Motion Sickness in Children: Symptoms, Self-Care, and When to See a Doctor | Does Your Child Need Medical Care for Nausea or Vomiting During Travel?
■Symptoms
Motion sickness in children can be triggered by movement while traveling by car, bus, boat, or airplane. It is particularly common in children between the ages of 2 and 12.
Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, cold sweats, pale skin, headache, drowsiness, and fatigue.
In most cases, symptoms gradually improve after the child gets out of the vehicle and rests. However, repeated vomiting may lead to dehydration.
■Causes
Possible causes and conditions to be aware of include:
- Vomiting or severe headache caused by a condition other than motion sickness
- Dehydration caused by repeated vomiting
- Motion sickness caused by movement in a car, boat, airplane, or other form of transportation
- Reading or looking at a smartphone or gaming device while traveling
- Symptoms worsened by heat, fatigue, anxiety, hunger, or overeating
Motion sickness is thought to occur when there is a mismatch between what the eyes see and the movement sensed by the body.
■When to Seek Medical Care
Seek Medical Attention Promptly If Your Child:
- Is vomiting repeatedly and cannot drink or keep fluids down
- Is urinating significantly less than usual or appears unusually weak or lethargic
- Seems confused or less responsive than usual
- Has a severe headache or severe abdominal pain
- Continues to have severe symptoms even after getting out of the vehicle and resting
You May Monitor Your Child’s Symptoms If:
- Nausea or dizziness occurs only while traveling
- Symptoms gradually improve after getting out of the vehicle
- Your child can drink fluids
- Your child is alert and behaving close to normal
If the symptoms persist, your child vomits repeatedly, or the symptoms seem different from their usual motion sickness, we recommend seeing a doctor as a precaution.
■Self-Care
- Have your child rest or lie down in a safe place.
- Offer small amounts of fluids frequently.
- Encourage your child to look at a distant, stable point or the horizon while traveling.
- Avoid reading, smartphones, tablets, and video games during travel.
- Keep the area well ventilated and encourage your child to keep their head and body as still as possible.
Motion sickness medications have different age restrictions and dosages for children. Do not give your child medication intended for adults without medical advice. Please consult a doctor or pharmacist before giving motion sickness medication to a child.
■What We Can Do at Our Clinic
We provide:
- English-speaking medical care
- Medical consultation and assessment of your child’s overall condition by a physician
- Assessment for dehydration and other possible causes of symptoms
- Blood tests when indicated
- Intravenous (IV) fluid therapy for dehydration when appropriate
- Prescription medications based on your child’s age and symptoms
- Referral to a pediatric specialist or pediatric medical facility when necessary
■Appointment
At International Clinic Osaka Shinsaibashi (ICOS) in Shinsaibashi, Osaka, we provide medical care for children who become unwell while traveling in Japan. We offer same-day appointments and English-speaking medical services.
If your child’s nausea or vomiting from motion sickness continues, or if the symptoms seem different from their usual motion sickness, please feel free to contact us by phone or email.
Address
4F Zenith Building, 1-13-25 Nishi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan
Phone
+81-6-6484-6392
Email
c.icos@international-clinic-osaka.com