What is chronic vomiting?

Occasional vomiting is common in childhood, especially when a child is sick. Chronic vomiting is usually abnormal. Unlike spitting up, vomiting is the forceful throwing up of stomach contents.

There are a number of causes for chronic vomiting including reflux, allergy, infection, inflammation, anatomical abnormalities, as well as some non-gastrointestinal conditions.

The evaluation of chronic vomiting may include a trial of medication, blood testing, stool testing, radiological testing (such as contrast X-rays, ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI), and/or a camera test (upper endoscopy and/or colonoscopy). The treatment depends on the cause of the vomiting.

At The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, children with chronic vomiting are evaluated and treated by doctors in the Division of Gastroenterology (GI), Hepatology and Nutrition.