ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a case study of a 29-year-old primigravida pregnant woman who is presented to the Emergency Department with a 4-day history of persistent vomiting. The patient is suffering with hyperemesis gravidarum, which accounts for one of the most common indications for hospital admission. Investigations are required to rule out other causes of nausea and vomiting. The Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE) can be used as an objective measure to classify the severity of nausea and vomiting. Urinalysis can be used to investigate the degree of urinary ketones and the presence or absence of an infection. The treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum is mainly supportive, as it is a self-limiting condition. However, treatment is required to avoid future complications such as hyponatraemia, hypokalaemia and Wernicke's encephalopathy and to allow the patient to get back to her activities of daily living. Ambulatory daycare management is suitable for most patients who are unable to tolerate oral antiemetics or fluids.
