What causes persistent nausea and vomiting?

Most people have experienced nausea at some point in their lives—for instance, feeling nauseous upon seeing disturbing images. This is a normal physiological response and generally nothing to worry about. However, if nausea stems from an underlying medical condition, timely attention is essential. So, what causes persistent or recurrent nausea and vomiting?

Causes of Persistent or Recurrent Nausea and Vomiting

Persistent or recurrent nausea and vomiting may result from chronic gastritis or peptic ulcer disease. In chronic gastritis, the gastric mucosa remains inflamed and congested over a prolonged period, impairing digestion and nutrient absorption. As a result, undigested food accumulates in the stomach, leading to nausea and vomiting. Additional symptoms may include epigastric pain, abdominal distension, and loss of appetite. Peptic ulcers can also cause nausea and vomiting due to damage to the gastric mucosal protective barrier and excessive gastric acid secretion, which directly irritates the mucosa—resulting in symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and epigastric pain. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) helps confirm the diagnosis and guides appropriate pharmacological treatment targeting gastric disorders.

Treatment should be symptom-directed and include appropriate medications. If symptoms persist despite pharmacotherapy, upper gastrointestinal barium radiography should be performed; esophagogastroduodenoscopy may be indicated for further diagnostic clarification and targeted therapy based on findings. If symptoms remain unresolved, testing for Helicobacter pylori infection is warranted. A positive test necessitates eradication therapy with anti-H. pylori medications.

If you notice any disease-related symptoms in daily life, seek prompt medical evaluation and treatment to avoid disease progression. We hope this information has been helpful to you.