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SYMPTOMS |
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DIAGNOSIS |
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SELF-CARE |
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| 1. Is the
person an infant or child? |
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See Nausea and Vomiting in Infants and Children. |
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| 2. Do you have
a fever? |
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Go to
Question 7.*. |
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| 3. Do you have
cold symptoms and fever along with nausea and
vomiting? |
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You may have
viral GASTROENTERITIS (stomach flu). |
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Use medicine,
such as an anti-diarrheal, to help relieve your
symptoms. |
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| 4. Do you have
abdominal pain in the middle or lower right
side? |
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You may have
APPENDICITIS or a BOWEL OBSTRUCTION. |
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URGENT
If the pain continues to get worse, see your
doctor or be seen in the emergency room right
away. An infected appendix could rupture within
24 hours if left unattended. |
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| 5. Do you have
a headache or stiff neck, and does normal light
hurt your eyes? |
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You may have
MENINGITIS, a serious infection around the
brain. |
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EMERGENCY
Contact your doctor right away or go to the
nearest hospital for proper diagnosis and
treatment. Delay could result in serious injury
or death. |
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| 6. Do you have
pain in the right upper abdomen or do greasy
foods make the pain worse? |
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You may have
GALLSTONES or CHOLECYSTITIS, an infection of
the gallbladder. This may also be due to
PANCREATITIS, inflammation of the pancreas. |
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If the pain is
intense or your fever persists, see your doctor
right away. Often, gallbladder symptoms come and
go. You still may need medicine or surgery to
take care of the problem. |
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| *7.
Do you have a burning pain in your stomach
that's relieved by bland foods and upset by
spicy foods? |
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You may have
ULCERS or simple
HEARTBURN or GASTRITIS. |
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Use a simple
antacid. If it takes care of the problem, your
irritation was mild. If the pain or burning
continue, see your doctor. |
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| 8. Have you
vomited blood? |
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You may have a
bleeding
ULCER, a RUPTURE or TEAR in the lining of
the esophagus, or a severe
NOSEBLEED that may need packing. |
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URGENT
Seek medical help right away. If you're actively
vomiting blood, go to the emergency room now! |
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| 9. Did your
sickness occur shortly after eating food that
might have gone bad? |
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You may have
FOOD POISONING caused by a toxin or bacteria
from contaminated food. This is likely if
someone else who ate the same food also became
ill. |
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Most episodes
will clear up by themselves in six to 12 hours.
If you're uncomfortable or if the symptoms are
severe, call your doctor. |
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| 10. Do you have
yellow discoloration in your eyes, weight loss
and nausea, or does food taste strange, or is
your urine very dark? |
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You may have
HEPATITIS from a viral illness, a drug or
exposure to a chemical. |
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Make an
appointment to see your doctor. The source of
your hepatitis needs to be discovered to help
prevent further damage to your liver. |
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| 11. Are you
taking medicine? |
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Your medicine
could be causing the problem. |
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Discuss this
with your doctor. |
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| 12. Have you
missed a period and/or could you be pregnant? |
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You may be
PREGNANT. |
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Use an in-home
pregnancy test, and if it is positive, confirm
it with your doctor. |
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| 13. Do you have
diabetes and vomiting? |
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You may develop
KETOACIDOSIS, even with mild symptoms. |
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Monitor your
blood sugar closely and check your urine for
ketones. See your doctor if symptoms last more
than 24 hours or are severe. Don't stop taking
your medicine. |
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| 14. Did you
recently hit your head and now have a headache,
blurred vision, or numbness or tingling? |
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You may have a
serious
HEAD INJURY. |
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EMERGENCY
After calling your doctor, go to the nearest
emergency room for proper diagnosis and
treatment. |
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| For more information,
please consult your doctor. If you think the
problem is serious, call right away. |
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