How to Cure Food Poisoning

Food poisoning symptoms can appear hours or days after eating food tainted by bacteria, parasites or viruses. Contamination can occur anytime during food processing or handling. Symptoms of food poisoning include fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The Mayo Clinic recommends seeing a doctor if you experience any of the following: vomiting lasting more than two days, blood in the vomit or bowel movements, inability to keep liquids down for 24 hours, severe abdominal pain or cramping, severe diarrhea or a temperature over 101.5 F.

Instructions

1. Identify the source of the contamination. According to the Mayo Clinic, treatment for food poisoning can depend on the source of the illness.

2. Take a prescription antibiotic. This is necessary with some types of bacterial food poisoning. Step one would first need to be completed and a doctor must be consulted.

3. Undergo intravenous antibiotics treatment in the hospital. Not all cases of food poisoning require this, but it is necessary if the food poisoning is caused by listeria.

4. Replace fluids lost. Most cases of food poisoning will resolve without medical treatment. During this period it is necessary to replace fluids that have been lost due to vomiting or diarrhea.

5. Drink beverages that help to replace electrolytes in the body, such as calcium, potassium and sodium. During vomiting and diarrhea electrolytes can be lost and need to be replaced.

6. Check into the hospital and receive intravenous salts and fluids. Sometimes it is not possible to replace fluids adequately at home; severe cases of dehydration require hospitilization.

References

• Mayo Clinic on Food Poisoning