06 mars 2023
It is particularly common in children: motion sickness, another name for motion sickness, causes dizziness, nausea and sometimes vomiting. Can we prevent it? How to treat it?
It is between the ages of 2 and 12 that motion sickness is usually at its peak in children. In infants, it is extremely rare. And if it tends to decrease after adolescence, it can persist in some, and especially some, especially during menstruation or pregnancy. Migraine patients are also more prone to it.
But what is the cause? Why can a simple car, plane or boat trip turn into a nightmare for some of us? “Motion sickness develops when the parts of the inner ear that help maintain balance (including the semicircular canals or labyrinths) are overstimulated, as can occur with excessive movement”says the Merck Manual.
“It can also occur when the brain receives conflicting information from its motion sensors, namely the eyes, semicircular canals, and muscle sensors (nerve endings in muscles and joints that provide information about the position of the body). body) “. Clearly, the eyes discern a movement but the inner ear registers a contrary impression. The organism is disturbed, it cannot adapt to the movement.
Paleness, nausea…
Motion sickness is quite common. And if its manifestations are unpleasant, they remain however without gravity, indicates the Medicare. In young children, it usually all starts with crying, fussing and yawning. If he is old enough to speak, he may also complain of being sick to his stomach. Understand: he is nauseous.
Other common symptoms include pallor, cold sweats, hypersalivation, dizziness, headaches… and vomiting. “In general, these symptoms disappear when stationary, a few minutes after leaving the vehicle”.
Prevent motion sickness
To avoid these unpleasant symptoms, it is possible to act before the journey. It is therefore advisable to feed your child solid food and not liquid. If you’re traveling by car, place it in the back, in the middle, and let some air flow through. Try to leave when traffic is flowing: jerky driving increases the risk of nausea. If the trip takes place by train, boat or plane, choose the seats in the center, those where the movement is the least important.
Certain medications can help reduce these unpleasant sensations. Metopimazine is freely available and limits vomiting (to be taken half an hour to one hour before departure). Some antihistamines can also help reduce nausea (ask your doctor for advice). Scopolamine patches, which are applied behind the ear, are reserved for adolescents over 15 years of age.
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Source : Medicare, MSD Manuals – February 2023
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Written by : Charlotte David – Edited by: Emmanuel Ducreuzet
