What causes vomiting?
For adults, vomiting is commonly a result of a viral infection and food poisoning, and occasionally a result of motion sickness and illnesses in which the person has a high fever. An amazing variety of stimuli can trigger vomiting, from
migraines to kidney stones. Sometimes, just seeing someone else vomit will start you vomiting, in your body's effort to protect you from possible exposure to the same danger.
For children, it is common for vomiting to occur from a viral infection, food poisoning, motion sickness, overeating or feeding, coughing, and illnesses in which the child has a high fever. In babies and toddlers, vomiting may be caused by infections elsewhere in the body (e.g. respiratory tract, ears or urine). When the vomiting is prolonged or repeated, and the child is very ill, the cause may be more serious such as an obstruction of the intestines (e.g. from pyloric stenosis or intussusception), kidney failure, coeliac disease, or raised pressure inside the skull (intracranial pressure) because of a tumour or bleed. Find out more about these conditions at: food intolerance, travel sickness, chronic renal failure, coeliac disease and brain tumour. |
More information on vomiting
What is vomiting? - Vomiting (or emesis) is the forceful expulsion through the mouth of the contents of one's stomach. Vomiting is a mechanism for expelling ingested illness-causing food poisons.
What causes vomiting? - Vomiting may be triggered by stimuli which might indicate the possibility of poisoning, such as motion sickness, or sight of decayed food, or other people vomiting.
How is vomiting diagnosed? - Examination of the micro-fungal content of vomit can be a means of indentifying illness. Also known as vomitus, vomit contains a high concentration of hydronium.
Infant and child vomiting - Vomiting can be part of many illnesses in children and babies. Vomiting is common for babies and young children. Vomiting occurs when food is brought back up from the stomach.
What's the treatment for vomiting? - Treatment for vomiting includes drinking gradually larger amounts of clear liquids, avoiding solid food, resting and temporarily discontinuing all oral medications.
How to prevent vomiting? - Vomiting can be prevented by drinking small amounts of clear, sweetened liquids such as soda pop, fruit juices and popsicles. Live a hygienic life to avoid bad bacteria infections.
Nausea and vomiting - Nausea is the sensation of unease and discomfort from the stomach, with the sufferers feeling that they may vomit. Nausea and vomiting are controlled by the same parts of the brain. |
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