When To Go to Urgent Care for Persistent Vomiting

A man stands crouched over, holding his stomach with both hands.

 

It is important to know when to get help for persistent vomiting. Most of us have experienced the discomfort of nausea and vomiting. Maybe you ate something that didn’t agree with you. Perhaps you got sick with a bug and suffered from brief nausea. Sometimes, vomiting can be persistent, resulting in dangerous dehydration.

The good news is that rapid help is available. Urgent care can provide the treatment you need, relieving your symptoms and correcting dehydration. Wait times in urgent care are typically much shorter than in an ER, ensuring you get the help you need promptly.

Nausea and Vomiting Symptoms

Nausea and vomiting can lead to several symptoms which may indicate that you are becoming dehydrated and need medical care. Symptoms of dehydration include:

  • Thirst.
  • Dry mouth and mucous membranes.
  • Headache.
  • Muscle weakness.
  • Lethargy.

If dehydration worsens, other symptoms may develop, including:

  • Sunken eyes.
  • Fever.
  • Dizziness.
  • Confusion.
  • Rapid heartbeat.
  • Low blood pressure.
  • Decreased urination or very dark urine.

When Should You Go to Urgent Care for Vomiting?

If you are experiencing symptoms of dehydration, or if your vomiting persists and you are unable to keep down fluids, you should seek medical help at urgent care. Getwell Urgent Care is open every day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Our compassionate, experienced team will ensure you get the care you need quickly.

Causes of Persistent Vomiting

There are many causes of nausea and vomiting, including:

  • Viruses (i.e., stomach flu).
  • Heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
  • Infections.
  • Food poisoning.
  • Migraines.
  • Medications.
  • Pregnancy.

Nausea and vomiting can be mild and self-limiting but can become serious. Children and older adults are prone to getting dangerously dehydrated more quickly.

What Can Urgent Care Do for Vomiting?

Urgent care is equipped to provide rapid diagnosis and treatment for persistent nausea and vomiting. The clinical team will discuss your symptoms, review any pertinent medical history, and gather vital signs (temperature, heart rate, blood pressure) that give your provider important information about your condition.

At Getwell Urgent Care, we feature an onsite lab, enabling your provider to quickly perform blood or urine tests to aid in diagnosing the underlying problem. Onsite X-ray and EKG capabilities add to the resources our team can use to determine the treatment you need.

If indicated, your provider can order medication to relieve nausea, vomiting, and related symptoms. Getwell Urgent Care offers IV fluid therapy. If your provider feels it may be helpful, our skilled staff can administer IV fluid tailored to your condition. These fluids can replace lost water volume and essential electrolytes, including potassium, glucose, and sodium. Because IV fluids go directly into your bloodstream, dehydration can be corrected even if you cannot keep down liquids.

Oral fluids are also crucial in replenishing your body’s lost water and electrolytes. Sports drinks, broth, or Pedialyte can be helpful and effective. You should avoid caffeinated beverages, as these can worsen dehydration.

If you need urgent care for persistent vomiting, visit us at Getwell Urgent Care in Southaven, MS. Our experienced team is ready to provide the excellent medical care you need.