Nausea is a symptom of many conditions. It is also an adverse effect of many drugs.

In medicine, nausea is a particular problem during some chemotherapy regimens and following general anaesthesia. Nausea is also a common symptom of pregnancy.

Treatment

While short-term nausea and vomiting are generally harmless, they may sometimes indicate a more serious condition, such as Celiac Disease. When associated with prolonged vomiting, it may cause dangerous levels of dehydration and/or electrolyte imbalances.

Symptomatic treatment for nausea and vomiting may include short-term avoidance of solid food. This is usually easy as nausea is nearly always associated with loss of appetite. Dehydration may require rehydration with oral or intravenous electrolyte solutions. Oral rehydration (drinking water) is safer and simpler in most cases.

There are many antiemetics (drugs to suppress nausea and vomiting), although researchers continue to look for more effective treatments. Also available are a variety of noninvasive, mechanical devices used to suppress nausea due to motion sickness, but these products are seldom tested in a laboratory setting.