• Acute gastroenteritis is a very common problem in infants and children and is usually caused by a stomach virus, such as the rotavirus. Symptoms include a fever, stomach ache, vomiting and diarrhea. Although the vomiting typically lasts only two to three days, the diarrhea can last for one to two weeks before it finally resolves. There is no cure or medicine to treat gastroenteritis, but there are many things that can be done to help your child through this illness.
• Food Poisoning: Almost any food can become contaminated by a virus, bacteria, or parasite and cause food poisoning. Foods can also make you sick if they are contaminated with pesticides or other toxins. The most common symptoms of food poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and fever and they begin a short time after eating a contaminated food. In most people symptoms are mild and clear up quickly, but food poisoning can lead to dehydration, kidney failure and even death.
• Pyloric Stenosis: A condition that is caused by a thickening of the muscle or valve that empties the stomach. This valve can be so enlarged that it does not allow the stomach to empty. Babies with pyloric stenosis will usually begin to have projectile vomiting after each feeding when they are two to six weeks old. The vomiting will not improve with formula changes or by giving Pedialyte and your child will quickly lose weight and become dehydrated without treatment. Your doctor may do a sonogram if he suspects that your baby has this condition. The only treatment is surgery (pyloromyotomy) to open the enlarged pylorus with a small incision.
• Appendicitis: continuous abdominal pain that moves to the lower right side and is followed by vomiting.
• Intestinal obstruction, a blockage of the intestines can cause severe pain and vomiting. Your child's vomit may be bilious (dark green or yellow) and he will probably not be having bowel movements or passing gas. This is a medical emergency. A common cause of obstruction in young children is intussusception, which can also cause bloody diarrhea, which may look like currant jelly.
• Hepatitis: usually caused by viruses that cause inflammation in the liver. There are many viruses that can cause hepatitis, but the most common are Hepatitis A, B, and C. Symptoms include fatigue, pain in the right upper side of the abdomen, vomiting and jaundice.
• Other causes of vomiting can include migraine headaches, infections, such as the flu or strep throat, and more serious disorders, such as meningitis, brain tumors or following a head injury, which require immediate medical attention.

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