DD just threw up out of nowhere, what to watch out for?

[Ragatha]

It's years since anyone in the family had any kind of vomiting bug, I've forgotten if there are danger signs you need to look out for, can anyone advise?

13yo DD seemed absolutely fine, happy and chatty till about half an hour ago, she'd eaten some fruit about 45 minutes ago, and was just starting to eat a croissant 15 minutes later, but ran to the toilet & threw up. She said she felt awful and it hurts a bit in her gut, and lay down on the sofa. She's now fast asleep and looks pale.

It came on so quickly, it looks like food poisoning, but surely you can't get food poisoning from a bit of fruit? And no one else who ate it is sick (so far!).

Last night we had Macaroni cheese and apple crumble, again no one else is sick.

Should I be doing anything except letting her sleep it off?

(Sick bowl is strategically placed next to the sofa and I've made her comfortable with blankets of course).

Probably just a bug,lots of fluids and rest and keep a bucket to hand .

Food poisoning can take a while for bugs to develop, but more likely a virus. As long as she can keep down a tiny bit of fluids, she will be ok. Look out for not retaining any fluids over several hours (ie. No wees), high temp, strong pain. I like to sip flatish cold coke when I'm not feeling good. Something in the carbonation helps get it down.

Where was she/what was she doing 24-48 hours before she threw up? Norovirus usually comes on around 36 hours after exposure (but can be a bit earlier or later, hence 24-48 hours) and can be very sudden. If she was out and about or at a friend’s house or similar on Friday evening then she probably picked it up. If she’s been at home with the rest of you since Friday morning then it’s likely something else.

Is her period due? At that age I vomited at the start of pretty much every one. Would come out of nowhere as I wasn't especially regular, but then minutes later the bleeding would start. Hormonal apparently. Tonic water and rich tea biscuits helped me (and are still my go to any time I feel vomitous decades later!).

Thanks, she's not got a fever thankfully. I'd totally forgotten about the flat fuzzy drinks thing, thanks for the tip.

She's been out and about in the last 48 hours - swimming at a fun pool on Friday and the park on Saturday and has spent time with immediate & wider family members and her friends.

No one else is saying they feel unwell (yet!).

Thankfully she's not due on just now. That must be awful, my sympathies!

I had terrible cramps as a teen, a bit older than DS is now, hoping I haven't passed them on 🤞but neither of us get sick thankfully.

Probably just a horrible virus going around, especially if she's been near a swimming pool. Plenty of fluids and sleep, flat fizzy drinks, plain food with little dairy in etc.

She probably picked something up from the pool or park.

There’s not much you can do, as long as she’s not dehydrated and still weeing. Ice lollies are good. Sipping water.

Tbh when I have a vomiting bug I completely dehydrate myself as I hate being sick, until I’m feeling better, but maybe don’t do that.

Ah, likely something picked up from the pool or changing rooms then. Or if not that then a family member or friend she’s seen probably had something in the week before and it’s been passed on through poor hand hygiene or similar. If someone else in your household starts with it in a day or two, you’ll know it’s probably norovirus. (Of course, if you’ve bleached the toilet and room she threw up on or have en suites etc in your house so nobody is using that toilet then you may all get away with avoiding it).