When to Seek Medical Care

Call your health care provider when the nausea is so severe that you are unable to take care of yourself. Call also if the vomiting is so bad that you can't keep any liquids down at all for more than 8-10 hours.

• Vomiting blood is a warning sign and a reason to see your health care provider. Blood may be bright red or dark red. Sometimes old blood can look brown like coffee grounds.
  
  
• If you are taking care of a child, call for medical advice if the child does not urinate in 6-8 hours (or has dry diapers for that period of time). Signs and symptoms of dehydration in children and dehydration in adults (severe loss of body fluids) include weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness—these symptoms are worse when standing—dry mouth and lips, less urine than normal, dark-yellow and smelly urine, and severe thirst.
  
  

Seek medical attention at a hospital’s emergency department in these circumstances:

• If you are experiencing nausea or vomiting and severe belly pain
  
  
• Vomiting with fever, especially in a child
  
  
• If you can see blood in the vomit
  
  
• If vomiting won't stop and you are unable to keep down any fluids
  
  
• If you have a known head injury
  
  
• If there are other medical conditions present such as heart disease or diabetes
  
  
• If you observe any signs of confusion or extreme weakness
  
  
• If a new or severe headache is also present

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