But medical information is always changing, and some information given here may be out of date. For regularly updated information on a variety of health topics, please visit familydoctor.org , the AAFP patient education Web site. They can be. Vomiting and diarrhea can be harmful to children because they can cause dehydration.
Dehydration occurs when too much fluid is lost from the body.
Young babies can become dehydrated very quickly, but dehydration can occur in a child of any age. If your child has had several bouts of vomiting or diarrhea, he or she will need to drink fluids to replace those lost with vomiting and diarrhea. Encourage your child older than two years to drink water and other clear fluids. Plain water can cause problems, such as lowering the amount of salt or sugar in the blood. ORS comes as a powder that you mix with water, or a liquid that is already mixed and as frozen popsicles.