Food Poisoning

Overview

You get this illness from eating contaminated food. It may have bacteria, viruses or parasites in it. Or, it may have toxins in it that were created by these organisms. Food poisoning can make you very sick. It can kill you.

Causes

Food can be contaminated in many ways. It can happen on farms. It can happen when the food is processed. It can happen when it's shipped or stored. And, it can happen in the kitchen. It's sometimes very hard to trace food poisoning back to its source.

Symptoms

Symptoms of food poisoning depend on the organism involved. You may have nausea, vomiting, and fever. You may have abdominal pain, cramping and diarrhea. And in severe cases, you may have extreme pain, high fever, blurry vision and bloody vomit or diarrhea. Your symptoms may begin soon after you eat the food. Or, you may not have them until days or weeks later.

Treatment

In most cases, food poisoning gets better on its own after a few days. But if your symptoms don't go away, and if you experience bloody diarrhea or a high fever, you need to get emergency medical attention. You may need to be hospitalized. Your doctor will create a care plan that's right for you.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.