Allergies can cause people to vomit mucus.
The three most common causes of vomiting mucus are colds, allergies, and acid reflux. In respiratory situations, mucus usually comes down from the sinuses and nasal passages into the throat. When there is enough, it can cause nausea and eventually vomiting. Children tend to be some of the most vulnerable to mucus-filled vomiting in these cases, as their gag reflexes are often not as developed as those of adults. In the case of acid reflux, mucus usually flows up from the stomach and digestive tract. While it can be upsetting for people to see mucus in their vomit, it’s usually nothing to worry about, and many experts say it’s fairly common. In most cases, it will go away on its own once the root cause is gone.
Mucus Basics
Children may vomit mucus due to their sensitive gag reflex.
Mucus is a fluid secreted by the mucous membranes of the body. It is a thick, chewing gum-like substance that is normally found in places like the respiratory and digestive tracts, places that depend on the constant movement of different particles. It covers the walls of the nostrils to collect external elements such as dust or pollen that can irritate someone and cause sneezing, for example, and lubricates the airways, making breathing easier. In the esophagus and stomach, it acts as a lining to protect these organs from gastric acid that is released as a normal part of digestion.
Clearing the nasal passages with a neti pot can help prevent vomiting mucus.
A healthy human body produces one quart to one gallon (0.94 to 3.78 liters) of mucus per day. However, when the disease strikes, production usually increases significantly, and that’s when vomiting becomes more likely. The irritation often triggers an immune response in the body, calling for more mucus to help kill bacteria or viruses or block the way they spread. The excesses that flow into the throat or esophagus usually cause vomiting not as a result of any type of independent stomach problem, but as a consequence of overload.
Respiratory problems
Acid reflux can cause someone to vomit mucus.
People often produce more mucus when they have a cold, an upper respiratory infection, an allergy attack, or a coughing fit. In these cases, the mucus escapes from the sinuses and goes down the throat, which is called “postnasal drip” in medical circles, or is expelled through the lungs; then it can be swallowed and end up in the stomach. When a person swallows too much of this secretion, it can cause vomiting as a way for the body to get rid of it. Too much mucus or very thick mucus often causes nausea as well, and one of the body’s natural responses is to induce vomiting to relieve nausea.
Implications for children
An illustration of a human stomach.
One of the main reasons young children are sometimes prone to vomiting mucus is the often sensitive gag reflex. A child with a cold, allergy, or lung infection will usually secrete a lot of mucus. This child may cough so hard when he tries to clear his airway that it triggers the gag reflex, and vomiting is often the inevitable result. Also, children tend to swallow mucus rather than spit it out or “cough it up” as adults do. This can happen when children have a serious infection, such as a sinus infection that creates excessive thick mucous secretions, or when they are too young to understand what is happening.
acid reflux
Someone may vomit mucus as a result of a bad cold.
Another cause of vomiting mucus can be due to acid reflux, which is also often called “heartburn” due to the burning and tightness it tends to cause in the upper chest. In people with heartburn, stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. To protect itself, the body produces more mucous secretions. This excessive secretion often backs up into the stomach, and when it is excessive, the person may feel sick and vomit the excess.
Treatment and Prevention
A bad cough can cause someone to vomit up mucus.
There is usually no cure for vomiting mucus, and the condition will usually go away on its own as soon as the underlying cause (allergies, for example, or a cough) goes away. However, people who have excess mucus or who constantly swallow or vomit it may want to seek the advice of a qualified health care provider. Certain medications can help control mucus levels, which can reduce the risk of nausea and vomiting. Certain antacids can also help keep heartburn under control. Regularly clearing your nasal passages and spitting out rather than swallowing mucus that drips into your mouth can also help.
Constant mucus secretions and vomiting that seem to occur outside of some other identifiable condition may indicate something more serious and should usually be evaluated. Infants and young children should also usually be treated for persistent mucous secretions to avoid the risk of choking, especially at night.
