Vomit Color Chart: Throwing-Up Yellow, Green, Black or Red (2024)

FAQs

Vomit Color Chart: Throwing-Up Yellow, Green, Black or Red? ›

Yellow or green vomit can emerge with a flu virus or fasting, while black vomit is indicative of a more serious digestive problem that is causing internal bleeding. Vomit is a normal response to the presence of foreign substances or microorganisms in the body, however it can be a sign of a gastric illness.

Acidic vomit or gastritis vomit appears white or foamy due to acid buildup in the stomach. It usually appears white because of milk or ice cream consumption. The acid build-up can occur due to gastritis, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), or stomach acid reflux.

But if you haven't swallowed blood, it's coming from inside your upper digestive system. Bright red blood is fresh and indicates an active bleed, which might be heavier and more urgent. Coffee ground vomit — blood that looks brown and lumpy — is older blood. It may indicate a slower bleed or one that has stopped.

your vomit is green or greenish yellow (this could mean you're bringing up bile, which is usually because your stomach is empty with nothing else left to vomit, however, sometimes it can suggest that you may have a blockage in your bowel, and need to get checked to make sure that you do not have a blockage)

Seek immediate medical attention

You have signs or symptoms of dehydration — excessive thirst, dry mouth, infrequent urination, dark-colored urine and weakness, or dizziness or lightheadedness upon standing. Your vomit contains blood, resembles coffee grounds or is green.

Gastritis: the inflammation of your stomach lining could cause bile production to mix with salvia, producing a white foamy vomit.

Green vomit means you are bringing up bile. This can result from an infection, such as food poisoning or the stomach flu, or from causes like morning sickness. In some cases, it can occur with more serious conditions, such as liver failure or bile reflux.

The color of your vomit can be a sign of a serious health condition. Black or brown vomit can be a sign of internal bleeding. This type of vomit is also often called “coffee ground vomitus” as the partially digested blood looks like coffee grounds and is caused by bleeding in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Seek immediate medical attention

Ask someone to drive you to the emergency room if you notice blood in your vomit or begin vomiting blood. It's important to quickly identify the underlying cause of the bleeding and prevent more-severe blood loss and other complications, including death.

Amount and colour of blood

you may have vomited large amounts of bright red blood. there may be streaks of blood in your vomit, mixed up with food. there may be what looks like coffee grounds in your vomit, which means the blood has been in your stomach for a few hours.

Should I drink water after throwing up bile? ›

Do not eat or drink anything for several hours after vomiting. Sip small amounts of water or suck ice chips every 15 minutes for 3-4 hours. Next, sip clear liquids every 15 minutes for 3-4 hours. Examples include water, sports drinks, flat soda, clear broth, gelatin, flavored ice, popsicles or apple juice.

There's often no specific medical treatment for viral gastroenteritis. Antibiotics aren't effective against viruses. Treatment first involves self-care measures, such as staying hydrated.

In most cases, the bile reflux may subside within a few weeks with changes in the diet. The BRAT diet, which includes banana, rice, apple sauce, dry toast and soda crackers, is believed to give temporary relief. However, some patients with severe symptoms may require medical management or surgery.

Vomiting yellow bile may be due to something serious or something that is not. As such, even if it's a once-off event, it is important to speak with a healthcare provider if the vomiting is severe or accompanied by other symptoms such as diarrhea, heartburn, or abdominal pain.

What Does Green Vomit Mean? Green vomit might be caused by an illness or an underlying gastrointestinal disease. Indicates: A sign of an infection or an underlying gastrointestinal condition. Possible Causes: Ulcer or bile duct obstruction, blockage in the bowel.

Stomach acid, or gastric acid, is a watery, colorless fluid that's produced by your stomach's lining.

Green or yellow vomit, also known as bile, is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. The release of bile occurs when an individual is vomiting on an empty stomach or is suffering from bile reflux.

Pink or red vomit may indicate the presence of blood. Throwing up blood (hematemesis) may suggest bleeding in the upper GI tract. This may occur due to conditions such as a peptic ulcer or esophagitis. People who notice blood in their vomit should seek immediate medical attention.

Sometimes when you vomit, you may notice a greenish-yellow material, which could be bile. If you vomit bile more than once, you could be having a medical condition responsible for the problem. Yellow bile is usually a result of changes in the body due to the underlying condition.

As vomiting expels the content of the stomach, the pH of the vomitus is almost always highly acidic. The acid creates a burning sensation in the back of the throat or and roof of the mouth or nose if the vomit has passed through the nose. Vomit is almost always foul smelling.