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When the muscles of the stomach wall
are irritated, the contents of the stomach are ejected as vomitus. Vomiting is a manifestation
of a large number of conditions, many of which are not primary disorders of
the gastrointestinal tract. Regardless of cause, vomiting can have serious
consequences, including electrolyte depletion, malnutrition, dehydration and
aspiration pneumonia.
When vomiting is anticipated, you should keep a basin or plastic bags for
this purpose close at hand. If the person is lying in bed, turn him
on his side so that he will not choke or aspirate the vomitus into his lungs.
Hold the basin against his cheek and under his chin to collect the content.
Provides water for the person to gargle after the episode.
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When observing vomitus, the following should be noted:
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Did the person feel any nausea or pain
prior to vomiting and whether or not the pain was relieved by vomiting?
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When the
person last had his meal?
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Is the vomit
projectile, that is forcefully ejected? Projectile vomiting often travel several feet and is more common in children than in adults.
It can be a symptom of congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in infants. In adult, projectile vomiting is usually
associated with pyloric muscle spasm due to scarring from a peptic ulcer
or it happens after a head injury. It can also be a symptom of poisoning
or drug-overdose where the body aggressively trying to rid itself
of a toxin.
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What is
the content of vomitus? Note if it contains partially digested food
or resembled a clear watery fluid or a yellow or green sticky fluid.
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Red blood
indicates that the bleeding began shortly before the vomiting. If the blood
is black or appears dark brown and has the texture of old coffee grounds,
the blood has been in your stomach for a longer time.
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If the vomitus smell foul like faeces,
make a note of the fact.
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Consult your doctor if you are concerned
about the vomitus, especially if you notice blood in it.
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