Symptoms of nausea and vomiting

Nausea is often referred to as a ‘queasy sensation" or a feeling of being "sick to the stomach’. Nausea may occur with or without vomiting, and vomiting can occur without nausea. Other symptoms and knowing what preceded the onset of nausea and vomiting can sometime help your doctor determine the cause:

1. Sudden onset of symptoms with fevers, body aches, runny nose, cough, and diarrhea may indicate a possible infection.
2. If symptoms began after anesthesia for surgery, or following chemotherapy, medication is a likely cause. Similarly, nausea and vomiting may occur after use of recreational drugs (marijuana, cocaine) or alcohol.
3. Early morning vomiting often occurs during pregnancy, but also may be seen in subjects with kidney failure.
4. Vomiting several hours after a meal may suggest blockage in the stomach or intestines.
5. Abdominal pain followed by vomiting may suggest inflammation in the abdomen (such as pancreatitis) or intestinal obstruction.
6. Explosive projectile vomiting can be associated with increased pressure inside the brain (for example meningitis or  central nervous system tumors).
7. Vomiting immediately after a meal could indicate blockage in the stomach, but has been associated with psychiatric disorders (anorexia, bulimia)
8. Chronic nausea and vomiting may be caused by hormonal disorders (diabetes, pregnancy) or functional disorders (symptoms in the absence of specific abnormalities that can be identified on testing)
9. Cyclic vomiting syndrome is characterized by intense vomiting lasting a few hours or a few days with long periods without symptoms.
10. Loss or weight, malnutrition, and dehydration may result from long standing nausea and vomiting, as it may be associated with reduced or poor oral intake of nutrients.