Nausea and vomiting are considered to be common symptoms that can develop from a number of causes. It is actually a symptom of various diseases and not an illness. It can occur with an unsettled feeling in the stomach which can urge the individual to vomit. In the case vomiting continues among children, solid food should be discontinued for about six hours before returning back to normal diet. Also to prevent dehydration, small amounts of liquid intake should be encouraged. Medical help may be necessary particularly if the symptom continues for more than 24 hours and includes blood in the vomit, severe abdominal pain and if signs of dehydration become evident. Nausea can develop because of pregnancy, food poisoning, infections such as viral gastroenteritis (‘stomach flu’), side-effects of various medications and only rarely it is an indication of a serious condition. The additional cause can include migraine headaches, food poisoning, cancer chemotherapy, intestinal obstruction and vestibular neuritis.
Morning sickness
This is nausea that occurs in the early stage of pregnancy although in some cases it can continue throughout pregnancy. Treatment for morning sickness is not required but home remedies such as ginger ale can help relieve the symptom. In the case of severe sickness, the affected individual may require hospitalization and is usually treated with intravenous fluids and medications.
Chemotherapy
This is cancer treatment that uses powerful drugs to destroy the fast-growing cancerous cells in the body. There are various different types of chemotherapy drugs available that can either be used alone or in a combination to treat a wide variety of cancers. Some of the side effects of chemotherapy treatment include fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and loss of appetite.
Intestinal obstruction
This is the blockage that prevents the food and liquid from being passed through the small or large intestine. The common causes of intestinal obstruction include intestinal adhesions such as tissues that can form in the abdominal cavity after an abdominal surgery or colon cancer. Other common symptoms of intestinal obstruction include loss of appetite, nausea, swelling of the abdomen, crampy abdominal pain and inability to have a bowel movement.
Migraine
A migraine is the severe throbbing pain occurring normally on one side of the head. The symptoms of this condition can include nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to sound and light. A migraine attack can last from four to 72 hours particularly if left untreated. The frequency of the condition varies greatly with some experiencing it rarely to others having it several times a month.
Viral Gastroenteritis
This condition is characterized by watery diarrhea, nausea or vomiting and fever. It is commonly transmitted through contact with an infected person or consuming contaminated water or food. Among individuals with the compromised immune system such as elderly and infants, this condition can be deadly.
References
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/morning-sickness/basics/definition/con-20033445
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/morning-sickness/basics/definition/con-20033445
http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chemotherapy/details/risks/cmc-20317079
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/intestinal-obstruction/symptoms-causes/dxc-20168463
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/dxc-20202434
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/viral-gastroenteritis/basics/definition/con-20019350
