Hematemesis
Type: Symptom
Definition
The vomiting of blood, often altered by stomach acid to resemble coffee grounds.
Clinical Details
Severe liver damage halts the production of essential blood-clotting proteins, leading to widespread hemorrhagic diathesis. Concurrently, the virus damages the mucosal lining of the stomach, leading to uncontrolled gastric bleeding. The blood pools in the stomach before being violently expelled by the patient.