When to Seek Medical Attention for Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms that can occur in various conditions, some minor and some serious. For example, food poisoning, motion sickness, and morning sickness can all cause vomiting, which usually resolves with self-care measures and over-the-counter antiemetics (medications that combat nausea and vomiting). On the other hand, vomiting repeatedly can also be a sign of a more serious problem like bowel obstruction, appendicitis, or heart attack, even brain diseases, which requires medical intervention.

Please continue reading to learn when you can treat vomiting at home and when to seek medical attention by making an appointment with your doctor, going to an urgent care clinic, and seeking emergency care.

What causes nausea and vomiting?

Common causes of nausea or vomiting include:

Food poisoning (eating or drinking contaminated foods and drinks)
Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu or stomach bug)
Morning sickness in pregnancy
Motion sickness
Food allergies
Reactions to medications
Migraine
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Stomach ulcers
Appendicitis
Concussion
Heart attack

How many times after throwing up should I go to the hospital?

You should go to the hospital or your doctor’s clinic if you have had repeated vomiting for more than two days. Contact your child’s doctor if your child is under 2 years of age and has been vomiting for more than 24 hours. In infants, seek medical care if vomiting lasts more than 12 hours.

How do you know when vomiting is serious?

You know vomiting is serious if it is accompanied by other symptoms and warning signs. Here are some guidelines on when to seek medical care for vomiting symptoms.

Emergency Care

Call 911 for immediate medical attention if you have vomiting along with:

Severe abdominal pain or stomach cramping
High fever and a stiff neck
Chest pain
Blurred vision
Fecal smell or fecal material in the vomit
Rectal bleeding
Confusion
Head injury or concussion.

Urgent Care Center

Have a family member or friend drive you to an urgent care center or emergency room if you have warning signs such as:

Vomiting accompanied by a severe headache or a new type of headache that you’ve never had before.
Signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, thirst, weakness, dizziness, dark-colored urine, or infrequent urination (peeing less than usual).
Inability to keep down liquids.
Vomit contains blood, is green, or resembles coffee grounds.
Non-stop vomiting for more than six hours.

Doctor's Visit

See your doctor if you have had bouts of vomiting on and off for more than one month, with or without low-grade fever, abdominal pain, and other symptoms. Also, make an appointment to see your doctor if you have unintentional weight loss and bouts of vomiting.

What are the complications of prolonged vomiting?

Prolonged vomiting, especially if combined with diarrhea, can lead to dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities, which can affect many organs in the body. Rarely, severe vomiting can cause a partial or complete tear in the esophagus (food pipe). If a person is unconscious or partly conscious while vomiting, they could potentially aspirate (inhale) vomit, which can irritate the lungs and cause pneumonia. Chronic (long-lasting) vomiting can lead to poor nutrition, weight loss, and other health problems.

How to treat vomiting at home?

When vomiting is caused by a stomach bug or food intolerance, it usually settles down within a few hours to a couple of days. Here are some tips to feel better in the meantime:

Get plenty of rest.
Stay hydrated by drinking water, clear liquids, ginger ale, iced ginger tea or mint tea, and lemonade.
Take an oral rehydration solution like Pedialyte or Normalyte ORS. This helps in preventing dehydration and replacing electrolytes lost with repeated bouts of vomiting.
Avoid strong smells and other triggers that bring on nausea and vomiting.
Eat bland foods like crackers, toast, rice, cereal, fruit, and salty snacks. Avoid greasy or spicy foods.
Use over-the-counter antiemetics like bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate) if you have a stomach bug.
If nausea or vomiting is related to motion sickness, use medications like scopolamine (Transderm Scop), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), or meclizine (Bonine) before anticipated travel.
If you are pregnant and have nausea and vomiting, try eating a few crackers before getting out of bed in the morning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do different vomit colors mean?

If it is your first bout of vomiting after eating or drinking within the last hour or two, your vomit will be the color of the food you ate because you are throwing up stomach contents. Several hours after eating, vomit is usually orange in color because all food turns orange after it is digested.

If you vomit several hours after eating and it is green or yellow in color, this could be due to bile content and may be a sign of bowel blockage, which requires emergency medical attention.

Brown vomit or a coffee grounds appearance can be from internal bleeding and should be evaluated without delay at an urgent care center or emergency room. Severe constipation can also cause brown vomit that has a fecal smell.

Black vomit can be a sign of old blood in the digestive tract and should be evaluated right away, especially if accompanied by other symptoms like stomach pain.

Should I lie down or sit up after throwing up?

Many people find that lying down after vomiting makes them feel better. However, if your vomiting is due to acid reflux, lying down can make your symptoms worse, while a seated or reclined position may provide relief. If someone is intoxicated or unconscious and is vomiting, lay them on their side instead of their back to prevent choking.

Is it ok to eat and drink after throwing up?

You should wait at least 15 minutes after vomiting before you drink water or anything else. Also, wait about six hours before you eat anything. Start by taking small sips of cool water and other clear liquids. If you can keep them down, have an electrolyte drink, and then slowly introduce solid foods, starting with bland foods.

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