Vomiting with altitude sickness

Acute mountain sickness can present with nausea, loss of appetite or vomiting after the body is exposed to lower oxygen availability. Headache, tiredness, dizziness and poor sleep may accompany it. Repeated vomiting matters because fluid and salts are lost and oral medicines may not remain in the stomach.

Vomiting is not specific to altitude illness. Contaminated food or water, infection, migraine, alcohol, pregnancy and medication reactions are among other possibilities. Recent elevation gain supports the altitude pattern, but diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain or illness in travel companions may point elsewhere.

Do not go higher. Rest in a safe place with another person and try small, frequent sips of an oral rehydration drink or water if swallowing is comfortable. Avoid alcohol, heavy meals and strenuous activity. Do not repeat a medicine dose automatically after vomiting because some of it may already have been absorbed.

If vomiting continues, descent is safer than waiting for severe dehydration or neurological symptoms. Arrange transport or assisted descent, particularly when weakness or dizziness makes walking unsafe. A clinician can assess hydration, oxygen needs and other causes while deciding whether prescription treatment is suitable.

Seek prompt medical help if no fluids stay down, urine becomes very scant, fainting occurs, vomit contains blood, abdominal pain is severe or the person is rapidly weakening. These findings require assessment regardless of the suspected cause.

Confusion, difficulty walking straight, unusual drowsiness, a severe worsening headache, breathlessness at rest, chest congestion, blue-grey lips or collapse may mark severe altitude illness. Begin assisted descent and contact emergency services immediately; do not allow the affected person to travel alone.

Ask a clinician how to adjust the itinerary if you have previously vomited at altitude, which rehydration supplies to carry and when an anti-sickness medicine is appropriate. Confirm what to do if a dose is vomited and whether your regular medicines make dehydration more hazardous.