Nausea and stomach pain are symptoms of quite a few ailments, including viruses and infections. The book "American Medical Association Handbook of First Aid and Emergency Care" recommends seeking medical care immediately if your vomit contains blood or your stomach pain is severe. This can be a sign that something is seriously wrong. Likewise, if nausea and stomach pain do not improve after 24 hours, you should get to a doctor or hospital.
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is one of the most common causes of nausea and stomach pain. Usually known as the stomach flu, gastroenteritis can also be accompanied by diarrhea, appetite loss and mild fever. The illness can be viral, bacterial or triggered by contact with parasites. Usually, the best way to treat gastroenteritis is to get rest and drink as many fluids as possible. You should also gradually add mild foods to your diet. Because severe vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration, it's important to see a doctor if the illness lasts longer than 24 hours, according to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. You may require intravenous fluids to rebalance your body.
Appendicitis
If you have severe pain in the right lower quadrant of your abdomen, as well as frequent vomiting and fever, you may have appendicitis. According to experts at the Mayo Clinic, appendicitis pain generally starts as a nagging twinge around your belly button and then shifts lower as it grows more severe over a period of 12 to 18 hours. If you suspect this is the case, you should get to the hospital immediately. During an appendicitis attack, the infected appendix becomes inflamed and must be removed before it ruptures. If it ruptures, your abdominal cavity can become infected, which is quite painful and can be fatal.
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning develops as a result of eating food contaminated with infectious organisms. It can cause stomach cramps and nausea, as well as watery diarrhea, fatigue and fever. The symptoms of food poisoning usually manifest themselves within a few hours of consuming contaminated food. The illness can last one to 10 days, depending on the severity. You should see your doctor if you cannot keep liquids down for more than 24 hours, if you have diarrhea for more than three days or if you are vomiting blood. You should also report cases of suspected food poisoning to your local health department in case it's related to an outbreak, according to MayoClinic.com.
References
- "American Medical Association Handbook of First Aid and Emergency Care"; American Medical Association; 2009
- Family Doctor: Nausea and Vomiting
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Gastroenteritis
- Mayo Clinic: Appendicitis
- Mayo Clinic: Food Poisoning
