Differentiating the symptoms of CVS is tricky; there are wide varieties of conditions with the same symptoms of nausea and vomiting. This cyclic vomiting syndrome symptom has a period of wellness in between CVS episodes.
Cyclic vomiting syndrome symptoms prior to an attack
In most of the patients, the attacks happen in a time-related way in a stereotypical manner. That is the timing, frequency and severity of the episode is alike. Some patients may experience warning signs before an attack:
- Usually severe nausea, and pallor (unhealthy pale appearance),
- Some experience increase in sensitivity to light, smell, sound, pressure and temperature.
- Some experience muscular pain and fatigue.
Many patients find improvements in their symptoms after a warm or cold bath (find out which one is suitable for you).
Cyclic vomiting syndrome symptoms
Different phases of CVS have their own symptoms; they are:
- Symptom-free interval phase - This phase is the time between CVS episodes, there are no symptoms present during this stage.
- Prodrome phase - this is the warning phase indicating the upcoming CVS episode. At this stage, there is nausea with or without abdominal pain. Length of this stage will be from few minutes and extend up to several hours. Taking medicine may sometimes help to stop an episode in progression. However, some individuals do not have this warning stage and directly start vomiting.
- Episode phase - this stage has severe vomiting with or without abdominal pain. At this stage, there is a difficulty to eat, drink, or ever to take medicines without vomiting. Patient looks pale, drowsy and exhausted.
- Recovery phase – is generally starting by deep sleeping once vomiting has stopped. Patient return to normal color from paleness, appetite recovered, and energy level improved.
Cyclic vomiting syndrome Causes & Risk factors
Still, there is no clear knowledge regarding the CVS causes; however, experts doubt a genetic link. A family history of migraine a relative condition may cause CVS. Single base pair and DNA rearrangements in the mitochondrial DNA have been associated with this cause.
There is a strong link between CVS and migraine; you can confirm this based on similar symptoms, commonly coexistent conditions, a high family prevalence of migraine in patients with CVS, and the effectiveness of anti-migraine therapy.
Anxiety disorders affect 84% of adults; it may complicate by panic attacks in adult patients. Panic attacks trigger cyclic vomiting episodes in the majority of adult patients.
CVS episodes are triggered by certain factors considering as CVS risk factors, they are infections, stress, anxiety, over-eating, eating just before going to bed, physical exertion, hot weather, eating allergic foods or menstruation.