From the Guidelines
To manage food poisoning, focus on hydration and rest while your body recovers, and consider the most recent guidelines for prevention and treatment. When managing food poisoning, it is essential to prioritize hydration and rest to help the body recover. Drink plenty of clear fluids like water, diluted fruit juices, or oral rehydration solutions such as Pedialyte to replace lost fluids and electrolytes, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1. Start with small sips if you're nauseated, and for symptom relief, take over-the-counter medications like Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) for diarrhea and stomach cramps, following package directions, typically 30 ml or two tablets every 30-60 minutes as needed, not exceeding 8 doses in 24 hours. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) at 200-400 mg every 4-6 hours can help with fever and pain. Avoid solid foods until vomiting subsides, then gradually reintroduce bland foods like toast, rice, bananas, and applesauce. Food poisoning typically resolves within 1-3 days as your body eliminates the toxins or pathogens. Seek medical attention if you experience severe symptoms like high fever (over 101.5°F), bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, signs of dehydration (extreme thirst, dry mouth, minimal urination), or if symptoms persist beyond three days, especially for vulnerable individuals like young children, pregnant women, elderly people, or those with compromised immune systems. Some key prevention strategies include avoiding certain foods, such as raw eggs, undercooked poultry or meat, unpasteurized dairy products, and raw seed sprouts, as well as avoiding cross-contamination of foods and washing hands, cutting boards, counters, and knives and other utensils thoroughly after contact with uncooked foods 1. Additionally, travelers to developing countries should take precautions to avoid foodborne and waterborne infections, such as avoiding raw fruits and vegetables, raw or undercooked seafood or meat, tap water, and ice made with tap water, and instead opting for steaming hot foods, bottled beverages, and hot coffee or tea 1. It is also essential to follow safe food-handling and preparation practices, especially for immunocompromised individuals, and to be aware of the risks associated with certain foods, such as raw shellfish and soft cheeses 1. By prioritizing hydration, rest, and prevention strategies, individuals can effectively manage food poisoning and reduce the risk of complications. Some of the key takeaways for managing food poisoning include:
- Staying hydrated with clear fluids
- Getting plenty of rest
- Avoiding certain foods and cross-contamination
- Washing hands and utensils thoroughly
- Seeking medical attention if symptoms are severe or persist
- Following safe food-handling and preparation practices
- Being aware of the risks associated with certain foods.
From the Research
Management of Food Poisoning
- The main key in the management of food poisoning is re-hydration 2
- Empirical therapy using antibiotics may be considered in high-risk patients, such as:
- Elderly
- Immunocompromised
- Diabetes
- Liver cirrhosis
- Intestinal hypomotility 2
- Prevention is an important measure in the management of food poisoning by:
- Keeping food from contamination
- Always keeping food fresh
- Maintaining good hygiene 2
Treatment Options
- Bismuth subsalicylate can be beneficial for those at risk or affected by food and waterborne diarrheal disease, such as traveler's (infectious) diarrhea 3
- Subjects treated with bismuth subsalicylate for up to 21 days have 3.5 times greater odds of preventing traveler's diarrhea compared with placebo 3
- Subjects with infectious diarrhea treated with bismuth subsalicylate had 3.7 times greater odds of diarrhea relief compared to those receiving placebo 3