Brits are being told what to do if they’re being sick for days with no obvious illness. A little-known condition can force people to race to the bathroom up to eight times a day ‘for years’, a doctor has warned.
British GP Dr Ahmed explained that the condition, known as cyclical vomiting syndrome, is ‘another under-recognised condition’. But he stressed it can be ‘very scary’ for anyone affected.
He said: “With this syndrome, the patient has intense episodes of vomiting that can last a few days. They may vomit six, seven, eight times or more without a cause. Then, they generally have periods where they’re well, however the vomiting starts again maybe a month or so later.”
According to the NHS website, this condition is mainly something that children around the age of five get, but it can be caught by adults. In fact, it can sometimes be worse for adults who did not get this illness when they were children.
The main symptom of the syndrome is standard feelings of nausea followed by vomiting. This can sometimes make it hard to diagnose as the symptoms are so common with other illnesses.
You can usually tell this apart from a run-of-the-mill sickness by noticing a few things. With cyclical vomiting syndrome, each episode can last anything from a few hours up to a few days.
The patient often begins with sweating, feeling sick and looking paler than usual, followed by retching (trying to be sick) and vomiting. Other symptoms of the syndrome may include:
- being very tired (exhaustion)
- loss of appetite
- tummy pain
- diarrhoea
- dizziness
- headaches
- eye pain when looking at bright lights
Medicines may be able to help with cyclical vomiting syndrome if you have more than one episode a month. What you’re prescribed can depend on your symptoms and age, but may include:
- medicines that can be used to treat and prevent migraines
- anti-sickness medicines
- painkillers
The NHS says: “A doctor can also offer support if your child is struggling to cope with the symptoms of cyclical vomiting syndrome. If an episode is very severe, you may need tothe be treated in hospital with medicine and fluids given directly into a vein (intravenously). This will help to prevent dehydration and treat the symptoms.”
Once these symptoms improve, most people with cyclical vomiting syndrome feel better for a few weeks or months until a new episode begins. It might be a good idea to track your symptoms over time and present this to your doctor, suggesting the condition.
The NHS recommends during an episode to:
- stay in bed and sleep in a dark, quiet room
- keep taking small sips of fluid, such as water or diluted squash, to prevent dehydration during and after an episode of vomiting – a pharmacist can recommend oral rehydration solutions that you mix with water and drink
The exact cause of cyclical vomiting syndrome is not known. Experts suggest that you’re more likely to have it if you or anyone in your family gets migraines as similar triggers set off conditions such as certain foods, drinks, stress, anxiety and allergies.
People may find the episodes of vomiting are triggered by not getting enough sleep or doing too much exercise, colds and infections. Going without food or fluid for a long time could also be a trigger.
There’s no cure for cyclic vomiting syndrome and treatment tends to focus on controlling the signs and symptoms instead with certain medicines. What you’re prescribed will depend on your symptoms and age – and may include anti-sickness pills or painkillers.
More information and support for people with cyclical vomiting syndrome is available from The Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome Association UK and The Migraine Trust