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Vomiting
Category: Digestive & Abdomen · All digestive symptoms
What it can feel like
Vomiting is the forceful emptying of the stomach through the mouth. Most episodes come with stomach bugs and settle within a day or two; the main risks are dehydration and missing an underlying cause that needs treatment, particularly in babies, older people and anyone vomiting repeatedly.
Possible causes
A symptom can have many causes, and most are not serious. The lists below group conditions this symptom can be associated with — common causes first. They are possibilities to discuss with a clinician, not a diagnosis.
Common causes
Vomiting can be associated with stomach and bowel infections, food poisoning, migraine, travel sickness, pregnancy, alcohol and many medicines.
Other possible causes
Repeated or persistent vomiting can be associated with gallstones, ulcers, bowel blockage, raised pressure in the head, kidney failure or uncontrolled diabetes — especially when it comes with severe pain, blood, or inability to keep fluids down.
Red flags — when to seek help promptly
- Vomiting blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- Vomiting with severe abdominal pain or a swollen, hard tummy
- Vomiting with severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion or drowsiness
- Being unable to keep any fluids down, with dizziness or very little urine
- A baby who is vomiting, drowsy and has few wet nappies
What a clinician may do
A clinician will assess hydration, examine the abdomen, and ask about pain, fever, medicines and what the vomit looks like. Blood tests check salts and kidney function; imaging or referral follows if vomiting persists or a structural cause is suspected.
Watch: related videos
Examination and clinical videos from the MedicalVideos.com library relevant to this symptom. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.
Related guides on MedicalVideos.com
Frequently asked questions
What is the main danger of vomiting?
Dehydration — losing more fluid and salts than you take in. Small, frequent sips of water or oral rehydration drinks are the first response, and anyone who cannot keep fluids down, especially a child or older person, needs assessment.
Why does vomit colour matter?
Bright red blood or dark 'coffee-ground' material suggests bleeding in the stomach or gullet and is always urgent. Green (bilious) vomit in a baby is also an emergency sign. Colour and content help clinicians decide how quickly to act.
Related symptoms — Digestive & Abdomen
Browse the V section of the A–Z list or return to the Symptoms A–Z hub.