What Causes Unexplained Vomiting?
Unexplained vomiting can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'minor' to 'generally fatal'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.
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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose unexplained vomiting, we could:
- Research the topic
- Find a doctor with the time
- Use a diagnostic computer system.
Step 1: List all Possible Causes
We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "unexplained vomiting" as a symptom. Here are eight of many possibilities (more below):
- Chronic Renal Insufficiency
- Food Poisoning
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Ovarian Cysts
- Stomach Cancer
- Mesenteric Ischemia
- Aspartame/Neotame Side-Effects
- Gastritis
Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist
We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:
moderate right iliac pain
severe meal-increased pain
frequent odd skin sensations
meal-induced pain for under a week
stomach cancer
bulimia
history of occult blood
severe abdominal pain
mild hypogastric discomfort
kidney failure
unusual vaginal bleeding
shortness of breath when at rest
moderate right iliac pain severe meal-increased pain frequent odd skin sensations meal-induced pain for under a week stomach cancer bulimia history of occult blood severe abdominal pain mild hypogastric discomfort kidney failure unusual vaginal bleeding shortness of breath when at rest... and more than 70 others
Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause
A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of unexplained vomiting:
| Cause | Probability | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ovarian Cysts | 98% | Confirm |
| Mesenteric Ischemia | 29% | Unlikely |
| Gastritis | 12% | Unlikely |
| Stomach Cancer | 3% | Ruled out |
| Chronic Renal Insufficiency | 2% | Ruled out |
| Food Poisoning | 1% | Ruled out |
| Ectopic Pregnancy | 0% | Ruled out |
| Aspartame/Neotame Side-Effects | 0% | Ruled out |
* This is a simple example to illustrate the process
Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis
The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.
In the Gastrointestinal Symptoms section of the questionnaire, The Analyst™ will ask the following question about unexplained vomiting:
|
Approximately how often do you suffer from unexplained vomiting? Do not include vomiting that has an obvious cause, for example overeating or drinking too much alcohol.
Possible responses:
→ Don't know→ Never / very rarely → Occasionally - a few times per year → Regularly - a few times per month → Often - several times per week |
Gastric/Peptic/Duodenal Ulcers
Bleeding ulcers may cause nausea and vomiting of acidified blood resembling "coffee grounds" material.
Ovarian Cysts
There are three different ways in which ovarian cysts can cause vomiting: 1) When an ovarian cyst ruptures, fluid and sometimes blood are released into the ovary or surrounding tissues; 2) In some women the cause can be severe pain from a cyst; 3) Irritation of tissues in the abdomen.
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Last updated: Mar 26, 2023