Delayed gastric emptying is a condition in which food stays in the stomach longer than it should. It can make someone feel full after eating only a little bit of food, lose weight, or experience bloating, nausea, or vomiting.

Delayed gastric emptying may get better on its own. Here are some ways to help your child feel better.

Follow your healthcare provider's recommendations for:

• Giving your child any medicines, vitamins, or mineral supplements
• Going to see any specialists, such as a gastroenterologist (a doctor who treats people who have problems with their digestive system) or a nutritionist
• When to follow up

Have your child:

• Eat frequent small meals throughout the day, instead of three large ones.
• Limit fried foods and other high-fat foods.
• Drink smoothies or eat cooked fruits and vegetables instead of raw.
• Cut down on high-fiber foods, such as dried apricots, high-fiber cereals, and beans.
• Choose easily digested foods, such as soups, baked or mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, and baked chicken or fish.
• Avoid sodas and other carbonated drinks.
• Avoid lying down for 2 hours after eating. Sitting, standing, or going for a walk after eating can help with digestion.

For older kids and teens, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and using marijuana can all make delayed gastric emptying worse and should be avoided.

Your child:

• Has new or increased vomiting
• Has diarrhea
• Loses weight
• Has belly pain

Your child has:

• Severe vomiting and cannot keep any foods or liquids down
• Severe belly pain or seems very ill

What causes delayed gastric emptying? Delayed gastric emptying can happen on its own, after an infection (such as gastroenteritis, in which someone has vomiting and diarrhea), or as a side effect of certain medications. It also happens in people who have diabetes (a disease that affects how the body uses a sugar called glucose) or other medical conditions.

How long does it usually take for delayed gastric emptying to get better? If the delayed gastric emptying is from an infection, it usually goes away a few weeks after the infection is gone. If it's caused by a medicine, your healthcare provider may recommend that your child stop the medicine, lower the dose, or change to another medicine. For people with diabetes, delayed gastric emptying can be a long-lasting condition, but keeping glucose levels in control can help.