Treatment For Vomiting

Vomiting, along with nausea, is a symptom of an underlying disease rather than a specific illness itself. Emesis is the medical term for vomiting. Vomiting is the forcible emptying of the stomach in which the stomach has to overcome the pressures that are normally in place to keep food and secretions within the stomach.

Causes of vomiting are varied and include food-borne illnesses (food poisoning), infections, problems with the brain and central nervous system, and systemic (body-wide) diseases. Some illnesses will cause nausea and vomiting, even though there is no direct involvement of the stomach or

gastrointestinal tract. Examples can include pneumoniaheart attack, and sepsis. Vomiting may be a side effect of medications, including drugs used in cancer chemotherapy, as well as a side effect of radiation therapy.

Most of the time, gastroenteritis is caused by a virus like rotavirus or norovirus. But you can also get it from bacteria like E. coli or salmonella. Although norovirus can sometimes cause a low-grade fever, you can also have it with no fever at all.

Try foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, dry toast, soda crackers (these foods are called BRAT diet). For 24-48 hours after the last episode of vomiting, avoid foods that can irritate or may be difficult to digest such alcohol, caffeine, fats/oils, spicy food, milk or cheese.

Oftentimes, its color will change as your body progresses through each stage of the underlying condition. For example, vomit as a result of the stomach flu may start as green or yellow and progress to orange. Vomiting that only lasts one or two days usually isn't considered serious

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.

LaMonica Hodges, NP

Licensed to practice in:
MS, VA, AZ, WA, OR, NV, CO, IL, NM, FL, MI, AL, DC,

Family Medicine

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