Why does vomiting of coffee grounds occur? The causes of this pathological phenomenon will be indicated below. We will also tell you about what diseases a similar symptom is characteristic of, and how they should be treated correctly.
Basic information about the pathological phenomenon
Vomiting of coffee grounds in a child and adults is a reflex eruption of brown or even black masses from the stomach, indicating the development of internal bleeding.
According to experts, this condition is a deadly threat to the patient's life. The same goes for vomiting with blood.
Major diseases
Usually vomiting of coffee grounds occurs with bleeding (gastroduodenal) of various origins. In addition, the following diseases can lead to the development of such a symptom:
- gastrointestinal ulcer;
- Mallory-Weiss syndrome;
- erosion of the stomach;
- malignant tumors and polyps of the stomach;
- cardia or the so-called openings in the stomach (in the cardiac section);
- esophageal varicose veins;
- damage to the esophagus by foreign bodies;
- cirrhosis of the liver, proceeding with a violation of blood circulation;
- poisoning with poisonous mushrooms, chemicals, alcohol substitutes and others.
Causes of occurrence
Most often, vomiting of coffee grounds is observed with gastrointestinal bleeding. This occurs as a result of prolonged intake and accumulation of blood in the stomach. Under the influence of hydrochloric acid, plasma begins to produce hematin chloride, which has a brownish tint, similar to black coffee.
Characteristics of Vomiting
Vomiting of coffee grounds does not occur on its own. Usually, its formation is preceded by a pathological deterioration of the patient's condition.
Depending on the cause of the bleeding (gastrointestinal), the main signs of this pathological condition are the following:
- black stool , which indicates the passage of blood through the entire digestive tract;
- pain in the epigastric region (as a rule, this symptom indicates the presence of a bleeding ulcer in the stomach);
- fainting, a sharp drop in blood pressure, tachycardia (similar signs indicate excessive gastrointestinal bleeding).
It should be noted that very often in the brown or brown vomit that the patient spits up, dark red or scarlet bloody clots are found. Usually after such an observation, bloody vomiting opens, which threatens the patient's life.
Treatment process
Coffee-colored vomiting is a rare occurrence. But if it has arisen, then it is not recommended to delay with its treatment. This is due to the fact that such a condition can lead to the death of the patient.
If you or your loved one has vomited coffee grounds, you should urgently call an ambulance. Up to this point (that is, before the arrival of the doctors), the sick person should lie on the bed in a stationary state. At the same time, it is strictly forbidden to take any food or drink ordinary water.
To alleviate the condition of the patient, a dense pack of ice is required to be placed on the area of his abdomen. This procedure should significantly reduce bleeding.
As soon as the patient is transported to a medical facility, the specialist must immediately begin to find out the cause of the accumulation of blood in the stomach. The sooner it is detected, the faster the patient's condition will return to normal.
Thus, it can be safely noted that the treatment is not a symptom of vomiting, but the underlying disease that caused it.
Typically, the actions of medical specialists of a relative patient with the pathological phenomenon considered include the following measures:
- the process of replenishing the blood volume, especially with large blood loss for a long time;
- identification of the causes of vomiting and the source of bleeding;
- the process of stopping bleeding.
The latter includes the use of various medications prescribed by a doctor. In acute need, the patient is prescribed surgery.