Vomiting with intake may indicate

• A. Pregnancy
• B. Dehydration
• C. Viral or bacterial infection
• D. Motion sickness

Answer: (C)

Vomiting that occurs after taking in food or fluids points to irritation or infection of the GI tract. Viral or bacterial gastroenteritis commonly causes nausea and vomiting soon after ingestion as the stomach and intestines respond to the infectious process, often with cramps and sometimes diarrhea or fever. Pregnancy can cause nausea and vomiting, but it isn’t specifically tied to meals and can occur even without intake. Dehydration may result from vomiting but doesn’t explain why vomiting happens with intake in the first place. Motion sickness is triggered by movement, not by swallowing. So an GI infection best explains vomiting that happens with intake.