Travel sickness

Travel Sickness

1. Definition Travel sickness or motion sickness is a condition that occurs when the body receives conflicting signals from the senses, causing dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. It's a common problem faced by people traveling by car, boat, plane, or any other vehicle, especially during turbulent or rough rides.

2. Causes / Etiology Causes of travel sickness include:

• Inner ear problems (e.g., labyrinthitis)
• Vision problems (e.g., nearsightedness)
• Sensory conflict (e.g., conflicting signals from eyes, ears, and sensory nerves)
• Genetic predisposition
• Previous history of motion sickness

3. Types or Classification

• Acute motion sickness: occurs suddenly and resolves quickly
• Chronic motion sickness: persists over time and affects daily activities
• Cyclic vomiting syndrome: characterized by recurring episodes of vomiting
• Ondine's curse: a rare condition where patients experience nausea and vomiting in response to certain visual stimuli
• Space adaptation syndrome: occurs when adapting to weightlessness in space

4. Pathology Step 1 → The body receives conflicting signals from the senses (eyes, ears, and sensory nerves). Step 2 → The brain tries to reconcile these conflicting signals, leading to a state of confusion. Step 3 → The conflicting signals trigger the release of chemicals such as histamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine. Step 4 → These chemicals stimulate the vomiting center in the brain, causing nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms.

5. Clinical Features

• General features:
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Dizziness and vertigo
  • Headaches and fatigue
  • Diarrhea and abdominal pain
• Specific features:
  • Conflicting signals from senses
  • Sensory conflict (e.g., conflicting signals from eyes and ears)
  • Previous history of motion sickness

6. Complications

• Acute complications: dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and hypovolemia
• Chronic complications: malnutrition, anemia, and gastrointestinal problems

7. Diagnosis / Investigations

• Routine tests:
  • Complete blood count (CBC)
  • Electrolyte levels
  • Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
  • Creatinine
• Special tests:
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG) for cyclic vomiting syndrome
  • Imaging studies (e.g., CT scan, MRI) for inner ear problems

8. Management

• General management: avoiding triggers, rest, and hydration
• Modern treatment: antiemetic medications (e.g., ondansetron, metoclopramide)
• Dietary advice: avoiding fatty or greasy foods, eating light meals, and staying hydrated

9. Homeopathic Therapeutics

• Aconite: for nausea, vomiting, and dizziness
  • Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and headaches
  • Indications: acute motion sickness, inner ear problems, and sensory conflict
• Gelsemium: for fatigue, weakness, and dizziness
  • Symptoms: fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and vertigo
  • Indications: chronic motion sickness, cyclic vomiting syndrome, and ondine's curse
• Pulsatilla: for nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
  • Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain
  • Indications: acute motion sickness, gastrointestinal problems, and malnutrition
• Cocculus: for nausea, vomiting, and dizziness
  • Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and vertigo
  • Indications: chronic motion sickness, inner ear problems, and sensory conflict
• Lycopodium: for nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
  • Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea
  • Indications: acute motion sickness, gastrointestinal problems, and malnutrition