Vomiting

Vomiting is the forceful ejection of the contents of your stomach and upper digestive system through your mouth. It's also known as throwing up or being sick.

Vomiting is a reflex that helps your body get rid of substances that may be harmful. Most people will experience vomiting at some point. It's a symptom rather than a diagnosis.

This article is about vomiting in adults and children over 12 years of age. See vomiting in children for information relating to vomiting in children aged under 12 years.

When you vomit your abdominal muscles have strong contractions. It's different from reflux or regurgitation which happen without any abdominal contractions.

Vomiting can sometimes be forceful. Projectile vomiting can send your stomach contents more than a metre away.

Other symptoms that you may feel alongside vomiting are:

• Nausea — the unpleasant sensation when you think you are about to vomit ('feeling sick'). Once you have vomited, the feeling of nausea may ease or go away.
• Mouthwatering — your mouth will often start to water before you vomit.
• Abdominal pain — this is pain below your ribs, including stomach cramps.
• Diarrhoea — this is a common symptoms of gastroenteritis.
• Fever
• Tiredness

Retching is similar to vomiting, because it involves forceful stomach contractions. However, with retching, you will not bring up anything from your stomach.

Ongoing vomiting can lead to dehydration. This is where your body has lost more fluid than it has taken in. Dehydration can be dangerous, as your body doesn't have enough water to function properly.

Vomiting can be a sudden isolated bout of vomiting (acute) that usually lasts less than 2 days. Vomiting can also be part of a pattern of ongoing or recurring attacks (chronic). Some underlying causes of vomiting are serious.

Causes of acute vomiting

The table describes some conditions that can cause acute vomiting.

If you have a short episode of vomiting, you may not find out the exact cause.

If you have ongoing or recurrent episodes of vomiting, you should see your doctor. They will investigate the cause of your vomiting.

They will ask about your symptoms and medical history and do a physical examination. Then your doctor may suggest tests, including:

• blood tests
• urine tests
• a pregnancy test

Sometimes, when it's difficult to find a cause for recurrent vomiting, your doctor will suggest investigations such as an endoscopy or a CT scan to help with diagnosis.

Your doctor may suggest referring you to a gastroenterologist or neurologist.

If you are vomiting because of a simple case of gastroenteritis, you may be able to manage at home without needing to see a doctor.

But some underlying causes of vomiting can be more serious.

When to seek urgent care

You should go to a hospital's emergency department or call triple zero (000) for an ambulance if you:

• vomit blood or have what looks like coffee grounds in your vomit
• vomit bile — green vomit
• vomit faecal material (poo)
• have severe or constant tummy (abdominal) pain
• have a stiff neck and high temperature (fever)
• have a severe headache
• have bleeding from your bottom (rectum) or bloody diarrhoea
• have chest pain

Seek immediate medical attention, either from your doctor or from the emergency department, if you are vomiting and:

• have a high temperature (fever)
• have signs of dehydration
• can't take in more than a few sips of liquid or can't keep water down
• it continues for more than 48 hours
• are immunocompromised

Make an appointment to see your doctor if you have been vomiting and have lost weight without knowing why.

This article is about vomiting in adults and children over 12 years of age. See vomiting in children for information relating to vomiting in children aged under 12 years.

Treatment for vomiting depends on the underlying cause. Some causes of vomiting will need specific treatment by your doctor. You can also ask your pharmacist for advice.

Self-care at home

If you are vomiting because you have gastroenteritis or food poisoning, make sure you stay hydrated. Try the following to help you manage at home:

• Stay home to avoid passing the infection to others.
• Drink plenty of clear fluids or oral rehydration solution to replace lost fluids — take small sips if you feel sick.
• Avoid fruit juice, cordial and sugary drinks.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
• Adjust your diet until you get back to normal — eat bland foods, such as rice, pasta and crackers.

Medicines for vomiting

Oral rehydration solutions

You can buy these over the counter from your pharmacist or at the supermarket. They are better than plain water because they contain the right concentration of salts to replace both fluids and electrolytes.

Sports rehydration drinks are not recommended.

Antiemetic medicines

Antiemetics are medicines that help prevent and treat nausea and vomiting. Most antiemetics are prescription medicines.

Your doctor might prescribe an antiemetic to treat or prevent vomiting due to:

• migraines
• motion sickness
• having surgery (an operation)
• chemotherapy treatment
• radiation treatment

The most common cause of vomiting is viral gastroenteritis. It's very infectious and is mostly spread by contact with another person who has the illness.

Things you can do to stop the spread of gastroenteritis:

• Wash your hands frequently, using a good handwashing technique.
• Practice good food safety.
• Do not prepare food for other people.
• Do not visit hospitals, aged care facilities, or swimming pools.
• When cleaning up vomit, wear gloves, an apron and a mask. Dispose of it in a tied plastic bag and wash your hands afterwards. Clean the area with detergent and warm water.

If a household member has gastroenteritis, everyone in the house should practice regular handwashing and good hygiene.

Dehydration is one of the most serious complications of vomiting. If you get dehydrated it can lead to a loss of electrolytes (salts and minerals your body needs to function properly).

To avoid dehydration, you should sip clear fluids or take an oral rehydration solution. Sip these slowly to avoid triggering more vomiting.

Ongoing vomiting may lead to weight loss. This happens if you can't hold down your food, or nausea means that you don't wanting to eat for a sustained period.

If you vomit within 2 hours of taking your oral contraceptive pill, you may not be protected from pregnancy. Refer to the instructions since you may need to use some other form of contraception, such as condoms, for the next 7 hormone pills. You can also call your pharmacist for advice.

Another complication of vomiting is aspiration. This is when food or liquid gets into your lungs. You can inhale vomit into your lungs if you are vomiting a lot. Aspiration and can cause pneumonia.

Violent vomiting can, very rarely, tear the lining of the oesophagus (food pipe).

Use the Symptom Checker to find out if you need to seek medical help.

Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak with a registered nurse, 24 hours, 7 days a week.

The Gut Foundation (Opens in new tab) for information on gastrointestinal conditions.

NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service (Opens in new tab) for information in your language.