Motion sickness.

 

Definition:

Motion sickness is a very common condition which occurs during travelling, usually in a car, plane or boat. It can make a patient feel nauseous or possibly vomit.

 

 

Causes:

Motion (or travel) sickness is due to the brain receiving conflicting messages from the eyes and the balance organs in the ear about the body's movement. When travelling, the hair cells in the inner ear will detect continuous movement, whereas the eyes will tell the brain that the body is actually relatively motionless.

 

Travel sickness may be exacerbated by other factors, such as strong smelling food, exhaust foods or anxiety.

 

 

Presentation:

A patient will feel nausea or may vomit during travelling.

 

Other symptoms may include sweating, drooling, going pale and feeling cold.

 

 

Differential Diagnosis:

Motion sickness is relatively simple to diagnose- it is just a patient feeling sick during travelling.

 

It is important to give the right medication and also to give tips on how to lessen the chances of the sickness occuring.

 

 

Treatment:

Hyoscine hydrobromide 300mcg (Kwells Tablets). Tablets can be sucked, chewed or

swallowed up to 20-30 minutes before the start of the journey to prevent travel sickness

occuring or at onset of nausea. Adults should take ONE tablet every SIX hours if

required, maximum of THREE in 24 hours.

 

Promethazine teoclate 25mg (Avomine tablets). Adults should take ONE tablet each

night at bedtime starting on the night before travel for prevention of motion sickness

on long journeys. For prevention on short journeys, ONE tablet should be taken ONE

to TWO hours before the start of travel. To treat motion sickness, ONE tablet should

be taken as soon as sickness is felt followed by a second tablet the same evening.

A third tablet may be taken the next evening if necessary.

 

Self Help Advice:

Avoid heavy, pungent meals before driving.

 

Avoid pungent odours.

 

Avoid alcohol.

 

Drive if possible (or sit in the front of the car). If on a plane sit by the wing, if on a boat

stay on deck.

 

Keep windows open.

 

Do not read or play computer games.

 

Children can be distracted from feeling sick by games such as I-spy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sample Question:

Which of the following anti-histamines used for motion sickness is subject to abuse?

 

a) cinnarizine

b) cyclizine

c) promethazine

d) meclozine

e) hyoscine

 

Answers to all sample questions can be found by following the link under the Test Yourself tab.