Yellow vomit is a symptom that can occur with many health issues, like food poisoning, bile reflux, and bowel obstruction. It can also occur in babies due to conditions like a flu, pneumonia or a bowel obstruction.
Depending on the underlying cause, yellow vomit may also present with other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, general malaise, swollen belly and drowsiness.
If you experience yellow vomit, it is important to consult a family doctor or gastroenterologist for assessment and treatment, which may include rest, medication, hydration or, in some cases, surgery.
Why is my vomit yellow?
The main causes of yellow vomit are:
1. Food poisoning
Food poisoning is caused by eating food that has been contaminated by toxins produced by fungi or bacteria can cause yellow vomit. This is because frequent episodes of vomiting can leave the stomach empty, causing bile to return to this organ.
Other symptoms that are also present in food poisoning are headache, diarrhea, general malaise, loss of appetite and abdominal pain.
What to do: Treatment for food poisoning includes increasing fluid and electrolyte intake, with water, teas and natural fruit juices. You should maintain a balanced and easy-to-digest diet, like a low fiber diet, to help promote a quick recovery.
Consuming probiotic foods may also be beneficial, as these foods help to restore any imbalances in intestinal flora caused by excessive vomiting and diarrhea.
Also recommended: 7 Food Poisoning Medications for a Speedy Recovery tuasaude.com/en/food-poisoning-medication2. Bowel obstruction
Bowel obstruction is an emergency situation that occurs when stool does not pass through the intestine due to a blockage. It causes symptoms such as yellow and bitter vomit, difficulty having bowel movements, difficulty passing gas, a swollen belly and abdominal pain.
What to do: Treatment varies depending on the location and severity of the symptoms. This condition requires admission to hospital for monitoring, with IV fluids and the placement of an NG tube to suction any excess gas and fluid from the stomach.
In more serious cases, surgery is also necessary to treat the underlying cause and unblock the intestine to restore bowel movements through the gut.
3. Pregnancy
Pregnant women may experience yellow vomiting during pregnancy due to hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition that causes frequent episodes of vomiting that leaves the stomach empty. This leads to bile entering the stomach, which can give vomit a yellow color.
Other symptoms that women may experience in the first few weeks of pregnancy include increased breast tenderness, mood changes or drowsiness. Learn more about the pregnancy symptoms that can occur in the first weeks.
What to do: Treatment for mild hyperemesis gravidarum can be done with measures such as avoiding foods and chores that trigger vomiting, resting and maintaining adequate fluid intake. Some strategies that can help combat nausea and vomiting are eating 1 saltine cracker as soon as you wake up and avoiding strong smells. Check-out other ways to fight nausea during pregnancy.
However, when vomiting does not improve with initial treatment, the doctor may prescribe medications, such as pyridoxine, doxylamine, prochlorperazine and metoclopramide to relieve symptoms.
4. Bile reflux
Bile reflux occurs when bile, which is normally released in the intestines to digest food, returns to the stomach and/or esophagus, causing symptoms such as yellow vomit, abdominal pain and heartburn.
What to do: Treatment should be carried out by the doctor and may include the use of medicines such as ursodeoxycholic acid, sucralfate and bile acid sequestrants, which help promote normal bile circulation and prevent its reabsorption.
However, when symptoms do not improve with the use of medication, the gastroenterologist may advise diversion surgery, where a new connection is created to divert bile from the stomach.
5. Consuming yellow foods and drinks
Consuming foods and drinks with yellow dye, like cake frosting, can lead to yellow vomit.
What to do: Evaluate your recent food intake to determine whether any of your recent snacks or meals involved food with artifical yellow dyes. If you are unable to determine what caused your yellow vomit, you should see a doctor for further assessment.
Yellow vomit in babies
Yellow vomit in babies can be caused by a bowel obstruction due to health problems such as intestinal atresia, meconium plug syndrome or Hirschsprung's disease, a congenital disease that affects the natural movements of the intestine. It can cause vomiting, constipation and a swollen belly .
Furthermore, yellow vomit can also occur in babies and children due to the presence of phlegm when coughing, which can happen in cases of flu, colds or pneumonia.