Table 1 -- Key questions in the evaluation of acute nausea and vomiting Is immediate therapy necessary regardless of the cause? Are empiric symptomatic treatment and reassurance sufficient? A. Is the patient a woman of child-bearing age? B. Are there symptoms of motion sickness or vertigo? C. Are symptoms consistent with a viral syndrome? Is expeditious workup required to establish the cause? A. Is abdominal or chest pain present? B. Is there a history of drug, toxin, or environmental exposure? C. Can a pregnancy-related condition explain symptoms? D. Are CNS symptoms present? E. Can an infection account for symptoms? F. Are nausea and vomiting symptoms of a systemic disease? G. Is the patient immunosuppressed? H. Is the patient recovering from general anesthesia? I. Is there an unusual cause or effect of nausea and vomiting?