Food Poisoning (cont.)
Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM
Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.
In this Article
- Food poisoning facts
- What is food poisoning?
- What are the signs and symptoms of food poisoning?
- Are food poisoning and stomach flu the same thing?
- How long does food poisoning last?
- What are the types of food poisoning?
- What are the causes of food poisoning?
- Short incubation of less than 16 to 24 hours
- Intermediate incubation from about 1 to 3 days
- Long incubation of 3 to 5 days
- Very long incubation of up to a month
- When should the doctor be called for food poisoning?
- How is food poisoning diagnosed?
- What is the treatment for food poisoning?
- Are there any home remedies for food poisoning?
- How can food poisoning be prevented?
- What are the complications of food poisoning?
- What is the prognosis for someone with food poisoning?
- Food Poisoning Dangers Slideshow
- Food Frauds Slideshow
- Take the Summer Food Safety Quiz
- Summer Food Safety FAQs
- Find a local Doctor in your town
What are the complications of food poisoning?
The first and most important complication of food poisoning is dehydration. Food poisoning can cause significant loss of body water and changes in the electrolyte levels in the blood.
If the affected individual has underlying medical conditions requiring medication, persistent vomiting may make it difficult to swallow and digest those medications.
Other complications of food poisoning are specific to the type of infection. Some are listed in the causes of food poisoning such as HUS, TTP, or encephalopathy.
What is the prognosis for someone with food poisoning?
Fortunately, most cases of food poisoning resolve within a few hours to days and the affected individual returns to normal function.
Depending upon the cause of the infection, and the patient's underlying medical condition, the infection may cause significant organ damage and even death.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Estimates of Foodborne Illness in the United States. Jan 08, 2014
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epidemiologic Notes and Reports Listeriosis Outbreak Associated with Mexican-Style Cheese - California. May 02, 2001
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Associated with Jensen Farms Cantaloupe - United States, August--September 2011.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Investigations - United States, 2013 (Final Update). Dec 02, 2013
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