FOOD POISONING

General Information

DEFINITION--A term commonly used to describe illnesses suspected of being caused by food contaminated with bacteria. It can affect several members of a household, multiple customers who dined at a particular restaurant, nursing home patients, or children in day care facility. In some cases, symptoms can begin within 1 hour of eating the contaminated foods, others may take 8-16 hours and some may not begin for 3-5 days. Symptoms similar to those caused by food poisoning can also be caused by viral gastroenteritis, emotional stress, food allergy, drugs, hepatitis, appendicitis or other disorders.

BODY PARTS INVOLVED--Gastrointestinal.

SEX OR AGE MOST AFFECTED--Both sexes; all ages.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Abdominal cramps or pain.
• Diarrhea (sometimes bloody).
• Fever.
• In severe cases, shock and collapse.

CAUSES--Bacterial organisms such as Salmonella, staphylococci, clostridia, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and others. Botulism is a rare, life-threatening form of food poisoning.

RISK INCREASES WITH

• Eating food that is improperly prepared or stored.
• Lack of good hygiene when preparing food.
• Drinking water or eating raw foods when traveling in a foreign country.

HOW TO PREVENT

• Avoid raw seafood or meat.
• Don't consume raw or undercooked eggs.
• Avoid unpasteurized dairy products.
• Keep picnic foods cool, especially those made with mayonnaise.
• Proper cooking and storage of foods. Keeping food preparation areas, cutting boards and cooking utensils clean.
• Throwing out food items that are old, have an "off" smell, or those in bulging tin cans.
• Attention to handwashing before preparing food.

What To Expect

DIAGNOSTIC MEASURES--

• Your own observation of symptoms.
• Medical history and exam by a doctor.
• Stool culture (sometimes).

APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE

• Self-care.
• Doctor's treatment (sometimes).

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

• Shock and collapse.
• Respiratory problems.
• Hospitalization may be required for a very young patient or an elderly debilitated patient.

PROBABLE OUTCOME--Most food poisoning is not serious and recovery generally occurs within 3 days.

How To Treat

GENERAL MEASURES--

• Replacement of fluids and electrolytes is the most important aspect of treatment.
• If several persons are affected, local health departments should be contacted so they can interview patients and food handlers and take samples of suspected contaminated food.

MEDICATION--

• Medications usually not prescribed for this disorder. You may take take acetaminophen for fever.
• If symptoms are severe (protracted vomiting, painful abdominal cramps) and the causative agent is known, antibiotics may be prescribed.

ACTIVITY--Bed rest during acute phase. Convenient access to a bathroom or bedpan is important.

DIET--

• Liquid diet using commercial rehydration preparations, clear broth or bouillon. Use salt and sugar in liquids to replace what was lost. Try to take small sips even if vomiting continues. This will help with volume replacement and oral rehydration.
• Progress to soft, bland diet. Return to regular diet gradually.

Call Your Doctor If

• You or a family member has signs or symptoms of food poisoning and symptoms continue after self-care.
• Symptoms worsen after treatment begins. Hospitalization may be required to prevent dehydration.