Vomiting in adults

You're vomiting and you also have:

• sudden, severe abdominal (tummy) pain
• severe chest pain
• blood in your vomit, or vomit that looks like coffee granules
• green or yellow-green vomit
• a stiff neck and a high temperature (fever)
• a sudden, severe headache that's unlike any headache you've had before
• you have swallowed something poisonous, or think you may have
• a stiff neck and pain when looking at bright lights

• you've been vomiting repeatedly for more than a day or two
• you're unable to keep down any fluids because you're vomiting repeatedly
• you have signs of severe dehydration, such as confusion, a rapid heartbeat, sunken eyes and passing little or no urine
• you've lost a lot of weight since you became ill
• you experience episodes of vomiting frequently
• you're worried about your vomiting and are feeling very unwell
• you have diabetes and have been vomiting a lot, particularly if you take insulin as it can affect your blood sugar level

If you have diarrhoea as well as vomiting, you most likely have gastroenteritis. It's one of the most common causes of vomiting in adults.

It's often caused by:

• a virus, like norovirus
• food poisoning caused by bacteria in contaminated food

Your immune system will usually fight off the infection after a few days.

Many pregnant women get nausea and vomiting, especially in the early weeks of pregnancy. People often call it morning sickness, but it can come at any time of the day.

If you keep having episodes of vomiting along with intense, throbbing headaches that last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, you may have migraines.

Pain relief such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can sometimes help control the pain. Your doctor can prescribe anti-sickness medicine to help prevent the vomiting.

If you also feel dizzy, or feel like the room is spinning (vertigo), you may have an inner ear infection called labyrinthitis. It usually gets better over a few days. If you need it, your doctor can prescribe medicine to ease your symptoms.

If you feel sick or start vomiting while travelling, it could be motion sickness. You can try:

• looking at the horizon
• distracting yourself by listening to music

Appendicitis can cause vomiting, and it can also cause severe pain in your abdomen (tummy). If the pain suddenly gets worse and spreads across your abdomen, phone 999 for an ambulance. These are signs that your appendix may have burst.

If you have appendicitis, you will often need surgery to remove your appendix.

Vomiting in adults can have a number of other causes too, including:

• certain medicines, such as antibiotics and opioid painkillers
• drinking too much alcohol
• kidney infections and kidney stones
• a blockage in your bowel, which may be caused by a hernia or gallstones
• chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• acute cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder)

Most of the time, you can look after yourself at home until you feel better.

• Keep taking small sips of water often, so you don't become dehydrated.
• Drink something sweet, such as fruit juice, to replace lost sugar, unless it makes you feel sick.
• Eat salty snacks, such as potato chips, which can help replace lost salt.
• Try ginger (in supplements, biscuits or tea), but check with your pharmacist or doctor before using ginger supplements.