CONDITIONS
Chronic Vomiting
What is chronic vomiting?
Cyclic vomiting syndrome is a disorder characterized by severe episodes of nausea and vomiting. The exact cause remains unknown, and diagnosis is often difficult because vomiting is a common symptom of many other health conditions. Treatment generally includes lifestyle modifications to avoid potential triggers. Medical management, including migraine therapies and anti-nausea medications, may help alleviate symptoms.
What are the common signs of chronic vomiting?
Symptoms of cyclic vomiting syndrome frequently begin in the morning and may include the following:
- Three or more recurring episodes of vomiting.
- Severe nausea and sweating before an episode begins.
Additional symptoms may include the following:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhoea
- Lightheadedness
- Light sensitivity
- Headaches
- Gagging
You should consider seeing the doctor when you begin to notice traces of blood in the vomit, dry mouth or extreme thirst, less frequent urination, dry skin, sunken cheeks, and tiredness.
What are the causes?
The causes of cyclic vomiting syndrome are not fully understood but may be associated with genetic factors, digestive disorders, hormonal imbalances, or nervous system dysfunction.
Cyclic vomiting syndrome may result in severe complications such as the following:
- Dehydration, which can result from significant fluid loss due to vomiting.
- Tooth decay, resulting from the erosion of tooth enamel caused by exposure to stomach acid in vomit.
How do you check for cyclic vomiting syndrome?
Given the diagnostic challenges of cyclic vomiting syndrome, the following tests may be conducted:
- Comprehensive imaging studies, including CT scans, ultrasound, and endoscopy, are used to identify obstructions in the digestive tract or evidence of other underlying disorders.
- Motility testing evaluates the movement of food through the digestive system to determine if motility disorders contribute to chronic vomiting.
- Laboratory tests are conducted to rule out metabolic conditions and thyroid disorders.
How do you resolve cyclic vomiting syndrome?
Although cyclic vomiting syndrome is currently incurable, management strategies are available to reduce the frequency of episodes.
Frequently Asked Questions
All disease
begins in the gut.
