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If you vomit bile, you will recognize it immediately. Bile typically has a greenish-yellow color, while gastric juice tends to be yellowish or colorless. Find out what causes this and what you should do about it.
Bile vomiting: These are possible causes
The vomiting of bile as a yellow-greenish liquid can have harmless or serious causes.
Bile is a bitter digestive juice that is produced in the liver and from there is either released into the duodenum or passed into the gallbladder for temporary storage.
- Repeated vomiting: If the stomach is empty (e.g. after alcohol consumption, gastrointestinal infections or food poisoning), the contents of the small intestine enter the stomach with bile and are vomited.
- Intestinal obstruction: Constrictions or blockages in the small intestine (due to gallstones, scars or tumors) lead to the backing up of bile and vomiting. Emergency advice: If you vomit stool at the same time, you must call an emergency doctor immediately. Intestinal obstruction as a cause is life-threatening.
- Bile reflux: Bile reflux from the small intestine into the stomach or oesophagus often occurs after stomach or obesity surgery.
- Liver or gallbladder diseases: hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver or gallstones can disrupt bile production/storage.
- Pregnancy: Hormonal changes and digestive disorders can promote bile vomiting.
Measures for vomiting bile
If you are vomiting bile, you should proceed as follows:
- As an acute measure for one-off vomiting without alarm signs consume only light food, i.e. low-fat food, with cooked rice, rusks or porridge. Drink herbal teas such as camomile, fennel or lemon balm in small sips.
- Use a hot water bottle or cherry stone cushion to apply heat to relax the abdominal muscles. Drink electrolyte solutions to balance your fluid and mineral levels. You can buy these over the counter at the pharmacy.
- Avoid alcohol, coffee and nicotine, fatty foods and junk food at all costs.
Take it easy and avoid any physical exertion. - Get medical attention immediately if there is blood or fecal-like material in your vomit. Unbearable abdominal pain with a hardened abdominal wall, loss of consciousness or severe dizziness as well as persistent vomiting for more than twelve hours are also symptoms that require immediate medical attention.
- Particular care should be taken with children and babies. Take them to a pediatrician immediately as there is a risk of rapid dehydration. If you are pregnant, seek medical attention for any persistent nausea.
- If you are unsure or have additional symptoms, please always seek medical advice. Intestinal obstruction as a possible cause even requires emergency treatment
Bile vomited: This may indicate food poisoning
If you vomit bile, this may be associated with food poisoning, especially in severe cases with frequent vomiting
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- In severe, repeated vomiting, the stomach empties completely. Bile can then flow back from the small intestine and be vomited. This is a protective reflex of the body to eliminate toxins.
- Typical accompanying symptoms in this case are nausea and watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps and a feeling of weakness. This occurs due to the loss of fluids.
- However, always differentiate bile vomiting from other causes. For example, binge drinking is a common trigger for bile vomiting. Gallstones and an intestinal obstruction could also be present. During pregnancy, women sometimes vomit bile for hormonal reasons.
- However, if you suspect food poisoning as the cause of bile vomiting, first balance your fluid and electrolyte levels. If the symptoms persist, please seek medical advice to rule out serious causes.
