Symptoms

Nausea and vomiting commonly occur in those with infections ranging from influenza to gastroenteritis. Symptoms that occur with nausea and vomiting include:

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Light-headedness
• Vertigo
• Rapid pulse
• Excessive sweating
• Dry mouth
• Decreased urination
• Chest pain
• Fainting
• Confusion
• Excessive sleepiness

Causes

Vomiting is an involuntary reflex that empties the stomach forcefully. Some people may also self-induce vomiting because of an eating disorder. According to the Mayo Clinic, causes for nausea and vomiting vary widely and can include:

• Early stages of pregnancy
• Medication-induced vomiting
• Intense pain
• Emotional stress (such as fear)
• Gallbladder disease
• Food poisoning
• Infections (such as the “stomach flu”)
• Overeating
• A reaction to certain smells or odors
• Heart attack
• Concussion or brain injury
• Brain tumor
• Ulcers
• Some forms of cancer
• Bulimia or other psychological illnesses
• Gastroparesis or slow stomach emptying (a condition that can be seen in people with diabetes)
• Ingestion of toxins or excessive amounts of alcohol
• Migraines
• Labyrinthitis, which also causes dizziness and a feeling of spinning (vertigo)
• Motion sickness, nausea and vomiting associated with traveling
• Certain medicines, such as antibiotics and opioid painkillers
• Kidney infections and kidney stones
• A blockage in your bowel, which may be caused by a hernia or gallstones
• Chemotherapy and radiotherapy
• An inflamed gallbladder (acute cholecystitis)

Treatments

Treatment for nausea and vomiting depends on the underlying cause.

Most episodes of vomiting can be treated at home. Self-care measures you can take to treat vomiting include:

• Drink plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration.
• Adhere to a clear liquid diet to rest the stomach.
• Avoid strong odors, including food and cooking smells, perfume, and smoke, that could possibly trigger vomiting.
• When you begin eating solid food again, stick to bland foods that are easily digestible, like cereal, rice, and crackers.
• Avoid spicy and fatty foods.

If you are planning a trip and have a history of motion sickness, try over-the-counter medications to treat the condition, like dimenhydrinate (sold as Dramamine) and meclizine. For longer journeys like cruises, your doctor may prescribe an adhesive patch to treat motion sickness.

Vomiting associated with cancer treatments can often be treated with another type of drug therapy.

There are also prescription and nonprescription drugs that can be used to control vomiting associated with pregnancy. These include vitamin B6 supplements, and a drug that combines B6 and doxylamine. Doxylamine is an antihistamine that’s sold as Unisom, an insomnia treatment. Ginger supplements have also been shown to help.