What could cause a 10-year-old to vomit bile?

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Last updated: February 13, 2025 • View editorial policy

Differential Diagnosis for a 10-year-old with Yellow Vomit

  • Single most likely diagnosis: + Gastroenteritis: This is the most common cause of vomiting in children, and the yellow color of the vomit could indicate the presence of bile, which is often seen in gastrointestinal infections.
  • Other Likely diagnoses: + Food poisoning: Similar to gastroenteritis, food poisoning can cause vomiting and the yellow color could be due to bile or the specific type of food consumed. + Viral gastroenteritis (e.g., norovirus): Highly contagious and common in children, leading to symptoms like vomiting, which can be yellow due to bile. + Appendicitis: Although less common, appendicitis can cause vomiting, and if the appendix ruptures, the vomit might appear yellow or green due to the presence of bile.
  • Do Not Miss diagnoses: + Intussusception: A serious condition where a part of the intestine slides into another, which can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, and potentially lead to bowel obstruction or ischemia. The vomiting might be yellow or green. + Pyloric stenosis: A condition where the pylorus (the passage between the stomach and small intestine) narrows, causing projectile vomiting, which might appear yellow due to the presence of bile. + Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas, which can cause severe abdominal pain and vomiting. The vomit might be yellow due to bile.
  • Rare diagnoses: + Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver, which can cause a range of symptoms including vomiting. The yellow color could be due to jaundice (a sign of liver dysfunction). + Cholecystitis: Inflammation of the gallbladder, which can cause abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting. The vomit might appear yellow due to bile. + Liver or pancreatic tumors: Although extremely rare in children, these could potentially cause vomiting among other symptoms, with the yellow color possibly indicating bile or liver dysfunction.

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This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.