Symptom Checker

When to seek medical advice

In most cases vomiting can be treated safely at home. The most common cause of nausea and vomiting is viral gastroenteritis, often called the stomach flu.

Get emergency care if nausea or vomiting is accompanied by:

• Chest pain lasting more than a few minutes
• Shortness of breath
• Severe abdominal pain or cramping
• Blurred vision
• Confusion
• High fever and stiff neck
• Severe headache, especially if you haven't had this type of headache before
• Vomit that contains blood, resembles coffee grounds or is green
• Fecal material or fecal odor in the vomit
• Rectal bleeding

Call your doctor if you:

• Are unable to drink anything for 24 hours
• Experience vomiting for more than two days
• Have had bouts of nausea and vomiting for longer than one month
• Have experienced unexplained weight loss along with nausea and vomiting
• Are extremely thirsty or urinating less than usual
• Have diabetes and take insulin
• Have known heart problems
• Have stomach or chest pain
• Recently started taking a new drug
• Are pregnant or think you may be pregnant