Nausea & Vomiting Disease Summary

Overview

Nausea is described as the sensations that are felt immediately before vomiting, while vomiting is a physical event that results in the speedy, forceful evacuation of stomach contents up to and out of the mouth, as stated in the Introduction section.  

Population studies show that more than half of adults experience at least one episode of nausea, and over 30% report at least one episode of vomiting within a year, with women reporting nausea more frequently than men. A detailed discussion about the prevalence of nausea and vomiting is in the Epidemiology section.

Nausea and vomiting may result from various underlying conditions. Discussion in these conditions is in the Etiology section.

The Pathophysiology section describes how nausea and vomiting develop in patients who experience these symptoms.

The Classification section discusses conditions that are associated with nausea and vomiting.

Nausea & Vomiting_Disease Summary

History and Physical Examination

The History section explains the importance of history taking in the evaluation of patients with nausea and vomiting, while the Physical Examination section discusses the need for conducting abdominal, neurologic, and psychiatric examinations in these patients.

The Screening section enumerates the categories of vomiting depending on the clinical course and the presence of abdominal pain.

Diagnosis

Discussions on diagnostic and basic tests that should be done to aid in determining the underlying cause of nausea and vomiting are in the Laboratory Tests and Ancillaries section. 

The Imaging section lists various imaging tests to consider in patients experiencing nausea and vomiting, based on etiology under consideration.

Other conditions that should be ruled out in the diagnosis of nausea and vomiting are listed in the Differential Diagnosis section. Differential diagnoses for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy are also in this section.

Management

General therapy principles and goals of treatment in patients with nausea and vomiting are in the Principles of Therapy section.

The Pharmacological Therapy section discusses in detail the symptomatic therapy and treatment options for patients with nausea and vomiting.

The Nonpharmacological section includes dietary modification and supportive measures that can help in the management of patients with nausea and vomiting.