WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What is food poisoning? Food poisoning is when you get sick after you eat food contaminated with bacteria, a virus, or a parasite. The exact cause of your food poisoning may not be known. Food poisoning most commonly happens when you eat raw or undercooked food. Meat, seafood, produce, and dairy products are common foods that can become contaminated. What increases my risk for food poisoning? Babies, young children, and older adults are more likely to get food poisoning. You may also be at risk if you have a medical condition such as diabetes, cancer, or kidney problems. These conditions can make your body too weak to fight off the germs that cause food poisoning. What are the signs and symptoms of food poisoning? - Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps or pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Fatigue or weakness
How is food poisoning diagnosed? Your healthcare provider will ask you to describe your symptoms and list the foods you have eaten recently. He will ask when you last ate, and where you were. He will want to know if anyone who ate with you is also sick. Your healthcare provider will examine your abdomen and check for signs of dehydration. Dehydration can happen if you have diarrhea or are vomiting. You may also need the following: - A vomit or bowel movement sample may be tested for the toxin that causes botulism.
- Blood tests may be used to check for bacteria or viruses that can cause food poisoning.
How is food poisoning treated? Do not eat if you are nauseated, but take sips of liquid as often as possible. The following can help ease your symptoms: - Drink liquids as directed. You will need to drink liquids or an oral rehydrating solution (ORS) to prevent dehydration. An ORS contains a balance of water, salt, and sugar to replace body fluids lost during vomiting and diarrhea. Ask what kind of ORS to use, how much to drink, and where to get it.
- Eat bland foods. After you can keep an ORS down for 3 or 4 hours, eat something bland. Examples of bland foods are soup or broth with crackers. Follow a BRATT diet until you feel better. BRATT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, and tea. Do not have sugary drinks, caffeine, or alcohol. These may worsen your symptoms. A baby who has food poisoning should be breastfed as usual if he is still nursing. Do this to prevent him from becoming dehydrated.
- Medicines may be given to slow or stop diarrhea, calm your stomach, or fight a bacterial infection.
How can food poisoning be prevented? - Cook foods all the way through. Cook eggs until the yolks are firm. Use a meat thermometer to make sure meat is heated to a temperature that will kill any bacteria. Do not eat raw or undercooked poultry, seafood, or meat.
- Clean thoroughly. Wash your hands in warm, soapy water for 20 seconds before and after you handle or prepare foods. Wash your hands after you use the bathroom, change a diaper, or touch an animal. Rinse fruits and vegetables in running water. Clean cutting boards, knives, countertops, and other areas where you prepare food before and after you cook. Wash sponges and dishtowels weekly in hot water.
- Store food properly. Refrigerate or freeze fruits and vegetables, cooked foods, and leftovers right away. Keep your refrigerator at 40°F or lower and your freezer at 0°F.
- Separate raw and cooked foods. Keep raw meat and its juices away from other foods to prevent the spread of bacteria. Never put cooked food on a dish that held raw meat. Get a clean dish for the cooked food.
When should I seek immediate care? - You are vomiting so often that you cannot keep any liquid down.
- You have a fever and pale skin, and you feel irritated and tired.
- You are very drowsy or cannot stay awake.
- Your eyes are sunken and so dry you have no tears.
- Your arms and legs feel colder than normal, or they look blue.
- You urinate small amounts or not at all.
- You feel dizzy or confused.
- You have severe pain in your abdomen.
When should I contact my healthcare provider? - You are very thirsty and your mouth and tongue are dry.
- Your diarrhea has lasted more than 3 days.
- You have bloody diarrhea.
- You have diarrhea and a fever higher than 101.5°F.
- You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.
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