What are some common causes of brown vomit?

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Brown vomit that reeks of fecal matter may be caused by backed up bowels due to severe constipation, notes UnityPoint Health. Vomited blood may also appear brown in coloration, which is usually attributed to minor health concerns, injuries or serious ailments.

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Vomiting is not a disease but a manifestation of a condition, which can range from mild to more serious medical issues. The color of the vomit, which is usually indicative of the underlying cause, commonly serves as a basis for treating the condition. Individuals with bowel movement difficulty may experience abdominal bloating and severe vomiting of brown matter that smells like excrement. When this occurs, prompt medical attention is generally recommended, suggests UnityPoint Health.

There are instances when vomited blood appears brown and resembles coffee grounds, states Healthline. Non-serious conditions, such as esophageal inflammation, nosebleeds, swallowed blood or esophageal tears from persistent coughing may lead to throwing up a brown-colored vomit. Other known causes include side effects from using aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, inflammation of the stomach lining or the pancreas and presence of abdominal ulcers.

Children may also vomit blood from an accidental ingestion of a foreign object or due to a congenital abnormality. Serious medical conditions, such as cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, pancreatic malignancy, erosion of the gastric lining and esophageal cancer, are also possible causes of regurgitating a bloody brownish vomitus.