Symptoms guide

Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea is an uneasy feeling in the stomach with an urge to vomit, and vomiting is the forceful emptying of the stomach through the mouth. Both are common symptoms with many possible causes.

Last updated 3 sources

At a Glance

  • Nausea and vomiting are symptoms, not diseases, and often happen together.
  • Common causes include stomach viruses, food poisoning, motion sickness, pregnancy, and certain medicines.
  • The main concern with ongoing vomiting is dehydration, especially in infants, young children, and older adults.
  • Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, or vomiting with severe abdominal or chest pain, is generally treated as a medical emergency; in the US, people are advised to call 911.
  • Most short-term episodes improve within a day or two.

What It Is

Nausea is the sensation of needing to vomit, while vomiting (emesis) is the actual forceful expelling of stomach contents. Retching, or dry heaving, is the attempt to vomit without bringing anything up.

Vomiting is controlled by an area of the brain that responds to signals from the digestive tract, the inner ear, the bloodstream, and the brain itself. This is why such different causes, from infections to motion to strong emotions, can trigger it.

Most episodes are short-lived and caused by minor illnesses. Persistent or severe vomiting can lead to dehydration and loss of important salts called electrolytes, and some causes need prompt medical care.

Common Terminology

Emesis
The medical term for vomiting.
Antiemetic
A medicine used to reduce nausea and vomiting.
Gastroenteritis
Inflammation of the stomach and intestines, often caused by a virus, sometimes called a stomach bug.
Hematemesis
Vomiting blood, which may look bright red or like coffee grounds.
Electrolytes
Minerals in the body such as sodium and potassium that can be lost through repeated vomiting.
Hyperemesis gravidarum
Severe, persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that can cause dehydration and weight loss.

Common Causes and Associations

Nausea and vomiting are commonly associated with the following. This is general education, not a way to identify the cause of a particular episode.

  • Viral gastroenteritis and food poisoning.
  • Motion sickness and inner ear problems.
  • Pregnancy, especially in the first trimester.
  • Side effects of medicines, including some antibiotics, pain medicines, and cancer treatments.
  • Digestive conditions such as GERD, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, appendicitis, or bowel blockage.
  • Other causes such as migraine, drinking too much alcohol, severe pain, head injury, and some heart attacks.

Symptoms and Features

This is a general description of how this symptom is often described, not a diagnostic checklist.

  • An uneasy or queasy feeling in the stomach, sometimes with extra saliva or sweating.
  • Retching or forceful vomiting.
  • Loss of appetite and sometimes abdominal cramps or diarrhea.
  • Signs of dehydration, such as thirst, dry mouth, dark urine, less frequent urination, or dizziness.
  • In infants and young children, fewer wet diapers, no tears when crying, and unusual sleepiness are commonly described dehydration signs.

Tests and Evaluation

Many short episodes need no testing. When tests are used, they aim to find the cause and check for dehydration.

  • A history of when symptoms started, what was eaten, medicines taken, and other symptoms.
  • A physical exam, including checking for signs of dehydration and abdominal tenderness.
  • Blood tests such as a basic metabolic panel to check electrolytes and kidney function.
  • A pregnancy test when relevant.
  • Imaging such as ultrasound or CT scan, or endoscopy, in some cases.

Treatment Overview

Treatment generally focuses on preventing dehydration and addressing the cause.

  • Taking small, frequent sips of fluids is commonly recommended to replace lost fluids.
  • Oral rehydration solutions are often used, especially for children, to replace both water and electrolytes.
  • Bland foods are often reintroduced gradually as symptoms improve.
  • Antiemetic medicines may be prescribed or recommended by a clinician in some situations.
  • Severe dehydration may be treated with intravenous (IV) fluids in a clinic or hospital.

When Professional Care May Be Discussed

Health organizations generally describe these situations as reasons for urgent or prompt evaluation.

  • Vomiting blood or coffee-ground material, or vomiting with severe abdominal pain, chest pain, or a stiff neck and severe headache, is generally treated as a medical emergency; in the US, people are advised to call 911.
  • Vomiting after a head injury is commonly evaluated promptly.
  • Signs of significant dehydration, such as very little urine, confusion, or extreme weakness, are generally treated as reasons for prompt care.
  • Vomiting that lasts more than a day or two in adults, or a shorter time in infants and young children, is commonly evaluated.
  • Persistent nausea or vomiting during pregnancy, or with unexplained weight loss, is commonly discussed with a healthcare professional.

Questions to Ask a Healthcare Professional

General questions people often find useful to bring to an appointment:

  • What are the most common causes of nausea and vomiting?
  • What are the signs of dehydration in adults and in children?
  • How do oral rehydration solutions work?
  • When are blood tests used to evaluate vomiting?
  • Which nausea and vomiting warning signs are considered emergencies?
  • How is nausea during pregnancy generally managed?

Sources

This guide was written in plain language from the following authoritative references.

  1. Nausea and Vomiting — MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
  2. Diarrhoea and vomiting — NHS (UK National Health Service)
  3. Gastroenteritis — MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine)

Last updated October 8, 2026. FreeDoc guides are general educational information and are not a substitute for care from a qualified professional.