Nausea
Can be
simply described as an uncomfortable feeling or a sensation of sickness which
may or may not be followed by vomiting.
Vomiting
Is an
effortless regurgitation of stomach
contents.
Nausea and
vomiting is caused by a wide variety of conditions which stimulate the vomiting
receptors in the brain.
Vomiting may
lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, aspiration pneumonia.
How to
Manage
A detailed
history helps to identify the underlying cause.
-
Sudden
onset of vomiting without any associated pain may suggest food poisoning,
infectious gastroenteritis or use of any dugs
-
Vomiting
along with abdominal pain may be caused by acute abdominal conditions like
appendicitis, acute gastritis or intestinal obstruction.
-
Early
weeks of pregnancy causes nausea, morning sickness and vomiting due to hormonal
changes.
-
Migraine
headaches are commonly associated with nausea and sometimes vomiting too.
Laboratory
tests that should be done include
-
Serum
Electrolytes
-
Blood
glucose
-
Urea
and Creatinine
-
Serum
Amylase
-
Liver
function tests
-
TSH
-
Pregnancy
test
Imaging
Studies that can help find out the cause include
-
Flat
and upright abdominal X ray
-
Ultrasound
of abdomen
-
CT
scan abdomen
-
Barium
studies
Medications
that help includes different antiemetic medicines which are given to control
vomiting.
For mild,
self limited acute vomiting no treatment is needed , just give clear fluids and
soft easily digestible small quantities of food.
In cases of
severe vomiting IV fluids are needed to correct and prevent dehydration.
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