Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome

A disease that needs to be more well known

My topic is Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, also known as CVS. CVS is an extremely rare disease with repeated attacks, also known as episodes, of severe nausea, vomiting, and physical exhaustion that occur with no apparent cause. The episodes can last from a few hours to multiple days. My brother Sam and I both have this syndrome. It is a very miserable thing to go through. The syndrome is mostly found in children, and it is possible to grow out of it. Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome is so rare that it only affects 2% of the children in the school age population in the world. If that doesn’t  amaze you enough, imagine a room full of 100,000 children. Only approximately 3 of those children have CVS. The GI tract is the long tube from the mouth to the anus. The body digests food using the movement  of muscles in the GI tract. CVS affects the upper GI tract which involves the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and the duodenum. The cause of Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome is still unknown and is being researched still. Some possible problems with bodily functions may lead to CVS. Those possible causes are:

the way food moves through the body

Central Nervous System                  

Hormone imbalances

an abnormal inherited gene

There are different ways somebody may start to trigger an episode. A list of ways that can trigger an episode for somebody that has CVS includes:

Emotional stress

Infections

Eating certain foods   

Hot weather

Motion Sickness

Overeating, fasting, or eating before bedtime

Physical exhaustion or too much exercise.

 Children who suffer from severe migraines, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound are more likely to develop Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome.People with a history of marijuana use in their family can develop CVS.  Also, People who have a family history of migraines also may develop CVS.  80% of children and 25% of adults  who have CVS have migraines. The symptoms of CVS are:

Severe nausea

Sudden Vomiting

Heaving or Gagging

lack of appetite
fever

dizziness

headache

sensitivity to light

The four distinct phases of an episode are:

Prodome phase- During the Prodome phase, the person feels that an episode of nausea and vomiting is about to start. during this phase, the person is oftenly sweating and unusually pale.

Vomiting Phase- This phase includes intense nausea, vomiting, and retching. This can last from hours to days.

Recovery Phase - This phase begins when the vomiting stops. You slowly get your healthy color back, appetite back, and energy back.

Well Phase- No symptoms are present and you are released from hospital.

The severe vomiting can lead  to dehydration, esophagitis, tooth decay, a Mallory-Weiss tear, and for me I caught Pneumonia because of an episode.   Esophagitis is an irritation of the esophagus from acid exiting your body. A Mallory- Weiss tear is a tear in the lower end of the esophagus. Ways to prevent getting Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome is to get enough sleep, treat sinus infections, and seek help on reducing stress.  Some CVS episodes are not bad and can be treated at home. Most CVS patients end up in the hospital though. A person with CVS can easily get dehydrated so they must have an IV.  Sam and I both have this and I remember going to the hospital constantly (every 6 weeks) and Sam went every six months. I usually stayed in the hospital for a week. Most children who develop CVS is around 5 years of age, although you can also be born with it like Sam and I. CVS can be different for some people. When Sam had an episode, his pupils would go up and down and he felt sick with darkness, so he needs the light on, so his eyes don’t hurt so bad. My experience with CVS was different. My pupils spinned in a circular motion and I was extremely sensitive to light. It was painful to see light even with my eyes shut tight.  After an episode, people can be symptom free from a few weeks to several months. The syndrome can affect a person for months, years, or even decades. For me, I had it since birth, and each year I would gradually have less and less episodes. In 2nd grade I had 2 episodes when 3rd grade I had one.  I haven’t had an episode since.