Nausea, or a queasy feeling in the stomach, is a sign that points to various conditions and diseases. While the nausea in itself isn't necessarily dangerous, it can signal something more serious. If your nausea is accompanied by a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches or severe stomach pain, you should contact your doctor immediately, as the combination of symptoms may point to a condition that needs immediate attention.
Pregnancy
When a woman becomes pregnant, she may experience morning sickness, or nausea and vomiting, early in the pregnancy. MedlinePlus states that the nausea should subside by the 14th to 16th week of the pregnancy. The exact reason why pregnancy causes nausea isn't known; however, hormonal changes are thought to play a part in it. A pregnant woman who vomits blood, can't keep any foods or liquids down, or whose nausea doesn't subside by the aforementioned point in pregnancy should contact her obstetrician.
Chemotherapy
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), nausea is a common side effect of chemotherapy. The ACS further reports that the nausea usually starts during the chemotherapy treatments. For some patients, the nausea will last for weeks; however, it is more common that it ends within a few days after the treatments.
Nausea in Children
Nausea in children can point to numerous conditions. The American Family of Physicians has a chart of some common childhood ailments that have nausea as a symptom. These conditions include formula intolerance, viral gastroenteritis, bowel obstructions and intestinal blockages. Because young children can't say what else hurts, a call to the pediatrician is usually to rule out serious conditions, such as intestinal blockages and bowel obstructions.
Appendicitis
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases lists nausea as one of the symptoms of appendicitis. Other symptoms include pain in the lower right-hand side of the abdomen, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, and a low grade fever. Anyone with any combination of these symptoms should head to the Emergency Room.
Other Causes
Nausea and vomiting alone or in conjunction with one another can signal a host of other conditions. The Mayo Clinic offers a list that includes viral gastroenteritis, migraines, food poisoning, meningitis, social anxiety disorder, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetic ketoacidosis and Crohn's disease. For this reason, the Mayo Clinic recommends contacting your physician to get a definitive diagnosis of the cause of your nausea.
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