Vomiting is a backward emptying of the stomach contents (or intestines), in which several bodily functions and organs are involved. This process is regulated and initiated by the vomiting center of the brain. The diaphragm, the abdominal muscles and the stomach itself are involved.
Stomach contents leave the body via the esophagus and the oral cavity. Vomiting can also be provoked externally by substances that cause nausea or mechanical irritation of the rear throat or uvula. On the one hand, this is an important protective function of the body, as spoiled or toxic substances are excreted and not completely metabolized, on the other hand it can be triggered by an irritation of the vomiting center.
This occurs, for example, in cases of concussion, meningitis or increased intracranial pressure. Vomiting can also be caused by a disease or severe irritation of the equilibrium organ. Another protective or defensive function of the body is fever.
In this case, the body core temperature rises to over 38°C. The increased body temperature increases the mobility of the immune system‘s defense cells and microorganisms or particles recognized as foreign are eliminated more quickly. If vomiting and fever occur at the same time, this can be an indication of certain inflammatory diseases of different organs. Depending on whether the person affected is an adult, a child or even a baby, different clinical pictures may be possible.
Possible diseases that are more likely to affect an adult person
Diverticulitis tends to affect older adults, but now people between the ages of 20 and 45 are also more frequently affected. Due to different, not completely clarified processes, some people may experience bulging of the intestinal wall, so-called diverticulitis. These sacculations can become inflamed if the much thinner intestinal wall here offers an entrance for microorganisms through the smallest injuries.
This can lead to left-sided abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhea/constipation. Probably the formation of these sacs is promoted by low-fiber nutrition. The disease is treated by a diet with sufficient fluid intake, antibiotics or, in more complicated cases, by surgery.
Acute pancreatitis causes severe pain in the upper abdomen, which also spreads backwards like a belt. The symptoms can range from fever and vomiting, jaundice, ascites (abdominal dropsy), intestinal obstruction to shock. Acute pancreatitis can be caused by an obstruction of a bile duct by a gallstone, by alcohol abuse or even without any recognizable or less frequently occurring diseases.
It is treated as an in-patient, if necessary by means of surgery or antibiotics. Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammation of the small intestine. It usually affects young adults aged 15 -35 years, but the risk of the disease also increases from the age of 60. Symptoms can be abdominal pain and diarrhea, but also loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, weight loss or tiredness are common. As the disease progresses, it can also manifest itself in different ways on other organ systems such as the skin, joints, eyes, vessels or kidneys.
