Vomiting

Symptoms   |    When to Call Doctor   |    Home Care   |    Categories List

Symptom Definition

• Vomiting is the forceful emptying (throwing up) of a large portion of the stomach's contents through the mouth.
• Nausea and abdominal discomfort usually precede each bout of vomiting.

Causes

• Main Cause: stomach infection (gastritis) from a stomach virus (eg Rotavirus). The illness starts with vomiting but diarrhea usually follows within 12-24 hours. If vomiting persists as an isolated symptom (without diarrhea) for more than 24 hours, more serious causes must be considered.

See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If

• Vomiting only occurs while coughing, see COUGH.
• Child younger than 1 year old and spitting (reflux), see SPITTING UP.
• Diarrhea is the main symptom, see DIARRHEA.