Nausea and Vomiting (Emesis Stomach upset Upset stomach)

Overview

Nausea is that unsettled feeling we get in the stomach often just before we vomit. Vomiting is when our body forcibly expels food from the stomach up through the esophagus and out of the mouth. Nausea and vomiting are generally harmless however sometimes they are a result of a more serious underlying disease.

Causes

>Determining the cause of nausea isn't a simple thing as a wide variety of stimuli can trigger it. It can be caused by everything from bad odors to infection and almost everything in between. You can feel nauseous when you are pregnant when you are driving in a car or on a boat when you take certain medications and when you eat something that disagrees with you. In children one of the most common causes is a viral gastrointestinal infection. Call the poison control centre or take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately if you suspect poisoning or drug ingestion. Some other common causes include migraine headaches drinking too much alcohol bulimia food poisoning food allergies and chemotherapy in cancer patients.

Symptoms

Most people feel nauseous from time to time and often describe it as being "sick to the stomach". In addition to this queasy feeling symptoms may include excessive sweating a lack of appetite abdominal cramps and of course vomiting.

Treatment

Usually nausea and vomiting do not require medical attention. Once any offending material is expelled from your stomach recovery begins. However if the vomiting is severe and continues for more than a day preventing you from keeping down any food or fluids you should see your doctor immediately. He or she will check to see if there is an underlying condition that may be causing your nausea and/or vomiting and also ensure that you are not dehydrated. With most vomiting especially in young children dehydration is the main concern.

Signs of dehydration in children include:

  • dry mouth and tongue
  • no tears when crying
  • no wet diapers for 3 hours or more
  • sunken abdomen eyes or cheeks
  • high fever
  • listlessness or irritability
  • skin that does not flatten when pinched and released

General signs of dehydration include:

  • thirst
  • less frequent urination
  • dry skin
  • fatigue
  • light-headedness
  • dark colored urine

Treating mild dehydration is as simple as drinking small amounts of fluids frequently until your body has a sufficient supply. However water is not always the best solution as it does not contain electrolytes - the essential salts your body requires. To maintain electrolyte levels you could have broth or soups which contain sodium and fruit juices soft fruits or vegetables which contain potassium.

Prevention

Prevention of nausea and vomiting is related to the underlying cause. Over-the-counter medications are available for motion sickness and upset stomach and avoiding alcohol will clearly prevent nausea that comes with drinking too much. For more severe morning sickness pregnant women can consider diclectin. This can be a tricky decision and a good resource is www.motherisk.org. If nausea is a side effect of a drug that your doctor has prescribed he or she may be able to solve the problem by adjusting the dose or switching you to an alternative medication. Drugs are available to help those with migraine headaches and the feelings of nausea that often come with chemotherapy in cancer treatment.