Symptom: Vomiting blood

Vomiting blood (hematemesis) refers to significant amounts of blood in your vomit. Small streaks or flecks of blood in material you spit up may come from the teeth, mouth or throat and isn't usually considered vomiting blood. Blood in vomit may be bright red, or it may appear black or dark brown like coffee grounds.

Swallowed blood, as from a nosebleed or forceful coughing, may cause bloody vomit, but truly vomiting blood usually represents something more serious and requires immediate medical attention. Bleeding in your upper gastrointestinal tract (mouth, esophagus, stomach and upper small intestine) from peptic ulcers or torn blood vessels is a common cause of vomiting blood.

Call 911 or your local emergency number if vomiting blood causes dizziness after standing, rapid, shallow breathing or other signs of shock.

Vomiting blood
  1. Acute liver failure
  2. Alcoholism
  3. Aspirin
  4. Benign tumors of the stomach or esophagus
  5. Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
  6. Defects in gastrointestinal tract blood vessels
  7. Dieulafoy's lesion (an artery that protrudes through the stomach wall)
  8. Duodenitis (inflammation in the first part of the small intestine)
  9. Esophageal cancer
  10. Esophageal varices (enlarged veins in the esophagus)
  11. Esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus)
  12. Gastric erosions (breakdown of tissue lining the stomach)
  13. Gastric varices (enlarged veins in the stomach)
  14. Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)
  15. Mallory-Weiss tear (tear in the esophagus associated with pressure caused by vomiting or coughing)
  16. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  17. Pancreatic cancer
  18. Pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation)
  19. Peptic ulcer
  20. Portal hypertension (high blood pressure in the portal vein)
  21. Prolonged or vigorous vomiting
  22. Stomach cancer

In infants and young children, vomiting blood may also result from:

  1. Birth defects
  2. Blood clotting disorders
  3. Milk allergy
  4. Swallowed blood, such as from the nose
  5. Swallowed object
  6. Vitamin K deficiency

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

Source: mayoclinic.org

  • Rapid, shallow breathing
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness after standing up
  • Blurred vision
  • Fainting
  • Confusion
  • Nausea
  • Cold, clammy, pale skin
  • Low urine output

Ask someone to drive you to urgent care or the emergency room if you notice blood in your vomit or begin vomiting blood. It's important to quickly identify the underlying cause of the bleeding and prevent more-severe blood loss and other complications, including death.

Source: mayoclinic.org


Signs and Symptoms

Welcome to WebHealthNetwork an online symptom search and symptom directory. Here you can find what is the symptom Vomiting blood and what does it mean, you can also check what illnesses and diseases this symptom relates to.