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What Are the Causes of Persistent Vomiting?

Alex Tree
Alex Tree

Motion sickness, morning sickness, and food poisoning are relatively common causes of vomiting on a regular basis. In the case of motion and morning sickness, there are many over-the-counter and prescription treatments, as well as a plethora of home remedies. Stomach flu, which is a virus that cannot be treated, is another potential cause that must be tolerated until it runs its course. In addition, a somewhat rare cause of vomiting is intestinal obstruction, usually in toddlers and children, which demands immediate medical attention.

A common cause of persistent vomiting is motion sickness and morning sickness. Sometimes there is little relief of car sickness or sea sickness besides no longer being in a car or on a boat. Morning sickness is an ailment that affects a good deal of pregnant women, causing them to become sick at certain smells, sights, or for no obvious reason. It is widely believed that morning sickness is a sign of healthy fetus development. Like all causes of persistent vomiting, the sufferer may become dehydrated because he or she loses fluids by vomiting, so plenty of liquids should be consumed to make up for the loss.

Staying hydrated is usually the best treatment for vomiting caused by the flu.
Staying hydrated is usually the best treatment for vomiting caused by the flu.

Another cause of persistent vomiting is food poisoning, which results from eating food contaminated by some sort of organism. Often a person becomes afflicted with this condition after consuming food that was mishandled or improperly prepared in a way that allowed contaminants to come in contact with or develop on the food. In addition to the symptom of persistent vomiting, people afflicted with this condition often battle an upset stomach, diarrhea, and dehydration. The health risks associated with this condition are typically related to loss of fluids and nutrients because of vomiting and diarrhea.

Persistent vomiting can be caused by food poisoning.
Persistent vomiting can be caused by food poisoning.

Intestinal obstruction is when the bowels are at least partially blocked and the contents of the intestines cannot go through. This is not a particularly common cause of persistent vomiting, but it happens more often in children than in adults. The primary sign of intestinal obstruction is severe abdominal pain, but persistent vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, and bad breath are additional symptoms. Medical attention should be sought to solve the problem as soon as possible.

Intestinal obstruction is a rare cause of stomach pain in toddlers and children.
Intestinal obstruction is a rare cause of stomach pain in toddlers and children.

Stomach flu is an illness that is caused by a variety of different viruses. In addition to persistent diarrhea, this condition is often accompanied by stomach pain and fever. Typically, the most effective treatment for this condition is drinking water or other healthful fluids to stay hydrated. Mild dehydration is to be expected during the first few hours of persistent vomiting and diarrhea, but it is usually nothing to worry about unless it becomes severe.

Discussion Comments

ddljohn

@ysmine-- Did you take a plane trip recently? Or have you had an inner ear infection or had to take antibiotics?

Motion sickness is believed to be due to the inner ear. Sometimes it develops for no apparent reason because of the pressure changes in the inner ear. But there has to be a reason for those changes. For example, being in a different elevation, such a during a flight, can trigger it. An inner ear infection or the use of antibiotics can cause it too. Hopefully your persistent vomiting will go away soon, if not, definitely see a doctor about it.

ysmina

What causes persistent vomiting due to motion sickness exactly? I did not have motion sickness a few weeks ago. Now, I can't be in a car or bus without vomiting. I don't understand why these symptoms have developed suddenly. I never had them before.

bluedolphin

I didn't even know that it's possible to vomit so much until I had food poisoning. I was traveling in Latin American and really enjoyed the street food. I don't know which food or drink caused it, but I developed severe and persistent vomiting on the fifth day of my trip.

Just when I thought it was over, I would become nauseous again and had to run to the bathroom. I finally gave up and spent the entire night with a bucket by my bed. My friend finally took me to the hospital in the morning. I was so dehydrated by then that they had to give me a large serum with antibiotics to treat me.

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    • Staying hydrated is usually the best treatment for vomiting caused by the flu.
      By: goodluz
      Staying hydrated is usually the best treatment for vomiting caused by the flu.
    • Persistent vomiting can be caused by food poisoning.
      By: Lars Zahner
      Persistent vomiting can be caused by food poisoning.
    • Intestinal obstruction is a rare cause of stomach pain in toddlers and children.
      By: elisabetta figus
      Intestinal obstruction is a rare cause of stomach pain in toddlers and children.
    • Infections and illnesses are most often the cause for upset stomach and persistent vomiting in children.
      By: Zsolt Biczó
      Infections and illnesses are most often the cause for upset stomach and persistent vomiting in children.
    • Stomach flu may cause persistent vomiting and diarrhea.
      By: pathdoc
      Stomach flu may cause persistent vomiting and diarrhea.