Nausea & Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are symptoms of many different conditions, including early pregnancy, concussions and the stomach flu. Happening in both adults and children, there are many ways to relieve nausea. Drinking ice-cold beverages and eating light, bland foods can help.
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).
What causes nausea or vomiting?
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
Various viruses
Certain smells or odors
When to seek care
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:
Blood in the vomit ("coffee grounds" appearance)
Severe headache or stiff neck
Lethargy
Confusion
Decreased alertness
Severe abdominal pain
Vomiting with fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit
Vomiting and diarrhea are both present
Rapid breathing or pulse
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