2015

Question: My niece is of 7 years old and she is has vomiting sensation and severe headache since 7 days. Headache is on the center top of the head (not on the fore head or side) .We consulted pediatrician and he diagnosed as gastric problem and suggested tablets one type for 7 days to take 1 per day as soon as she get up from bed in the morning and other type of tablet half in the morning and half in the evening for 4 days. Tablets got completed but headache and vomiting sensation still remained. Headache is very severe that she is not allowing anyone to talk loudly in the house and not allowing anyone to sit on her bed as she cannot bear that pain if the bed shakes. Yesterday when we again met the pediatrician and he has given Fecamil 250 mg syrup for headache. Please let us know what exactly the problem is and whether we can still wait as we are taking correct medicine or what medicines do we need to take if we are on wrong medication.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (41 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
In present scenario I would like to get neuro imaging done

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for asking to healthcaremagic

I can understand your concern.
I have gone through details and although I have not clinically examined the baby,to me it does not appear to be simple gastritis.
Such severe headache is highly unusual in gastritis.
Severe headache with persistent vomiting can be due to increased intracranial pressure(increased pressure in brain).
There can be various causes of raised intracranial pressure.As you did not give the history of fever infection is unlikely but other causes must be ruled out.
I would suggest you to give Ibuprofen syrup for headache along with lansoprazole(an acid reducing agent) and ondensetron for vomiting.
Also a neuro imaging like CECT brain or MRI should be done to rule out the causes of raised intracranial pressure if any.
I would like to know if there is any visual problem as eye associated conditions can also lead to such symptoms.

Please consult your physician,discuss the need of neuro imaging and get her clinically evaluated by an ophthalmologist.

Please let me know if you have any more query.
Wish your baby good health.
Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar