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Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a childhood disorder characterized by bouts of vomiting that last from a few hours to several days. The current prevalence in the pediatric population is estimated at 2% (Li & Balint, 2000). The vomiting episodes occur in a regular cycle: some children have them every few days, others every few months. Currently, researchers have been unable to determine what causes CVS. Many of the patients and families, however, can identify particular events that seem to trigger the vomiting. Diagnosis can be difficult because CVS does not leave clues that can be found by any current diagnostic test. Lack of knowledge about CVS by physicians, nurses, and the lay public contribute to the helplessness families feel when coping with this disease in disguise. Nursing's primary actions in the care of children and their families affected by CVS should be one of advocacy for diagnosis and support for the family and child through treatment and long term management of this chronic illness.
Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), sometimes referred to as an "abdominal migraine," is a rare and unexplained disorder of children, and some adults, which was described by Dr. Samuel Gee in 1882 in medical literature. CVS is characterized by recurrent, prolonged attacks of severe nausea, vomiting and prostration with no apparent cause (Li, lssenman, & Sarna, 1999). Vomiting persists at frequent intervals for hours (5-6 times an hour at peak) and may last 10 days or more (1-4 days is most common). These episodes are self-limiting and tend to be similar to each other in symptoms and duration. The child is generally in good health between episodes.
In a search of the nursing and medical literature, there is little to be found on CVS before 1999. Only recently has this rare and baffling disorder been brought to the attention of health care providers. Suspected to be a disorder of the brain-gut axis (Li, et al. 1999), CVS is beginning to gain the attention that such a baffling disorder demands.
Clinical History
The onset of symptoms may occur from infancy through adulthood, but most commonly appear between the age of 3-7 years. The disorder can persist for months to decades. Males and females may be equally affected, although some centers have...