Food Poisoning

Food poisoning occurs when you are exposed to harmful organisms through eating or swalloing contaminated  food or water. Contamination could have happened  with certain types of bacteria, parasites, viruses, or toxins. 

Most cases of food poisoning in the United States are due to common bacteria such as Staphylococcus or Escherichia coli (E. coli) or Campylobacter, more serious cases include Listeria or Toxoplasmosis.
Here are the most common organisms involved in food poisoning: 

How do I get food poisoning?

Food poisoning more commonly occurs after eating undercooked or spoiled food in fast food or other restaurants, at picnics, school cafeterias, large social functions. One or more people may become sick.

What types of food poisoning are there?

• Bacteria may get into your food in different ways:
• Meat or poultry may come into contact with intestinal bacteria when being processed.
• \Water that is used during growing or shipping may contain animal or human waste.
• Improper food handling or preparation.

How do I get food poisoning?

• Any food prepared by someone who did not wash their hands properly.
• Any food prepared using unclean cooking utensils, cutting boards, or other tools
• Dairy products or food containing mayonnaise (such as coleslaw or potato salad) that have been out of the refrigerator too long
• Frozen or refrigerated foods that are not stored at the proper temperature or are not reheated properly
• Raw fish or oysters
• Raw fruits or vegetables that have not been washed well
• Raw vegetable or fruit juices and dairy
• Undercooked meats or eggsWater from a well or stream, or city or town water that has not been treated

 You are also at higher risk for food poisoning if you are pregnant, have a medical disease, or if you have an immune disorder.

What are the symptoms of food poisoning?

The most common types of food poisoning generally cause symptoms within 2 - 6 hours of eating the food.

Possible symptoms include:

• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea (may be bloody)
• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weakness (may be serious and lead to respiratory arrest, as in the case of botulism)

What tests do I need?

Your doctor will examine you for signs of food poisoning, such as pain in the stomach and signs your body does not have as much water and fluids as it should. This is called dehydration.

You will be asked about the foods you have eaten recently.
Tests may be done on your blood, stools, vomit, or the food you have eaten to determine the cause of your symptoms. However, tests may not be able to prove that you have food poisoning.
In rare but possibly serious cases, your doctor may order a sigmoidoscopy, a procedure in which a thin tube placed in the anus to look for the source of bleeding or infection.

What is the treatment?

You will usually recover from the most common types of food poisoning within a couple of days. The goal is to make you feel better and make sure your body maintains the proper amount of fluids.
Don't eat solid foods until the diarrhea has passed, and avoid dairy products, which can worsen diarrhea (due to a temporary state of lactose intolerance).Drink any fluid (except milk or caffeinated beverages) to replace fluids lost by diarrhea and vomiting.Give children an electrolyte solution sold in drugstores.If you have diarrhea and are unable to drink fluids (for example, due to nausea or vomiting), you may need medical attention and fluids given through a vein (by IV). This is especially true for young children.
If you take diuretics, you need to manage diarrhea carefully. Talk to your health care provider -- you may need to stop taking the diuretic while you have the diarrhea. Never stop or change medications without talking to your health care provider and getting specific instructions.
For the most common causes of food poisoning, your doctor would NOT prescribe antibiotics.
You can buy medicines at the drugstore that help slow diarrhea. Do not use these medicines without talking to your health care provider if you have bloody diarrhea or a fever. Do not give these medicines to children.
If you have eaten toxins from mushrooms or shellfish, you will need medical attention right away. The emergency room doctor will take steps to empty out your stomach and remove the toxin.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Most people fully recover from the most common types of food poisoning within 12 - 48 hours. Serious complications can arise, however, from certain types of food poisoning.
Death from food poisoning in people who are otherwise healthy is rare in United States.

Possible Complications

Dehydration is the most common complication. This can occur from any of the causes of food poisoning.
Less common but much more serious complications depend on the bacteria that is causing the food poisoning. These may include arthritis, bleeding problems, kidney problems, damage to the nervous system, and swelling or irritation in the tissue around the heart.

When to Contact a Doctor

Call for an appointment with your doctor if you have:

• Blood or pus in your stools
• Black stools
• Stomach pain that does not go away after a bowel movement
• Symptoms of dehydration (thirst, dizziness, light-headedness)Diarrhea with a fever above 101°F (100.4°F in children)
• Recently traveled to a foreign country and developed diarrheaAlso call your doctor if:
• The diarrhea gets worse or does not get better in 2 days for an infant or child, or 5 days for adults
• A child over 3 months old has been vomiting for more than 12 hours; in younger babies, call as soon as vomiting or diarrhea beginsGo to the emergency room or call your local emergency number, such as 911, if:
• Bleeding is excessive or your stools are maroon or black
• You may have poisoning from mushrooms, fish, or botulism
• Your heart is racing, pounding, or skipping