Coffee ground vomitus: Causes, symptoms, and treatment Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe What causes coffee ground vomitus Medically reviewed by Youssef (Joe) Soliman, MD — By Jenna Fletcher — Updated on July 26, 2022Coffee ground vomitus is a type of vomit that looks like coffee grounds. Coffee ground vomitus owes its appearance to the presence of old blood in the vomit. The amount of time the blood remains in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract before appearing in the vomit will determine its color and shade. A more extended period will result in a darker color, which may be dark red, black, or brown. The color is usually a function of how much the hemoglobin that makes up red blood cells gets denatured due to the effect of acid. Anyone who vomits blood should seek medical attention immediately as it is a serious condition. If possible, bring a sample of the vomit to the doctor and note the time and quantity of the vomit, as well as any possible causes. In this article, we look at the causes, symptoms, and treatment of coffee ground vomitus. Causes Share on PinterestMin Kim/Getty ImagesThere are many potential causes of coffee ground vomitus, including:gastric ulcersesophageal varices, when swollen veins in the esophagus burst and bleed, sometimes as a result of cirrhosisgastritis, irritation of the stomach liningunderlying coagulation conditions where the normal mechanism of making blood clots in the body may be compromisedcancer of the esophagus, or food pipe These conditions all require medical attention and treatment. Being on blood-thinning medications can be a rick factor for bleeding in general and upper gastrointestinal bleeding in particular. Symptoms Anyone who vomits blood or a substance that resembles coffee grounds should seek immediate medical attention. If the person is unable to get to the emergency room, they should call for an ambulance. Other symptoms that may indicate an emergency situation include:chest paindizzinesspale skinsevere pain in the abdomenfeeling of lightheadednessbright red blood in the vomitlarge clots in the vomitfainting The other symptoms that may accompany coffee ground vomitus will vary depending on the underlying condition. Diagnosis Coffee ground vomitus usually indicates bleeding in the GI tract. If this occurs, a person should always seek a diagnosis from a doctor. To diagnose the cause of coffee ground vomitus or any contributing factors, a doctor will ask the person if they are:experiencing any other symptomstaking any medicationsdealing with any other medical conditions The doctor will then perform a medical exam to check the person. Following this, they will order one or more tests to determine the exact cause of the bleeding. Most people will need blood tests and a chest X-ray to examine the area. In addition to this, a person may receive one or more of the following tests:Endoscopy. A doctor will insert a long thin tube with a light and camera down a person’s throat to examine the stomach, esophagus, and upper small intestine. They may also take a tissue sample.Colonoscopy. This involves passing a long thin tube with a light and camera through a person’s rectum to check the lower portion of the GI tract.Liver function tests. These check for problems in a person’s liver. Once they have the results of the tests, the doctor can make a more accurate diagnosis and develop a treatment plan that will address the underlying condition causing the coffee ground vomitus. Treatment The treatment for coffee ground vomitus will vary greatly depending on the underlying cause. A doctor will need to determine what is causing the blood to appear in the vomit before making any recommendations on treatment. Typically when a patient is suspected to have an upper gastrointestinal bleed, an endoscopy will be performed to assess the situation and look for potential sources of the bleeding in order to determine the most effective treatment. If an ulcer or gastritis is causing a person’s coffee ground vomitus, a doctor may treat it with the following:antibiotics to clear up the Helicobacter pylori infection that causes ulcersacid-reducing medications to reduce the stomach acid and allow the stomach to healantacids to provide pain relief and neutralize existing stomach acidsmedications to protect the stomach lining For people with upper GI cancer, a doctor will tailor treatment to the type and stage of cancer. Treatment for upper GI cancer may include:surgical removal of the cancerchemotherapyradiation therapyimmunotherapy Replacement therapy is the usual treatment for a person whose coffee ground vomitus is due to hemophilia B. In replacement therapy, the person receives intravenous infusions of the missing clotting factors. These clotting factors help to stop bleeding in the upper GI tract. The doctor may also recommend rubber band litigation, which will involve using elastic bands to tie off bleeding veins to stop the bleeding. A doctor will prescribe beta-blockers after the bleeding is controlled, to someone whose coffee ground vomitus results from esophageal varices. This medication will reduce blood pressure in the vein. If cirrhosis is the cause, a doctor may suggest:intravenous antibioticsnitrates or beta-blockersbanding procedures to control bleeding in the esophagus A doctor may also recommend that people with cirrhosis stop drinking alcohol and follow a diet low in protein. Outlook Anyone who experiences coffee ground vomitus should seek medical attention as soon as possible. If they have additional symptoms, such as fresh blood or large clots, the person should seek emergency medical attention. A doctor will need to diagnose the underlying cause of coffee ground vomitus before recommending treatment. The severity of the underlying condition will determine how long it will take for a person to recover and see a reduction in symptoms. Last medically reviewed on July 26, 2022EbolaBlood / HematologyCancer / OncologyGastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology 8 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Bou-Abdallah, J. Z., et al. (2012). Coffee grounds emesis: Not just an upper GI bleed. [Abstract]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19564091/Cirrhosis. (n.d.).https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/cirrhosisEbola (Ebola virus disease). (2022).https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/index.htmlGarcia-Tsao, G., et al. (2007). Prevention and management of gastroesophageal varices and variceal hemorrhage in cirrhosis.https://gi.org/guideline/prevention-and-management-of-gastroesophageal-varices-and-variceal-hemorrhage-in-cirrhosis/Peptic ulcer disease. (2007).https://gi.org/topics/peptic-ulcer-disease/Treatment Choices by Type and Stage of Stomach Cancer. (2021).https://www.cancer.org/cancer/stomach-cancer/treating/by-stage.htmlWhat are bleeding disorders. (2022).https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/bleeding-disordersYellow Fever: Symptoms, diagnosis, & treatment (2019).https://www.cdc.gov/yellowfever/symptoms/index.htmlFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Youssef (Joe) Soliman, MD — By Jenna Fletcher — Updated on July 26, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? 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