- Yellow vomit often happens when bile backs up into the stomach, and it can be linked to food poisoning, bile reflux, pregnancy-related vomiting, or yellow food dyes.
- Treatment depends on the cause and may include hydration, an easy-to-digest diet, medications, hospital care, or surgery for an intestinal blockage.
- Seek urgent medical care for ongoing vomiting, a swollen belly, severe abdominal pain, trouble passing gas or stool, signs of dehydration, or any yellow/green vomit in a baby.
Yellow vomit is a symptom that can occur when bile enters the stomach, often linked to conditions such as food poisoning, bile reflux, bowel obstruction, or pregnancy-related vomiting. It may also appear in babies due to infections like flu or pneumonia, or more serious intestinal conditions.
Depending on the cause, yellow vomit may be accompanied by abdominal pain, diarrhea, general malaise, bloating, constipation, or drowsiness. In more severe cases, symptoms such as a swollen belly, difficulty passing gas, or persistent vomiting may indicate an emergency.
Management of yellow vomit varies based on the underlying condition and may include hydration, dietary changes, medications, hospital monitoring, or surgery. Identifying associated symptoms and causes helps guide appropriate treatment, especially in infants and people with ongoing or worsening symptoms.
Why is my vomit yellow?
The main causes of yellow vomit are:
1. Food poisoning
Food poisoning occurs when you eat food contaminated with toxins produced by fungi or bacteria, which can lead to yellow vomiting. This happens because repeated vomiting empties the stomach, allowing bile to flow back into it.
Other symptoms that may occur with food poisoning include headache, diarrhea, general malaise, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain.
What to do: Treatment for food poisoning involves increasing your intake of fluids and electrolytes by drinking water, tea, and natural fruit juices. According to the CDC, diarrhea or vomiting can lead to dehydration, so drinking plenty of fluids is an important part of care.
It’s also important to follow a balanced, easy-to-digest eating plan, such as a low-fiber diet, to support faster recovery. Eating probiotic foods can also be helpful, as they support the restoration of healthy intestinal flora that may be disrupted by frequent vomiting or diarrhea.
Also recommended: 7 Food Poisoning Medications (& Home Remedies) tuasaude.com/en/food-poisoning-medication2. Bowel obstruction
Bowel obstruction is a medical emergency that happens when stool cannot pass through the intestines because of a blockage. It can cause symptoms such as yellow, bitter vomiting, abdominal pain, a swollen belly, and difficulty passing stool or gas.
What to do: Treatment depends on the location and severity of symptoms. Hospital admission is required for monitoring, with intravenous fluids and placement of a nasogastric (NG) tube to remove excess gas and fluid from the stomach.
In more severe cases, surgery may be required to correct the underlying cause and remove the intestinal blockage, allowing normal bowel movements to resume.
3. Pregnancy
During pregnancy, some people may vomit yellow fluid because of hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition that causes frequent vomiting and leaves the stomach empty. When the stomach is empty, bile can flow into it, giving the vomit a yellow color.
Other pregnancy symptoms commonly experienced in the first few weeks include increased breast tenderness, changes in mood, and fatigue.
What to do: Treatment for mild hyperemesis gravidarum can be done with measures such as avoiding foods and chores that trigger vomiting, resting and maintaining adequate fluid intake.
To help relieve nausea and vomiting, try eating a saltine cracker as soon as you wake up and avoid exposure to strong odors.
However, if vomiting does not improve with initial treatment, your doctor or midwife may prescribe medications such as pyridoxine (vitamin B6), doxylamine, prochlorperazine, or metoclopramide to help relieve symptoms.
4. Bile reflux
Bile reflux happens when bile, a digestive fluid that normally flows into the intestines to help digest food, backs up into the stomach or esophagus, leading to symptoms such as yellow vomit, abdominal pain, and heartburn.
What to do: Treatment should be provided by a doctor and may include medicines such as ursodeoxycholic acid, sucralfate, or bile acid sequestrants, which help restore normal bile flow and prevent bile from being reabsorbed.
However, if symptoms do not improve with medication, a gastroenterologist may recommend diversion surgery, a procedure that creates a new pathway to redirect bile away from the stomach.
5. Yellow foods and drinks
Consumption of foods or beverages containing yellow food coloring (for example, cake frosting) may result in yellow-colored vomit.
What to do: Review what you’ve recently eaten and check whether any of your meals or snacks contained artificial yellow dyes. If you can’t identify the cause of your yellow vomit, see a healthcare provider for further evaluation.
Yellow vomit in babies
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), bile in a child’s vomit is a warning sign that warrants calling a pediatrician immediately.
Yellow vomit in babies may be a sign of a bowel obstruction, which can result from conditions such as intestinal atresia, meconium plug syndrome, or Hirschsprung’s disease, a congenital disorder that disrupts normal bowel movement. Affected infants may experience vomiting, constipation, and abdominal swelling.
In babies and children, yellow vomit may also appear when they cough up phlegm, which can occur during illnesses such as the flu, a cold, or pneumonia.