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Vomiting blood (called haematemesis) needs to be checked. It often needs emergency treatment.
Vomit can vary from bright red to brown or black. It may be like liquid or more solid, or look like coffee granules.
There are many possible causes of vomiting blood.
It's often a sign of bleeding somewhere in your food pipe (oesophagus), which runs from your mouth to your stomach.
Common causes of vomiting blood include:
Less common causes include:
It's also possible to vomit blood that was swallowed. For example, from a nosebleed or a baby breastfeeding on a bleeding nipple.
You or your child are vomiting blood (or have vomited blood) and:
If you have stopped vomiting blood and had no other symptoms, ask for an urgent GP appointment, call 111 or get help from 111 online.
Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Bring any medicines you take with you.
