Things You'll Need:
- Physician
- Poison control center
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Step 1
Recognize that different types of food poisoning will cause different symptoms. They will vary in nature and severity, depending on what caused the food poisoning and the extent of the food borne infection.
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Step 2
Be aware that mild cases of food poisoning will generally not progress beyond digestive maladies such as abdominal pain, excessive flatulence and nausea. You should still seek the advice of a poison control counselor or doctor.
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Step 3
Know that more severe nausea, diarrhea and vomiting are almost invariably present in more serious cases of food poisoning. Head to the nearest emergency room if you recognize these symptoms.
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Step 4
Treat muscle or general bodily weakness, fatigue and shivering or trembling as signs of a serious case of food poisoning.
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Step 5
Recognize that headache and fever or flu-like symptoms are also often present when acute food poisoning has taken place. You can differentiate these symptoms from a regular fever or flu by their sudden onset. A normal flu or fever will come on slowly over a period of a few days.
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Step 6
Seek immediate medical attention if any of these symptoms are accompanied by the presence of blood in feces. In fact, any case of bloody stool should be reported to a doctor, regardless of whether or not food poisoning is suspected as the cause.
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Step 7
Recognize that dehydration often results from vomiting and diarrhea. The dehydration caused by the symptoms of food poisoning must be carefully controlled since it poses its own set of health risks. Every effort should be made to keep the patient hydrated with fluids that contain electrolytes (necessary salts). Sports beverages are a good choice.
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Step 8
Know that skin lesions can appear in cases of food poisoning caused by raw or undercooked seafood. Such symptoms should be treated with extra caution.
