Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting result from a wide variety of diverse causes. Nausea appears to be produced by stimulation of the central nervous system chemoreceptor trigger zone, which may be activated by a wide variety of drugs and endogenous stimuli. Vomiting is induced by stimulation of the vomiting center in the medulla, which receives input from the gastrointestinal tract, the cerebral cortex, the vestibular apparatus, and the chemoreceptor trigger zone. Complications of vomiting include dehydration, fluid and electrolyte disturbances (including metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia, and hyponatremia), aspiration of vomitus, gastroesophageal mucosal laceration (Mallory-Weiss syndrome), and postemesis rupture of the esophagus (Boerhaave syndrome).
CAUSES OF NAUSEA AND VOMITING COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH ABDOMINAL PAIN
Gastroenteritis
Anxiety
Mechanical obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract
Biliary tract disease
Food poisoning
Alcoholic gastritis
Renal colic
Pancreatitis
Peptic ulcer disease
Drugs (narcotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, antibiotics)
CAUSES OF NAUSEA AND VOMITING NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ABDOMINAL PAIN
Pregnancy
Labyrinthine disorders
Uremia
Migraine headache
Drugs (narcotics, nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory agents)
LESS COMMON CAUSES OF NAUSEA AND VOMITING NOT TO BE MISSED
OTHER CAUSES OF NAUSEA AND VOMITING
Systemic infections
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