Differential Diagnosis for Nausea, Vomiting, and Abdominal Pain after Eating
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): This condition is characterized by the backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus, often triggered by eating, leading to nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A common disorder that affects the large intestine, causing a variety of symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain after eating, possibly due to food intolerance or sensitivity.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Food Poisoning: Bacterial or viral infections from contaminated food can cause sudden onset of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain after eating.
- Peptic Ulcer Disease: Ulcers in the stomach or duodenum can cause pain and discomfort after eating, especially if the ulcer is irritated by certain foods.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, leading to nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain after eating.
- Gallstones: Small, hard deposits in the gallbladder can cause pain and discomfort after eating fatty foods, which can trigger gallbladder contractions.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix can cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, especially after eating, and requires prompt surgical attention.
- Intestinal Obstruction: A blockage in the intestine can cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, and is a medical emergency.
- Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas can cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, especially after eating fatty foods.
- Mesenteric Ischemia: Reduced blood flow to the intestine can cause severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, and is a medical emergency.
Rare Diagnoses
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis: A rare condition characterized by inflammation of the esophagus due to an allergic reaction, causing nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain after eating.
- Celiac Disease: An autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to react to gluten, leading to inflammation and damage in the small intestine, and can cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain after eating.
- Gastric Cancer: A rare but serious condition that can cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain after eating, especially in older adults or those with a family history of the disease.