Toddler Vomiting Phlegm Frequently

by Kizzy
(London, United Kingdom)

My son who is 20 months old has just started holding the back of his neck. He has been vomiting phlegm for the last 4 hours like maybe every hour.

I have also noticed that he wont close his mouth and saliva keeps running from his mouth.

What could be the cause of this?

There are no other noticeable symptoms.

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Toddler Vomiting
by: Ingrid from Toddlers Are Fun

Hi Kizzy,

Thanks for your question. Large quantities of phlegm in the throat, can cause vomiting, simply by irritating the soft palate, causing gagging and triggering the vomiting reflex. Toddlers, unlike adults, do not know that they should spit up the phlegm, so they end up swallowing it. Vomiting is the only way for their bodies to expel the accumulated phlegm. The other way for it to go out of the body is through the child’s stool.

A possible ear infection, or chest/sinus infection may be beginning in your son. You should consider taking him to the pediatrician so they can look in his ears and listen to his chest. Is the phlegm yellow or green in color?

Thanks!
Ingrid Lee
Toddlers-Are-Fun.com
Phlegm colour
by: Fran

Hi the original poster didn't state the colour of phlegm, (which you asked) my son is in a similar position and his phlegm is green, does it matter about the colour?
Toddler Vomiting
by: Ingrid from Toddlers Are Fun

Hi Fran!

When the phlegm is yellow or green that MAY be a sign of infection some where. It is a wise idea to take your child to the pediatrician and rule out any sinus or ear infections. It can be so hard for toddlers to get all of the nasty phlegm out on their own. If it gets built up too much that is when a potential infection can set in.

Thanks!
Ingrid Lee

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