Treatments for nausea and vomiting depend on the cause of your child’s symptoms. To counter the dehydrating effects of vomiting, encourage your child to drink small amounts of clear liquids frequently. If your child becomes severely dehydrated, our team may recommend IV hydration.

Depending on the symptoms, our team may recommend anti-migraine and anti-vomiting medications, or cognitive behavior therapy if stress or anxiety may be a factor. If vomiting does not improve over time with medication, we may refer your child to our Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Program. 

Nationally ranked: U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks our GI Program as among the nation’s best. We provide the best possible care for kids with brain-gut disorders. Our team of experts can help you and your family figure out your child’s condition.

Pediatric Neurogastroenterology and Motility Disorders and Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Program: Some of the most advanced in the country. We focus on both the physical and emotional needs of your child and your family.

Expert clinical care: Our pediatric GI team is well known as one of the largest and most well-rounded in the country. Our experts diagnose and treat digestive health issues of all kinds. Our care teams bring together the skills of experts across many areas.

Focus on kids: We know that kids need different care than adults. Our team at Children’s Wisconsin has expertise in managing diverse GI issues in infants, kids and teens. We take a whole-child approach to care. We’re always thinking about your child’s growth, physical and emotional development and age-related social issues.

Education and emotional support: We support your family at every stage of care. We teach you about your child’s digestive issues and explain what to expect. Our care team works with you and your family to manage the physical and emotional impacts of GI disease.

Our team is here to support your whole family, not just treat symptoms. Whether your child has a short-term illness or a long-term condition, you’re not alone.

At Children’s Wisconsin, we care for kids with all types of nausea and vomiting. We’re here whether your child needs care for a short-term stomach bug or a complex digestive condition. When your child’s vomiting is ongoing or severe, we help you find answers and help your child feel better.

We’re one of the only pediatric centers in the region with a Pediatric Neurogastroenterology and Motility and Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Program. Our expert team diagnoses and treats nausea and vomiting caused by complex GI conditions. Our Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Program is well known as the first and largest of its kind in the world.

Our experts offer an integrated approach to CVS treatment. We connect kids and their families with experts in genetics, autonomic testing, neurology, psychology and other areas. The care team works together to find answers for your child. As a result, our program offers strong outcomes — we can often significantly reduce vomiting episodes.

First Visit

Before your first visit, we collect and review your child’s:

• Medical records
• Symptom diaries
• Questionnaire answers

This helps us learn more about your child and start the visit with a clear plan.

At your visit:

• We take time to listen and ask detailed questions about your child’s symptoms, history and possible triggers
• We look for patterns that may point to a specific diagnosis
• We may order tests to rule out other serious or structural causes of vomiting and nausea

Common diagnostic tests may include:

• Upper GI series: A special X-ray that uses contrast to look at the esophagus, stomach and upper small intestine. It helps us rule out twists, blockages or narrowing in the digestive tract.
• Abdominal ultrasound: Uses sound waves to check the organs for signs of inflammation, masses or obstruction.
• Endoscopy: We use a small camera to look inside your child’s esophagus, stomach and upper small intestine. It can help diagnose inflammation, ulcers, food allergies or infection.
• Blood tests: May be used check for metabolic conditions, liver or pancreas problems and signs of infection.
• Imaging: Rarely, we may order brain imaging if we suspect a neurologic cause of vomiting, such as pressure on the vomiting center in the brain.

During Treatment

From initial diagnosis through treatment, our experts will guide your family every step of the way. We follow the most up-to-date guidelines and offer advanced care options not available at most centers.

Once we know what’s causing your child’s symptoms, we work with you to tailor a comprehensive and individualized care plan to your child. We focus on reducing the impact of nausea and vomiting on your child’s health, growth, school and daily life.

After Care

We’re here to support your family for the long term, whether your child needs a few checkups or ongoing care. Our goal is always the same: helping your child feel well, eat comfortably and live a full, healthy life.