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Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of stomach and intestinal contents through the mouth.
The mechanism is strong contractions of the abdominal muscles against a closed stomach outlet. It is commonly associated with nausea. Vomiting itself is not an illness but a sign of an underlying illness. By contrast, regurgitation or reflux is the effortless spitting up of several mouthfuls of stomach contents in children under age 15 months. Most vomiting in children is caused by gastroenteritis, which may be due to bacteria, parasites or viruses.