Vomitus is the medical term for vomiting. This condition occurs when the abdominal muscles contract, pushing the contents of the stomach out of the mouth. Vomitus can be preceded by nausea or without nausea, and if this condition occurs repeatedly, it needs to be treated immediately so as not to cause dehydration.
Vomitus can occur in both children and adults. The most common cause is gastroenteritis, which is an infection and inflammation of the digestive tract.
Various Causes Accompanying Vomitus
Although not always dangerous, in certain conditions vomiting can be a sign of a more serious illness. There are various causes of vomiting, including:
- Too much to eat or drink
- Food poisoning
- Rising stomach acid
- Vomiting during pregnancy, also known as morning sickness
- Bacterial or viral infection
- Drunk
- Vertigo
- Head injury
- Chron's disease
- Chemotherapy
Generally, vomiting does not require serious treatment. Emergency medical care is required if vomiting does not subside within 1 day or is characterized by vomiting repeatedly during the day, vomiting and diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, severe headache or stiff neck, and vomiting blood.
How to Overcome Vomitus
In dealing with vomiting, make sure you have adequate fluid needs, namely by drinking enough water to avoid dehydration. This applies to both children and adults.
In addition to drinking enough water, other ways that can be done to deal with vomiting are:
- Eat soft foods that are easy to digest. Consumption of solid foods should be avoided until the vomiting ends.
- For pregnant women who experience morning sickness, it is advisable to eat some biscuits before getting out of bed or have a high protein snack before bed.
- Get enough rest.
- Keep eating small portions but often.
- See a doctor if your vomiting lasts more than 24 hours, as your vomiting could be caused by another illness.
Although there are also over-the-counter medications that can be used to control vomiting, you should consult a doctor first before taking them.
The vomitus in infants and young children needs to get more serious attention. This is because infants and young children are at greater risk of becoming dehydrated.
Vomitus can be prevented by adopting a clean and healthy lifestyle, especially for vomiting caused by infection. The trick is to exercise regularly, wash hands regularly, reduce consumption of alcoholic beverages, and get enough rest.