worried about DD (2) vomiting and loss of appetite

[drivingmisscrazy]

been going on for about a week now; has nasty cough and runny nose (although this is getting better), but she has puked every day for almost a week. This always happens after she's gone to sleep (around 8.30 or 9) and is copious. We clean her and the bed and she goes off to sleep and that's it then until the morning. She's waking early because she is hungry, but then only eats a little. She's definitely lost weight, although it's not catastrophic and she is generally perfectly cheerful, if a little tired. We took her to GP who said that she has mucous in throat and upper respiratory tract and gave us anti-biotics. But the puking is really starting to concern me - and I'm worried that she won't eat because she is making the connection to throwing up, which upsets her.

Anybody got any ideas? will it just pass in due course? Is it digestive? Gastric? Thanks

Is lying down making her cough and then be sick? Little kids can't cough up phlegm like adults can, so a heavy cold often makes them sick as it's just their bodies' way of getting rid of the mucus. My son has vomited a couple of times like this and it's just mucus really. But if it's more than that I'd go back to the doctor. A week sounds like a long time for a 2-year-old to be suffering like that. And it must be miserable for you too!

it doesn't seem to just be mucus that she is puking though (the delights of children eh, vomit inspection!)

belgianbun that's what I'd assumed, but she ate a little bit of dinner, we put her in the bath, story, milk, and before we'd managed to even tuck her in she threw up everywhere - again. She's been cheerful today, although she's eaten almost nothing - again. She's getting quite thin :( I'm really worried about her now

Ah milk. If she's been vomiting you should put her on a lactose-free diet for approx. 6 weeks as a lactose-intolerance is really common after vomiting/diarrhea and the reaction to lactose is to vomit again. You can buy milk that has the lactose removed in any supermarket - it's called 'Lacto Free' and it tastes the same as normal milk. It's a bit more expensive, but worth the cost IMO unless you can persuade DD to go without milk for a while. All other dairy should be removed from her diet too (yogurt, cheese, etc). Try it for a few days and see if it makes any difference.

juneau - that might be a good idea; she was sensitive to cow's milk protein as a small baby - although she had milk again before going back to bed, and seems fine with it. It's very mysterious...

bump - just happened again! think we are going to cut out the milk, or get the lactose free stuff - she pukes in the evening and the only time she has milk is before bed. I think originally she was throwing up because of the cough, but maybe she's developed an intolerance. Will get rid of the other dairy too for a bit.

just to conclude - gave her n milk yesterday - no puking. She did have some yogurt which didn't seem to cause any problems, so will go and get the lacto-free (she wasn't too impressed at the absence of bedtime milk)

thanks to all