Nausea and vomiting
Definition
Nausea and vomiting are common signs and symptoms that can be caused by numerous conditions. Nausea and vomiting most often are due to viral gastroenteritis — often called stomach flu — or the morning sickness of early pregnancy. Many medications or substances can also cause nausea and vomiting, including marijuana (cannabis). Rarely, nausea and vomiting may indicate a serious or even life-threatening problem.
Causes
Nausea and vomiting may occur separately or together. Common causes include: Chemotherapy Gastroparesis (a condition in which the muscles of the stomach wall don't function properly, interfering with digestion) General anesthesia Intestinal obstruction — when something blocks food or liquid from moving through the small or large intestine. Migraine Morning sickness Motion sickness: First aid Rotavirus or infections caused by other viruses. Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu) Vestibular neuritis Other possible causes of nausea and vomiting include: Acute liver failure Alcohol use disorder Anaphylaxis Anorexia nervosa Appendicitis — when the appendix becomes inflamed. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) Brain tumor Bulimia nervosa Cannabis (marijuana) use Cholecystitis Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Crohn's disease — which causes tissues in the digestive tract to become inflamed. Cyclic vomiting syndrome Depression (major depressive disorder) Diabetic ketoacidosis (in which the body has high levels of blood acids called ketones) Dizziness Ear infection (middle ear) Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) Fever Food allergy (for example, cow's milk, soy or eggs) Food poisoning Gallstones Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Generalized anxiety disorder Heart attack Heart failure Hepatitis Hiatal hernia Hydrocephalus Hyperparathyroidism (overactive parathyroid) Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) also known as overactive thyroid. Hypoparathyroidism (underactive parathyroid) Intestinal ischemia Intestinal obstruction — when something blocks food or liquid from moving through the small or large intestine. Intracranial hematoma Intussusception (in children) Irritable bowel syndrome — a group of symptoms that affect the stomach and intestines. Medications (including aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, oral contraceptives, digitalis, narcotics and antibiotics) Meniere's disease Meningitis Pancreatic cancer Pancreatitis Peptic ulcer Pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension) Pyloric stenosis (in infants) Radiation therapy Severe pain Toxic hepatitis
When to see a doctor
Call 911 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 Take self-care measures while you wait for your appointment with your doctor: Take it easy. Too much activity and not getting enough rest might make nausea worse. Stay hydrated. Take small sips of cold, clear, carbonated or sour drinks, such as ginger ale, lemonade and water. Mint tea also may help. Oral rehydration solutions, such as Pedialyte, can aid in preventing dehydration. Avoid strong odors and other triggers. Food and cooking smells, perfume, smoke, stuffy rooms, heat, humidity, flickering lights, and driving are among the possible triggers of nausea and vomiting. Eat bland foods. Start with easily digested foods such as gelatin, crackers and toast. When you can keep these down, try cereal, rice, fruit, and salty or high-protein, high-carbohydrate foods. Avoid fatty or spicy foods. Wait to eat solid foods until about six hours after the last time you vomited. Use nonprescription motion sickness medicines. If you're planning a trip, nonprescription motion sickness drugs, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) or meclizine (Bonine) may help calm your queasy stomach. For longer journeys, such as a cruise, ask your health care provider about prescription motion sickness adhesive patches, such as scopolamine (Transderm Scop). If your queasiness stems from pregnancy, try nibbling on some crackers before you get out of bed in the morning.
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