Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms with numerous potential causes. According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the most common causes of nausea and vomiting include gastroparesis, chemicals, migraines, motion sickness and infections. Some of these causes may lead to other symptoms, such as a fever, a headache or general feelings of illness. Depending on the cause of the nausea and vomiting, treatment may or may not be necessary.
Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is a health condition that impacts the body's ability to digest food normally. Patients with this condition have stomach muscles that function improperly or not at all. The result is nausea, vomiting and nutritional problems. These symptoms are due to the food sitting longer in the stomach. There is no treatment for gastroparesis, according to the Mayo Clinic, but making dietary changes can help manage the condition. Individuals with this condition will be advised to eat low-fiber food choices and to have small frequent meals.
Chemicals
A wide variety of chemicals that are ingested or injected into the body can lead to nausea and vomiting. Common examples, as reported by the Mayo Clinic, include chemotherapy and general anesthesia. Any number of over-the-counter and prescription drugs can also cause mild to moderate nausea and vomiting. In some cases, such as with the use of chemotherapy, a prescription for anti-nausea medication may be prescribed to provide the patient with relief. An overdose of medication or other chemical substances, like alcohol, can lead to moderate to severe nausea and vomiting.
Migraine
A migraine headache is one that is more severe than a typical headache. The University of Maryland Medical Center describes a migraine as a headache that is recurrent, significantly more painful than a typical headache and one that can be accompanied by several other symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Pain relief and preventive medicines may be prescribed to treat migraines.
Motion Sickness
Motion sickness is essentially a sensitivity to movement, especially by ship, plane, train or automobile. Symptoms of motion sickness include nausea, vomiting, dizziness and uneasiness, as reported by the Mayo Clinic. Medications are effective in preventing motion sickness when taken 30 to 60 minutes before travel. Other methods of treatment and prevention include focusing on the horizon, keeping the head still and consuming carbonated beverages with crackers.
Infection
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that rotavirus is the most common cause of vomiting and diarrhea in children. It can also be spread to adults. Once the virus has been contracted, the individual will display symptoms of illness in about two days. Rotavirus causes vomiting and watery diarrhea that lasts for three to eight days. In addition, the individual may have a fever and abdominal pain. Unfortunately, complete immunity to the virus does not occur after just one infection, but future infections may be less severe than the first.
Several other types of infection can cause vomiting and nausea, including numerous strains of viruses and bacterium. FamilyDoctor.org lists numerous bacteria that can infect food, such as salmonella, E. coli and c. botulinum. The symptoms of many of these infections include both diarrhea and vomiting.
