Food Poisoning – 2012 Update

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By Terry Orr

Last year we wrote about Learn to Prevent Food Poisoning click here and highlighted the following topics:

• Food Poisoning Symptoms
• Diagnosing Food Poisoning
• Food Poisoning Treatments
• Preventing Food Poisoning
• What You Need To Know

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My wife and I have had our fair share of occurrence with food poisoning – most recently with bad shrimp that kept her at home for nearly three days. Fortunately it finally passed and no series harm done. Generally we are very careful what we eat and any time the food taste a little funny, we set it aside – that is what she should have done the other day because it did taste funny.  We all make those mistakes from time to time.

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Food poisoning is a common, usually mild, but sometimes deadly illness. Typical symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea that occur suddenly (within 48 hours) after consuming a contaminated food or drink. Depending on the contaminant, fever and chills, bloody stools, dehydration, and nervous system damage may follow. These symptoms may affect one person or a group of people who ate the same thing (called an outbreak).

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Tonight on our local news, another outbreak of Salmonella was reported.  These types of reports are far more frequent than in years past.

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Food Poisoning Self-Care at Home

Short episodes of vomiting and small amounts of diarrhea lasting less than 24 hours can usually be cared for at home.

Do not eat solid food while nauseous or vomiting but drink plenty of fluids.

After successfully tolerating fluids, eating should begin slowly, when nausea and vomiting have stopped. Plain foods that are easy on the stomach should be started in small amounts. Initially consider eating rice, wheat, breads, potatoes, low-sugar cereals, lean meats, and chicken (not fried).

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Food Poisoning Medical Treatment

The main treatment for food poisoning is replacing fluids into the body (rehydration) through an IV and by drinking. The patient may need to be admitted to the hospital. This depends on the severity of the dehydration, response to therapy, and ability to drink fluids without vomiting. Children, in particular, may need close observation.

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