Pediatr. praxi. 2026;27(3):181-185 | DOI: 10.36290/ped.2026.029

Vomiting and motion sickness in children during travel - recommendation for parents

PharmDr. Petra Rozsívalová1, 2, PharmDr. Aneta Vopařilová Marková, Ph.D.1, MUDr. Marie Kopecká3, doc. PharmDr. Josef Malý, Ph.D.2
1 Nemocniční lékárna, Fakultní nemocnice Hradec Králové
2 Katedra sociální a klinické farmacie, Farmaceutická fakulta v Hradci Králové, Univerzita Karlova
3 Dětská klinika, Fakultní nemocnice Hradec Králové, Lékařská fakulta v Hradci Králové, Univerzita Karlova

Motion sickness is a physiological response to sensory conflict between the vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive systems, most commonly affecting children aged 4-13 years. The clinical picture ranges from malaise and yawning to nausea and vomiting. Non-pharmacological preventive measures are the cornerstone of management. Pharmacotherapy is indicated when these measures fail; first-generation antihistamines (dimenhydrinate, cinnarizine, moxastine) are the drugs of choice in children. Scopolamine and promethazine are off-label in young children. This article provides a practical, evidence-based summary of motion sickness management including non-pharmacological approaches for everyday paediatric practice.

Keywords: motion sickness, kinetosis, children, prevention, pharmacotherapy, dimenhydrinate, cinnarizine, moxastine.

Accepted: June 22, 2026; Published: July 1, 2026  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Rozsívalová P, Vopařilová Marková A, Kopecká M, Malý J. Vomiting and motion sickness in children during travel - recommendation for parents. Pediatr. praxi. 2026;27(3):181-185. doi: 10.36290/ped.2026.029.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Purchase PDF - 60 CZK (2.5 EUR)
    will be unlocked 1.7.2027

    References

    1. Bentley J, Fitzsimmons L. Motion sickness: causes, prevention and management. The Pharmaceutical Journal. 2023.
    2. Leung AKC, Hon KL. Motion sickness: an overview. Drugs Context. 2019;8:2019-9-4. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    3. Koch A, et al. The neurophysiology and treatment of motion sickness. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(41):687-696. Go to original source...
    4. Schnabel L, Wuehr M, Huppert A, et al. Age-dependent perturbation of the perceptual and postural vertical by visual roll vection and susceptibility to motion sickness in children. J Neurol. 2022;269(11):5724-5730. Go to original source...
    5. Karrim N, Byrne R, Magula N, et al. Antihistamines for motion sickness. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022;10:CD012715. Go to original source...
    6. Walls T, Teach SJ. Causes of dizziness and vertigo in children and adolescents. In: UpToDate. Last updated Apr 26, 2024. Available from: www.uptodate.com. [cited 13. 3. 2026].
    7. Motion Sickness. In: BMJ Best Practice. Last updated Jan 02, 2025. Available from: bestpractice.bmj.com
    8. Databáze léků, SPC léčivých přípravků. Available from: www. sukl.cz, [cited 13. 3. 2026].
    9. Macnair AL. Cinnarizine in the prophylaxis of car sickness in children. J Int Med Res. 1983;11(5):284-287. Go to original source...
    10. Viola P, Marcianò G, et al. The Pharmacological Treatment of Pediatric Vertigo. Children (Basel). 2022;9(5):584. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    11. Paediatric Formulary Committee. (2025). BNF for Children (BNFC) 2025-2026. BMJ Group; Pharmaceutical Press; RCPCH; NPPG. ISBN 978-0-85711-488-4.

    Return to the content


    Pediatrics for Practice

    Madam, Sir,
    please be aware that the website on which you intend to enter, not the general public because it contains technical information about medicines, including advertisements relating to medicinal products. This information and communication professionals are solely under §2 of the Act n.40/1995 Coll. Is active persons authorized to prescribe or supply (hereinafter expert).
    Take note that if you are not an expert, you run the risk of danger to their health or the health of other persons, if you the obtained information improperly understood or interpreted, and especially advertising which may be part of this site, or whether you used it for self-diagnosis or medical treatment, whether in relation to each other in person or in relation to others.

    I declare:

    1. that I have met the above instruction
    2. I'm an expert within the meaning of the Act n.40/1995 Coll. the regulation of advertising, as amended, and I am aware of the risks that would be a person other than the expert input to these sites exhibited

    No
    Yes

    If your statement is not true, please be aware
    that brings the risk of danger to their health or the health of others.