Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms affecting all age groups worldwide. While some experience them occasionally, others suffer more frequently. Regardless of the cause, these symptoms lead to discomfort, fluid and electrolyte loss, and weakness. Nausea is a sensation of ‘feeling like vomiting’, while vomiting is the actual forceful expulsion of the stomach’s contents. It may be due to multiple causes, ranging from trivial ones like indigestion to serious ones like brain tumours, kidney disease, and grave infections. Taking heavy meals, particularly late in the evening, can cause dyspepsia, heartburn, nausea, and or vomiting. This can happen with fatty meals as well. Excess consumption of tea, coffee, and alcohol can also cause nausea and vomiting. If a person does not empty their bowels daily due to constipation, they can experience nausea and or vomiting. Food poisoning can cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Conditions like acute appendicitis, cholecystitis, and kidney stones cause vomiting along with severe abdominal pain as a manifestation. In case of occlusion of the bowels, where a person does not pass stool and gas for 24 hours, one may get severe abdominal pain, along with vomiting. It is a medical emergency needing urgent treatment. Certain medicines like painkillers, steroids, and some anti-cancer drugs are known to cause nausea and or vomiting as side effects. Problems of the inner ear can manifest as vomiting and a spinning sensation in the head. Nausea and vomiting can occur while travelling (motion sickness). Morning sickness, i.e., nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, is a common problem worldwide. In some women, there is a mild occurrence in the first semester, whereas in a few women, it persists throughout pregnancy. Infections or tumours of the brain have vomiting as one of the manifestations. Brain tumours usually cause projectile vomiting, i.e., vomiting directly without any nausea. It can also be a symptom of sinister problems like kidney or liver failure or cancer. The cause of vomiting, particularly recurrent, can be known from a detailed medical history and relevant investigations. One should seek immediate medical attention if vomiting is severe, persistent, if one feels weak and listless after vomiting, if vomiting continues beyond one to two days, if there is associated abdominal pain and or high fever, chest pain, or severe headache. If anything taken orally is vomited out, visit the hospital for injectable treatment and intravenous fluids. Treatment of vomiting lies in treating the underlying cause and maintaining hydration and electrolyte balance. One can be given clear liquids like water, broths to be taken in sips. Oral rehydration solutions should be taken in small sips. Alcohol, caffeine, and sugary drinks should be avoided. Once someone can tolerate and retain oral fluids, soft, bland foods such as rice, pasta can be given in small quantities. Spicy, greasy food should be avoided. Anti-vomiting drugs are used to stop vomiting. Drugs that suppress stomach acid are also useful. Certain measures are beneficial in preventing avoidable causes of vomiting. Avoid heavy meals in the evening, avoid eating late in the evening, avoid very spicy food, and avoid excess consumption of tea, coffee, and alcohol in any amount. Take small, frequent meals, with more of fresh green vegetables, fruits, and drink more water. This will take care of vomiting due to dyspepsia or indigestion. Any medicine that can cause gastritis and vomiting, like steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), should preferably be taken after meals. Those suffering from gastritis should take some medicine for gastritis along with such medicines. In serious medical conditions, other symptoms also occur along with vomiting. Here, along with symptomatic treatment to stop vomiting, the underlying condition is also treated urgently.
