Brown blood in vomit

Blood darkens after contact with stomach acid. Even if vomiting has stopped or the amount seemed small, the underlying bleeding may continue or return.

Possible sources include an ulcer, inflammation of the stomach lining, a tear after forceful vomiting, swollen veins in the oesophagus or another lesion in the oesophagus or stomach. Oesophageal cancer and stomach cancer can present with bleeding, but the appearance alone cannot identify the cause.

Dark food can resemble blood, yet suspected coffee-ground vomit should be treated as bleeding until a clinician has assessed it.

Seek urgent medical care now. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint, weak, confused or short of breath; call emergency services or have someone take you to an emergency department.

Tell the clinical team when vomiting began, what the material looked like, whether you passed black sticky stool, and which medicines you use. Mention blood thinners, aspirin and anti-inflammatory pain medicines specifically. Avoid eating or drinking until emergency staff advise you, because a procedure may be needed.

Call emergency services immediately for fresh red blood or a large amount of dark vomit, fainting, confusion, cold clammy skin, rapid breathing, severe abdominal or chest pain, marked weakness, or black tar-like stool.

If you are receiving cancer treatment, report suspected bleeding urgently because treatment can affect blood counts, clotting or the digestive lining.

Ask what may be bleeding, whether blood tests or an endoscopy are needed, whether any medicine should be paused, and what changes after discharge require an immediate return.