$Unique_ID{PAR00124}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Motion Sickness}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Motion Sickness Nausea Paleness greenish tinge skin perspiration
Vomiting Anxiety anxious antinausea remedy remedies dehydration Car sick
airsickness airsick seasickness seasick balance mechanism perspire perspires
perspiring vomit antinauseant medication medications Dimenhydrinate}
$Log{}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Motion Sickness


     Quick Reference

     SYMPTOMS
     - Nausea
     - Paleness or greenish tinge to the skin
     - Excessive perspiration
     - Vomiting
     - Anxiety

     HOME CARE
     - Give the child an antinausea remedy recommended by the doctor.  Give
       this medication as directed before and during the journey.
     - Keep the child cool.
     - Restrict the child to a light diet before and during the trip.
     - Have the child look out the window or distract the child with a game
       during the trip.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - Some children are more susceptible than others to motion sickness.
     - Motion sickness is not brought on by the child, and the child cannot
       control it.
     - If prolonged motion sickness causes severe vomiting, it may lead to
       dehydration, which is an emergency situation that requires medical
       care.
     - A child who is susceptible to motion sickness may have attacks every
       time he or she travels.


     Car sickness, airsickness, and seasickness are all forms of motion
sickness.  Prolonged rhythmic motion up and down or from side to side will
make most children nauseated, presumably because the movement affects the
balance mechanism of the inner ears.  Some children are more susceptible to
motion sickness than others; young infants are apparently immune.  Motion
sickness is not deliberately brought on by the child, nor can the child
control it.  Susceptible children will have repeated attacks.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     Motion sickness is fairly easy to recognize.  A motion-sick child becomes
nauseated, greenish or pale, and anxious.  The child may perspire and vomit.

HOME CARE

     If your child suffers from motion sickness, ask your doctor to recommend
an antinausea medication.  Give your child the antinauseant as directed before
and during the trip.  Dimenhydrinate, available in tablet and liquid forms, is
a highly effective and safe antinauseant.  It is also helpful to keep the
child cool and on a light diet (for example, bland foods and carbonated
drinks, but no dairy products) before and during the trip.  Having the child
look out the car window will often eliminate motion sickness.  Distracting the
child with a game can also be useful.

PRECAUTION

  -  Prolonged motion sickness (over a period of hours) that causes excessive
     vomiting can lead to dehydration, which requires medical attention.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     Your doctor can recommend an antinausea medication.  Dehydration brought
on by motion sickness necessitates hospital care, during which the child is
given fluids intravenously.

RELATED TOPICS:  Dehydration; Vomiting