Diagnosis
A GP will take their patient's family and medical history, and a full account of their symptoms.
A child may be suspected to have CVS if the following apply:
Similarly, an adult may have CVS if they have had three or more vomiting episodes in the past year that have each been similar, with no nausea or vomiting between episodes.
The high frequency of vomiting, and the fact that it often starts at night or early morning, are clues that the cause may be CVS and not another condition.
Blood or urine tests may be carried out (to rule out infection or kidney problems), and scans such as an endoscopy or abdominal ultrasound, to see if there is an abnormality in the digestive tract.
Only after other conditions have been ruled out will a diagnosis of CVS be made. At this stage, the patient may have been referred to a gastroenterologist (specialist in digestive system disorders).
Pattern or cycle of symptoms in children
A doctor will often suspect cyclic vomiting syndrome in a child when all of the following are present:
Pattern or cycle of symptoms in adults
A doctor will often suspect cyclic vomiting syndrome in adults when all of the following are present:
Your doctor may diagnose cyclic vomiting syndrome even if your pattern of symptoms or your child’s pattern of symptoms do not fit the patterns described here. Talk to your doctor if your symptoms or your child’s symptoms are like the symptoms of cyclic vomiting syndrome.
What medical tests do doctors use to diagnose cyclic vomiting syndrome?
Doctors use lab tests, upper GI endoscopy, and imaging tests to rule out other diseases and conditions that cause nausea and vomiting. Once other diseases and conditions have been ruled out, a doctor will diagnose cyclic vomiting syndrome based on the pattern or cycle of symptoms.
Lab tests
Your doctor may use the following lab tests:
Upper GI endoscopy
Your doctor may perform an upper GI endoscopy to look for problems in your upper digestive tract that may be causing nausea and vomiting.
Imaging tests
A doctor may perform one of more of the following imaging tests:
A child may be suspected to have CVS if the following apply:
- they have had at least five vomiting episodes, or three separate episodes over six months
- the episodes of nausea and vomiting last from one hour to 10 days
- the episodes are similar each time
- they vomit at least four times an hour for at least one hour
- the vomiting is not caused by another disorder
- they are well between episodes
Similarly, an adult may have CVS if they have had three or more vomiting episodes in the past year that have each been similar, with no nausea or vomiting between episodes.
The high frequency of vomiting, and the fact that it often starts at night or early morning, are clues that the cause may be CVS and not another condition.
Blood or urine tests may be carried out (to rule out infection or kidney problems), and scans such as an endoscopy or abdominal ultrasound, to see if there is an abnormality in the digestive tract.
Only after other conditions have been ruled out will a diagnosis of CVS be made. At this stage, the patient may have been referred to a gastroenterologist (specialist in digestive system disorders).
Pattern or cycle of symptoms in children
A doctor will often suspect cyclic vomiting syndrome in a child when all of the following are present:
- at least five episodes over any time period, or a minimum of three episodes over a 6-month period
- episodes lasting 1 hour to 10 days and happening at least 1 week apart
- episodes similar to previous ones, tending to start at the same time of day, lasting the same length of time, and happening with the same symptoms and intensity
- vomiting during episodes happening at least four times an hour for at least 1 hour
- episodes are separated by weeks to months, usually with no symptoms between episodes
- after appropriate medical evaluation, symptoms cannot be attributed to another medical condition
Pattern or cycle of symptoms in adults
A doctor will often suspect cyclic vomiting syndrome in adults when all of the following are present:
- three or more separate episodes in the past year and two episodes in the past 6 months, happening at least 1 week apart
- episodes that are usually similar to previous ones, meaning that episodes tend to start at the same time of day and last the same length of time—less than 1 week
- no nausea or vomiting between episodes, but other, milder symptoms can be present between episodes
- no metabolic , gastrointestinal , central nervous system , structural, or biochemical disorders
Your doctor may diagnose cyclic vomiting syndrome even if your pattern of symptoms or your child’s pattern of symptoms do not fit the patterns described here. Talk to your doctor if your symptoms or your child’s symptoms are like the symptoms of cyclic vomiting syndrome.
What medical tests do doctors use to diagnose cyclic vomiting syndrome?
Doctors use lab tests, upper GI endoscopy, and imaging tests to rule out other diseases and conditions that cause nausea and vomiting. Once other diseases and conditions have been ruled out, a doctor will diagnose cyclic vomiting syndrome based on the pattern or cycle of symptoms.
Lab tests
Your doctor may use the following lab tests:
- Blood tests can show signs of anemia, dehydration, inflammation, infection, and liver problems.
- Urine tests can show signs of dehydration, infection, and kidney problems.
Upper GI endoscopy
Your doctor may perform an upper GI endoscopy to look for problems in your upper digestive tract that may be causing nausea and vomiting.
Imaging tests
A doctor may perform one of more of the following imaging tests:
- Ultrasound of the abdomen.
- Gastric emptying test, also called gastric emptying scintigraphy. This test involves eating a bland meal, such as eggs or an egg substitute, that contains a small amount of radioactive material. An external camera scans the abdomen to show where the radioactive material is located. A radiologist can then measure how quickly the stomach empties after the meal. Health care professionals perform gastric emptying tests only between episodes.
- Upper GI series.
- MRI scan or CT scan of the brain.
