Care for Severe & Persistent Vomiting in Central California
Vomiting is the forceful ejection of the contents of the stomach. It is commonly caused by the stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis), but is a symptom of many other conditions. Persistent vomiting can cause dehydration due to fluid loss.
A trip to the emergency room is never planned — it just happens. If you’re heading to a Dignity Health Central California emergency room for vomiting, use InQuicker, our online waiting service. Our facilities are equipped to handle all types of emergencies, from minor problems to severe trauma. We can provide personal care for vomiting in Central California at a location near you.
Gastroenteritis & Other Causes of Vomiting
Viral gastroenteritis is often the cause of vomiting, especially in kids. It causes irritation and inflammation of the stomach, large intestine, and small intestine. When adults get viral gastroenteritis, it’s usually due to norovirus. In children, rotavirus is often the culprit. Regularly washing your hands is the best way to prevent viral gastroenteritis.
Other infectious causes of vomiting include meningitis, appendicitis, and food poisoning.
Symptoms of Vomiting & Dehydration
When vomiting is caused by viral gastroenteritis, nausea and watery diarrhea often occur as well. Other symptoms of viral gastroenteritis include bloating, cramping, abdominal pain, headache, body aches, chills, and fever. Symptoms usually go away in a few days, but can cause dehydration due to fluid loss. The elderly, children, and infants are at greatest risk for dehydration.
Signs of dehydration include dizziness or lightheadedness, fatigue, thirst, dark urine, and urinating less than normal. In infants and toddlers, signs include irritability and listlessness, no tears with crying, dry mouth and tongue, no wet diapers for three hours, and sunken cheeks eyes, or soft spots. To quickly test for dehydration, pinch the skin to see if it flattens out normally.
See a doctor at Dignity Health Central California as soon as possible for:
- Signs of dehydration
- High fever
- Bloody vomit
- Severe abdominal pain
- Inability to keep down liquids
- Vomiting that lasts for more than two days
Treatment for Vomiting at Dignity Health Central California
Treatment for vomiting depends on what’s causing it. Often, treatment focuses on preventing dehydration until the virus has been cleared from your system. Don’t use anti-nausea medicine unless your doctor prescribes it.
The best way to prevent dehydration is to replace the fluids and electrolytes lost due to vomiting. Try taking small sips of oral rehydration solutions, clear sodas and broths, or sports drinks. Sucking on ice chips can also be helpful. Avoid drinking large amounts at one time, which could make your stomach more upset.
At Dignity Health Central California, we want to do everything we can to help you recover from gastroenteritis or other causes of vomiting. Trust our ER or primary care doctors to demonstrate humankindness at every step.
Dignity Health Central California provides emergency treatment for vomiting in Bakersfield, Merced, San Andreas, and Stockton, CA.