Gastroenteritis vomit can be clear, yellow, or green, often turning yellow or green (bile) after the stomach empties, indicating the body is bringing up digestive fluids due to intense vomiting from the stomach flu or food poisoning, but persistent green vomit, especially in children, needs urgent medical attention as it can signal serious issues like intestinal obstruction.
Gastroenteritis from food poisoning may result in yellow vomit.
Gastro may cause some or all of the following symptoms:
The vomiting may be clear, yellow, or green in mild cases. Blood-streaked or completely bloody vomit may be experienced in acute erosive gastritis cases, usually several days after the onset of the condition.
While occasional vomiting is usually not cause for immediate concern, certain situations warrant prompt medical attention. It's important to seek help if you notice blood in your vomit, or if the vomit appears very dark or black.
Food poisoning: occurs when you eat contaminated foods that host harmful bacteria, viruses, toxins or parasites, which consequently causes cyclic vomiting for 12 to 48 hours. When no food particles are left to mix with the bile, you will notice that your vomit turns green on yellow.
White colored vomit is usually a product of mucus and stomach acid. If it's foamy, there's probably some air mixed up in there, too. Unless you have other symptoms, it's rarely something to worry about. “If your vomit is white or foamy, it usually means you have acid reflux, indigestion or the start of an infection.
Red flags for gastritis include persistent or severe abdominal pain, vomiting blood, passing dark or bloody stools, unexplained weight loss and symptoms that do not improve with over-the-counter antacids.
Stomach pain often described as “burning” or “gnawing”. Very rarely, severe gastritis can cause bleeding, which may cause the stool to turn black (called melaena.)
Composition of normal gastric juice
Appearance colourless-grey fluid. pH 1.0–1.5 due to the HCl produced by the parietal cells.
Stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis) and food poisoning are two different conditions with similar symptoms, making it difficult to know which one you may have.
Once a virus that causes gastroenteritis takes hold of a child, vomiting starts. Children tend to vomit more than adults. Part may be an easy gag reflex. With most viruses that cause the “stomach flu,” as the infection moves through the stomach and intestines, vomiting stops after about 24 hours.
Contact a healthcare provider if you notice any unusual or red flag symptoms, such as: Inability to keep fluids down, signs of dehydration. Symptoms last longer than five days. Fever lasts more than three days or is higher than 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).
In most cases, gastro starts with vomiting and then leads to diarrhoea (runny, watery poo). The vomiting may settle quickly, but the diarrhoea can last up to 10 days. Many germs can cause gastro, but a virus is the most common. Gastro spreads easily and is more common and severe in babies and young children.
Gastroenteritis (stomach flu) often causes watery, frequent, green, yellow, or even whitish poop because food moves too fast through the gut, preventing normal pigment changes; green is common from bile, while pale/white can signal inflammation affecting bile, and dark, tarry, or bloody stools need urgent care for potential bleeding. While green/yellow is usually fine with other symptoms, see a doctor for persistent white, black, bloody, or if dehydration signs like dark urine appear.
Key points about gastritis
Symptoms may include stomach pain, belching, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bleeding, feeling full, and blood in vomit or stool. In most cases, you will be given antacids and other medicines to reduce your stomach acid. Don't have foods or drinks that irritate your stomach lining.
Several other health conditions can mimic gastritis symptoms, including:
Black or Dark-Colored Stool
Extremely dark or even black-colored stools indicate you have an ulcer.
It's time to see a gastroenterologist for persistent digestive issues like chronic heartburn, severe abdominal pain, ongoing diarrhea or constipation, unexplained weight loss, blood in your stool, persistent bloating, or difficulty swallowing, especially when over-the-counter remedies don't help or symptoms interfere with daily life. These signs can indicate underlying conditions like GERD, ulcers, IBS, or even more serious diseases, so getting a specialist's opinion is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Acute gastroenteritis is defined by loose or watery diarrhea that consists of 3 or more bowel movements in a day. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, fever, or abdominal pain. [3] Symptoms usually last for less than a week, often improving after 1 to 3 days.
Anyone with gastritis should see a doctor if symptoms are severe, extend past a week, or are unresponsive to adjusting diet or altering lifestyle. However, any sign of internal bleeding is an immediate emergency and anyone with symptoms of internal bleeding should seek medical attention right away.
Green or yellow colour is caused by bile, which is a fluid made by the liver. Bile in the vomit is usually caused by a blockage or twisting in the intestine or bowel.
Red Vomit (hematemesis)
When you have a significant amount of vomit that is bright red in color or resembles coffee grounds, you should contact your doctor immediately. This can be the result of multiple conditions including, but not limited to: Liver failure.
“With food poisoning, rapid diarrhea and vomiting will begin within three to six hours of eating a contaminated food source. With a stomach flu, it's a slower course, and the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea may not show up for 12 to 24 hours. A person will start feeling unwell and queasy first.”