Symptom

Nausea and Vomiting

Overview | Possible Causes | Care and Treatment | HOME REMEDies | When to Call the Doctor | References

nausea and vomiting

Overview

What is nausea and vomiting?

Nausea and vomiting are not diseases, but rather are symptoms of many different conditions, such as infection ("stomach flu"), food poisoning, motion sickness, overeating, blocked intestine, illness, concussion or brain injury, appendicitis and migraines. Nausea and vomiting can sometimes be symptoms of more serious diseases such as heart attacks, kidney or liver disorders, central nervous system disorders, brain tumors, and some forms of cancer.

What is the difference between nausea and vomiting?

Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often accompanies the urge to vomit, but doesn't always lead to vomiting. Vomiting is the forcible voluntary or involuntary emptying ("throwing up") of stomach contents through the mouth. Some triggers that may result in vomiting can come from the stomach and intestines (infection, injury, and food irritation), the inner ear (dizziness and motion sickness), and the brain (head injury, brain infections, tumors, and migraine headaches).

Who is more likely to experience nausea and vomiting?

Nausea and vomiting can occur in both children and adults. People who are undergoing cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy, have an increased risk of nausea and vomiting. Pregnant women in their first trimester may also experience nausea and vomiting, commonly referred to as "morning sickness".

Possible Causes

The causes of nausea and vomiting are quite similar. Many things can bring on nausea. Some common causes are:

Seasickness and other motion sicknesses
Early pregnancy
Intense pain
Exposure to chemical toxins
Emotional stress (fear)
Gallbladder disease
Food poisoning
Indigestion
Various viruses
Certain smells or odors

The causes of vomiting differ according to age. For adults, vomiting is commonly a result of a viral infection and food poisoning, and occasionally a result of motion sickness and illnesses in which the person has a high fever. For children, it is common for vomiting to occur because of a viral infection, food poisoning, motion sickness, overeating or feeding, coughing, and illnesses in which the child has a high fever. Although rare, blocked intestines can cause vomiting, most typically in early infancy.

Usually vomiting is harmless, but it can be a sign of a more serious illness. Some examples of serious conditions that may bring on nausea or vomiting include:

Concussions
Encephalitis
Meningitis
Intestinal blockage
Appendicitis
Migraine headaches
Brain tumors

Another concern with vomiting is dehydration. Adults have a lower risk of becoming dehydrated because they can usually detect the symptoms of dehydration (such as increased thirst and dry lips or mouth). Children have a greater risk of becoming dehydrated, especially if the vomiting occurs with diarrhea, because young children may often be unable to tell an adult about symptoms of dehydration. Adults caring for sick children need to be aware of these visible signs of dehydration:

Dry lips and mouth
Sunken eyes
Rapid breathing or pulse

In infants, parents should look for decreased urination, and a sunken fontanelle (soft spot on top of the baby's head).

Care & Treatment

Call 112 or emergency medical assistance

Seek prompt medical attention if nausea and vomiting are accompanied by other warning signs, such as:

Chest pain
Severe abdominal pain or cramping
Blurred vision
Confusion
High fever and stiff neck
Fecal material or fecal odor in the vomit
Rectal bleeding

Seek immediate medical attention

Ask someone to drive you to urgent care or an emergency room if:

Nausea and vomiting are accompanied by pain or a severe headache, especially if you haven't had this type of headache before
You have signs or symptoms of dehydration — excessive thirst, dry mouth, infrequent urination, dark-colored urine and weakness, or dizziness or lightheadedness upon standing
Your vomit contains blood, resembles coffee grounds or is green

Schedule a doctor's visit

Make an appointment with your doctor if:

Vomiting lasts more than two days for adults, 24 hours for children under age 2 or 12 hours for infants
You've had bouts of nausea and vomiting for longer than one month
You've experienced unexplained weight loss along with nausea and vomiting

Home Remedies

There are several ways to control or relieve nausea; however, if these techniques do not seem to ease the queasiness, talk to your doctor.

When trying to control nausea:

Drink clear or ice-cold drinks.
Eat light, bland foods (such as saltine crackers or plain bread).
Avoid fried, greasy, or sweet foods.
Eat slowly and eat smaller, more frequent meals.
Do not mix hot and cold foods.
Drink beverages slowly.
Avoid activity after eating.
Avoid brushing your teeth after eating.
Choose foods from all the food groups as you can tolerate them to get adequate nutrition.

Treatment for vomiting (regardless of age or cause) includes:

Drinking gradually larger amounts of clear liquids
Avoiding solid food until the vomiting episode has passed
Resting
Temporarily discontinuing all oral medications, which can irritate the stomach and make vomiting worse

If vomiting and diarrhea last more than 24 hours, an oral rehydrating solution should be used to prevent and treat dehydration.

When to Call the Doctor

The timing of the nausea or vomiting can indicate the cause. When it appears shortly after a meal, nausea or vomiting may indicate a mental disorder or a peptic ulcer. Nausea or vomiting one to eight hours after a meal may indicate food poisoning. Foodborne diseases, such as Salmonella, may take longer to produce symptoms because of the incubation time.

A person who is experiencing nausea should consult a physician if it lasts more than one week, and if there is a possibility of pregnancy. Vomiting usually lessens within six to 24 hours, and may be treated at home.

You should see your doctor if home treatment is not working, dehydration is present, or a known injury (such as head injury or infection) is causing the vomiting.

Take your infant or a child under 6 years old to the doctor if:

Vomiting lasts more than a few hours
Diarrhea is also present
Signs of dehydration occur
There is a fever higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit
The child hasn't urinated for six hours

Take your child over 6 years old to the doctor if:

Vomiting lasts one day
Diarrhea combined with vomiting lasts for more than 24 hours
There are signs of dehydration
There is a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit
The child hasn't urinated for six hours

Adults should consult a doctor if vomiting occurs for more than one day, if diarrhea and vomiting last more than 24 hours, and if there are signs of moderate dehydration.

You should see a doctor immediately if the following signs or symptoms occur: