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What Causes Cloudy White Vomit?

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Posted on Fri, 17 Jun 2016
Question: What causes vomit that is cloudy white with pieces of white solid (it looks like diluted milk with grated cheese) and has a sweet almost coconut odor?
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Chylous is a strong possibility

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Read the history of the child of 13 carefully having Evan's syndrome and lymphocytic colitis and understood the concerns about the vomit that is cloudy white with pieces of white as you have explained and coconut odor...

As such a description fits only in the chyle that is lymphatic fluid, it is possible that that there is a collection of lymphatic vessels in esophagus or stomach that opens up from time to time to cause such a type of vomit.

Repeated upper GI Endoscopy with high suspicion alone can diagnosed this.
Another way is contrast study of the lymphatic system in this are.
MRI of the area can help if the Radiologist knows what to see for as he has to use the specific software for finding the cause.

Please get this done under the guidance of a Gastroenterologist, discussing the points I have mentioned to get the appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

I hope this answer helps you, please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (5 hours later)
Had a mre that was negative. Lab results on vomit specimen showed nothing that would point to chymus.
The vomiting has been witnessed by several family members but not by any hospital staff.
They feel it has a consistency of soap or lotion - no gastric contents were analyzed in the multiple specimens. However, pt didn't ingest any such liquid nor did she or family member "mix up this solution" to present as a specimen. Child c/o luq abd pain that decreases after the vomiting. Following the vomiting she c/o persistent nausea.
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (57 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Please give more details.

Detailed Answer:
Nice to know the MRE is negative, but it does not exclude all the possible causes and shows specifically the small intestines and not the stomach.
Noted the rest of the feedback you have given.
Since nothing specific is being found, further studies will be needed as explained above to further prove or rule-out the cause.
LUQ pain decreases after the vomiting and followed by persistent nausea indicates that there may be a reason to correlate.

I strongly feel on the same line as discussed above.
It would be very enthusiastic search by all that the cause may be found.
The vomiting sensation is sudden and without any warning, looks like diluted milk with grated cheese, resembles soap but the child has been observed and is not taking any such contents.
May I please know a few more things:
- Since when has this problem started?
- What is the frequency of such an attack?
- Since the vomitus has been subjected to lab testing, what is the report?
Please post the report if you have it.
- Since the family members have seen this, what is their opinion?
Can you post the photograph of the vomitus if available?

Since this is an atypical presentation, further detailed investigations are needed.



Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (5 hours later)
Abd pain started approx 4 wk ago. Severe at times, unrelieved by NSAIDs and narcotics. Has decreased over time but then nausea and vomiting has developed over past 2 weeks. Ph on vomitus neg, told repeat samples have sweet smell. Told neg for pancreatic enzymes. And temperature of sample was cooler than body temp. Attending and gi don't feel there is any problem. Advice? Should the specimen be tested for anything else?
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (58 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Few more investigations

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your feedback.
Pain in LUQ, unrelieved by NSAIDs and narcotics - 4 weeks - decreased over time - nausea and vomiting 2 weeks
pH on vomitus negative - May be coming from esophagus or the patient must be already on PPI or so.
Sweet smell: can not really explain the smell
Neg for Pancreatic enzymes - means not coming from the duodenum, difficult to say why is it tested for.
Temperature of sample cooler than the body temperature: does not take much time for any sample to get cooler once in contact with atmospheric air.
Attending and GI Doctors do not feel any problem: the different character of the vomitus is a concern and must be investigated.

Please ask them to tests the sample as per the composition of lymph and see if this matches or not.
COMPOSITIONOF LYMPH 1)Water: 94%, 2)Solids: 6%. The solid content found in the lymph are as follows: i)Proteins: Total protein content varies from-2.0-4.5%. Three varieties of proteins are found–albumin, globulin and fibrinogen. In addition to this, traces of prothrombin are also found. Fibrinogen content is very low. ii)Fats: In fasting condition fat content is low but after a fatty diet it may be 5.0-15%.

Also needed is the MRI/CT scan of the chest and upper abdomen in consultation of the Radiologist as this is a rare case and needs a thought of finding the cause.
Upper GI Endoscopy

I hope this answer helps you to get further information which may help in diagnosis and further management.
Of course the close observation of the child to be continued.

Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. T Chandrakant

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 19777 Questions

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What Causes Cloudy White Vomit?

Brief Answer: Chylous is a strong possibility Detailed Answer: Hi. Thanks for your query. Read the history of the child of 13 carefully having Evan's syndrome and lymphocytic colitis and understood the concerns about the vomit that is cloudy white with pieces of white as you have explained and coconut odor... As such a description fits only in the chyle that is lymphatic fluid, it is possible that that there is a collection of lymphatic vessels in esophagus or stomach that opens up from time to time to cause such a type of vomit. Repeated upper GI Endoscopy with high suspicion alone can diagnosed this. Another way is contrast study of the lymphatic system in this are. MRI of the area can help if the Radiologist knows what to see for as he has to use the specific software for finding the cause. Please get this done under the guidance of a Gastroenterologist, discussing the points I have mentioned to get the appropriate diagnosis and treatment. I hope this answer helps you, please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.