Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of numerous conditions. Most of the time, they do not require urgent medical attention.

However, if these symptoms continue for days, if they are severe, and/or if you cannot keep down any food or fluids, they may be signs of a more serious condition.

Dehydration is the primary concern with most vomiting episodes. The rate with you become dehydrated depends on your size, the frequency of the vomiting, and whether you also have diarrhea.

Infants with frequent vomiting and diarrhea are at the greatest risk for dehydration and need immediate medical attention.

Signs of dehydration include the following:

• Increased thirst
• Infrequent urination or dark yellow urine
• Dry mouth
• Eyes that appear sunken
• Crying without tears
• Skin has lost its normal elasticity (if you touch or squeeze the skin, it doesn't bounce back the way it usually does)

Possible causes of vomiting in adults:

• Viral infections
• Medications
• Seasickness or motion sickness
• Migraineheadaches
• "Morning sickness" during pregnancy
• Food poisoning
• Food allergies
• Chemotherapy in cancer patients
• Bulimia
• Alcoholism

• Congenital pyloric stenosis, a constriction in the outlet from the stomach. With this disorder, the infant vomits forcefully after each feeding but otherwise appears to be healthy.
• Disturbed equilibrium from bouncing the baby immediately after feeding
• Food allergies or milk intolerance
• Gastroenteritis (infection of the digestive tract that usually causes vomiting with diarrhea)
• Gastroesophageal reflux
• Hole in the bottle nipple may be wrong size, leading to overfeeding
• Infection, often accompanied by fever or runny nose
• Intestinal obstruction, evidenced by recurring attacks of vomiting and crying or screaming as if in great pain
• Accidental ingestion of a drug or poison

Call the doctor immediately or take the child to an emergency care facility if you suspect poison or drug ingestion!