Yes, if you can't keep liquids down, especially with signs of dehydration (dark urine, dizziness, weakness, dry mouth) or other severe symptoms like high fever, severe abdominal pain, confusion, or vomiting blood/coffee grounds, you should seek urgent medical care or go to the hospital immediately, as severe dehydration can be life-threatening. This is crucial for young children, older adults, and those with underlying health issues.
Go to the ER If You Have:
Severe dehydration or cannot keep fluids down. Rapid heartbeat, fainting, or confusion. No urination for many hours.
Seek immediate medical attention, either from your doctor or from the emergency department, if you are vomiting and: have a high temperature (fever) have signs of dehydration. can't take in more than a few sips of liquid or can't keep water down.
Speak to your GP if:
Emergency treatment for vomiting focuses on preventing dehydration until the body is able to get rid of the virus. This is done through by giving fluids and electrolytes either by mouth or through an IV.
Make an appointment with your doctor if: Vomiting lasts more than two days for adults, 24 hours for children under age 2 or 12 hours for infants. You've had bouts of nausea and vomiting for longer than one month. You've experienced unexplained weight loss along with nausea and vomiting.
Get emergency care if nausea or vomiting is accompanied by:
Should I keep drinking water if I throw it up? Yes. Vomiting can cause your body to become dehydrated very quickly, so it's important to keep up your water intake as much as possible. Your body absorbs water better through these solutions because they contain salts and glucose.
Five key signs of dehydration include extreme thirst, dark/infrequent urination, dizziness, dry mouth and lips, and fatigue/lethargy, though symptoms vary, with babies showing no tears or fewer wet diapers. Recognizing these signs, like dark yellow urine or feeling lightheaded, helps indicate your body needs more fluids.
If you're dehydrated, drink plenty of fluids such as water, diluted squash or fruit juice. These are better than tea, coffee or fizzy drinks. If you're finding it difficult to keep water down because you're vomiting, try drinking small amounts more often.
The most common cause of acute (short-term) vomiting is viral gastroenteritis (gastro, stomach bug or stomach flu). If you have recurrent or chronic (long-term) vomiting that continues for more than 2 days, see your doctor.
Gastroparesis vomit often looks like undigested food (vegetables, meat, etc.) you ate hours earlier because your stomach muscles don't empty properly, making it appear like you just ate it; it can also be accompanied by severe nausea, bloating, acid reflux, and in serious cases, blood-tinged or coffee-ground-like vomit, signaling emergency care.
Serious cases can become a medical emergency. You should go to the ER if you're having signs of severe dehydration, such as confusion, fainting, dark urine, or no urine. In the ER, the medical team will evaluate you to see if you need IV fluids.
Where black or dark brown vomit indicates partially digested blood, red and pink vomit flags the presence of fresh blood. If you have found yourself vomiting large amounts of red or pink vomit, you must seek medical attention urgently, as this could be a life-threatening emergency.
The following anti-emetics are the ones used most often to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting.
It can cause symptoms like thirstiness, dry mouth and headache. Severe dehydration can be life threatening, especially for babies, young children and older people. You can prevent dehydration by drinking enough fluids. If you are concerned about dehydration, speak to your doctor.
Give small sips of liquids often. This may reduce the vomiting. For children under 1 year: use a spoon or syringe to give 1 to 2 teaspoons every few minutes (5 to 10 mL). For older than 1 year: give ½ to 1 ounce (1 to 2 tablespoons or 15 to 30 mL) every 20 minutes for a few hours.
Is it dehydration or something else?
How to Treat Nausea and Vomiting
Resting propped up in a seated position with the head elevated at least twelve inches above the feet is ideal. Remain in this seated rested position for a minimum of an hour, or until you are no longer experiencing nausea. Do not lie down all the way. Resting in a fully flat position could trigger vomiting.
We grab a bottle of water and guzzle it down, often in one go, to satisfy that thirst. But that's not really the best way to hydrate, says Lindsay Baker, PhD, a senior principal scientist at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute. “In general, it's best to sip a little bit throughout the day,” Baker says.
First-line therapy in the emergency department is the use of metoclopramide, but dom- peridone, erythromycin, and antiemetics are also often used, and interventional therapy should be reserved for refractory cases.
As horrible as it is, your body does help make things just a little better. First, most of the time your brain will give you that sick feeling to warn you that something is going to happen. Second, just before throwing up your body produces extra saliva, which helps protect your teeth from the strong acid.
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if you or your child: vomit blood or have vomit that looks like ground coffee. have green vomit (adults) have yellow-green or green vomit (children)