When Should You Call A Doctor And Prevent Food Poisoning?

In most cases, food poisoning doesn’t require medical attention. However some do. The most common problem of food poisoning is dehydration. If you are healthy, you are unlikely to remain dehydrated. As long as you drink enough fluids to make up for what you have lost due to vomiting and diarrhea. Below are the symptoms to know When Should You Call a Doctor and Prevent Food Poisoning?

Contact Your Doctor And Prevent Food Poisoning if You Have Any of the Following Symptoms:

Vomiting that goes on for over than 12 hours.
Diarrhea with fever higher than 101°F (38.3°C).
Severe belly pain that doesn't go away after defecation.
Bloody stool (diarrhea or normal stool) or vomiting blood.
Defecation that are black or maroon.
A racing or beating heart.

When Should You Call A Doctor And Prevent Food Poisoning; It's important to look out for signs of dehydration, which include:

Extreme thirst
Poor or absent urine (urination)
Dizziness
Sunken eyes
Weakness or lightheartedness.

Food poisoning (especially dehydration) can be more severe for individual with weakened immunity or health problems. If you have health problems (such as kidney problems or sickle cell anemia), call the doctor immediately. Pregnant women should also inform their doctor if they have food poisoning; As some bacteria can affect the fetus.

How is food poisoning diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask you what ate and when the symptoms started. The doctor will examine you. Collect sample of blood, feces and urine and send it to the laboratory for analysis. This will enable the doctor identify the cause of the disease.

How is food poisoning treated?

Food poisoning usually progresses and individuals get better on their own. However, doctors can prescribe antibiotics to treat more severe case of bacterial food poisoning. Individuals with severe dehydration may require hospital treatment with intravenous (IV) fluids.

Home care

Food poisoning usually disappears naturally within a few days. In the meantime, to help you feel better:

Get a lot of rest.
Take liquids (water) to protect against dehydration. Electrolyte works, but anything except milk or caffeinated beverages will do.
Takes little, and frequently sip liquid (water).
Avoid solid food and dairy products until the diarrhea has stopped.

Try not to take over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medicines. These can make the symptoms of food poisoning last more. Once diarrhea and vomiting have stopped, take a low-fat meal for a couple of days. To prevent further stomach upset.

Call your doctor if the symptoms become severe or if you see signs of dehydration.

How Can You Prevent Food Poisoning?

Follow these tips to protect you and your family from food poisoning:

Teach everyone in your family to wash their hands thoroughly and frequently. Especially after utilizing the bathroom. Before touching food and after touching raw food. Use soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds.
Clean all utensils, cutting sheets, and surfaces that you use to prepare food with hot, soapy water.
Do not serve unpasteurized milk or foods containing unpasteurized milk.
Wash all raw fruit and vegetables that cannot be peeled.
Keep raw foods (especially meat, chicken, seafood) away from other foods until cooked.
All foods of animal origin should be cooked at safe temperatures. For minced and pork meat, this means a minimum of 160 ° F (71 ° C). For firm cuts of meat, the safety temperature is 63 ° C (145 ° F). For chicken and turkey (minced and whole) at least 74 ° C (165 ° F). Cook the eggs until the yolk hardens. Fish are generally safe to reach 63 ° C (145 ° F).

We Can Also Prevent Food Poisoning Via

Store leftovers in the refrigerator, preferably in a closed container with a lid for rapid cooling.
Thaw food in the refrigerator, microwave and cold water. Do not defrost food at room temperature.
If the food has expired or has a strange taste or smell, discard it.
If you're pregnant, maintain a distance from all raw or half-cooked meat or fish, smoked fish. Raw eggs and items that may contain raw eggs. Soft cheeses, unpasteurized milk.
Do not drink water from streams or untreated wells.
If your family has food poisoning, contact your local health department. Local authorities have been unable to find the cause and stop the epidemic that could affect other people.