Weird sickness my 3 year old has

[Mythsandlegends]

This probably shouldn’t be in AIBU, but posting for traffic.
My 3 year old threw up on Tuesday evening when he was eating his dinner. We cleared it up and he seemed fine afterwards. No temperature. And fine in himself.
We noticed a little bit of sick on the pillow first thing in the morning but nothing more. He was fine all day yesterday, wasn’t sick once and no diarrhoea, although he did have a nasty poo, it wasn’t really runny.
He’s eating as normal and still no temperature.
He woke up in the middle of the night last night and threw up again.
Then this morning he’s fine until about 10am when he threw up again. Still no temp and jumping around and full of beans. Still asking for food and drink too. I’ve kept him off nursery today, but wondering what’s going on here. Usually isn’t a vomiting bug over with 24-48 hours and they throw up every hour or so ? He had a whole day yesterday where he wasn’t sick and ate as normal.

Just to add he’s also very snotty. Which is in my experience, unusual with a sick bug.

Sounds like a gastric bug, vomiting can be occasional or absent entirely.

There are types of viruses that can have gastric as well as respiratory symptoms, especially children, including Covid.

As he's snotty as well, I would get him tested for Covid. Gastric symptoms are common, especially in children. Having said that there are loads of different viruses that can cause vomiting in children, even down to the common cold. Sometimes they are short and sharp, sometimes they linger on and on. Also, with young children vomiting can make their gag reflex sensitive for a while. Keep food light and sensible (healthy snacks rather than full meals) and keep him at home until he's 48 hours clear of D or V and has received a (hopefully negative) Covid result. Hope he's all better soon!

Any urinary symptoms? A UTI can cause sporadic vomiting, in adults at least. Am only assuming it's similar in children.

He doesn’t appear to have any UTI symptoms. What would I be looking out for?
He’s not got a temperature either.
So I guess covid is a possibility. I don’t see how I could test him at the moment as he won’t tolerate anything being put down his throat.

Came on to say possible UTI aswell.
No other symptoms other than being sick and dirty nappies.
We originally got his stool and urine tested, I was expecting something to come back from his stool but that was clear and I was surprised it was a urine infection as it never entered my head.

For covid tests anyone under 12 is just a nose swab and not throat if that helps.

He keeps asking for food but he throws it up shortly afterwards. I think he’s hungry

UTI symptoms include weeing more often, funny smell to the wee (may smell eggy), pain when weeing, asking to go for a wee but not actually producing much.

@Mythsandlegends

Just to add he’s also very snotty. Which is in my experience, unusual with a sick bug.

I have had similar since the weekend although I felt really rubbish. All symptoms of a cold/flu style illness but with stomach upset and sickness too. Did a Covid test and it's negative. Never had anything like it though and not very nice at all. Only just feeling better today from weekend.

If he is snotty it could be a reaction to the snot getting into his stomach and reacting.

If he wants to eat I would suggest dry toast, carrots and dry weetabix. Basically anything with fibre that isnt sweet or has sugars/dairy as they react with the stomach.

Also very small sips of water and you will need to help control that as kids will just gulp and glug.

Mine have been sick with no other symptoms... been clear for a day... thought happy days back to school/nursery and then will go again... 48 hours later fine but the tolerance to food had to be built slowly with very bland plain foods to allow the stomach to re settle.

If he is struggling with fluids and drinking too much you could do frozen lollies that have a tiny amount of squash.

My DD was sent home from school as she felt like she was going to be sick. She was absolutely fine, ate dinner, then promptly threw it back up. She was fine before and after. PCR showed positive.

This sounds similar to my 4 year old who tested positive for Covid yesterday.

My kids have had bugs like this. They haven't had the constant projectile vomiting but vomited randomly over the space of a few days.

A few years ago DS had the typical bug where he threw up hours on end but dd had it a bit like you explain. She didn't appear poorly at all - she was sick a few times with massive gaps in between. No diarhea either.

My DS has come home with the same symptoms today. Vomiting, pale, sore head, slight temperature (38.2) and runny nose. He went for a nap and seems a bit brighter now. Hope it's not covid!

@LunaLoveFood

For covid tests anyone under 12 is just a nose swab and not throat if that helps.

That’s not what the PCR booklet I read this morning said. The advice in there was that if you weren’t able to get a throat swab from a child (or didn’t feel comfortable trying) then you should just do the nose but that it may be less accurate than doing both.

Some of the shiny new lateral flow tests are nose only but I think that’s for everyone, not under 12s.