From the Guidelines
For food poisoning at home, the primary focus should be on hydration by drinking water, clear broths, or oral rehydration solutions like Pedialyte to replace lost fluids and electrolytes, as recommended by the 2017 Infectious Diseases Society of America clinical practice guidelines 1. When managing food poisoning at home, it's essential to take small, frequent sips if nausea is present. Rest is also crucial to help the body recover. Initially, solid foods should be avoided, and then bland, easy-to-digest foods such as toast, crackers, bananas, and rice can be gradually reintroduced once vomiting subsides. Some key points to consider in home treatment include:
- Hydration is key to preventing dehydration and supporting the body's recovery process.
- Over-the-counter medications can help manage symptoms, but their use should be guided by the recommendations for specific age groups and conditions, such as those outlined in the 2017 guidelines for the diagnosis and management of infectious diarrhea 1.
- Certain medications like antimotility drugs (e.g., loperamide) should not be given to children under 18 years of age with acute diarrhea, but may be considered for immunocompetent adults with acute watery diarrhea 1.
- Antinausea and antiemetic medications (e.g., ondansetron) may be given to facilitate tolerance of oral rehydration in children over 4 years of age and in adolescents with acute gastroenteritis associated with vomiting 1.
- It's crucial to avoid dairy products, fatty foods, alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods until recovery, as these can exacerbate symptoms.
- Most cases of food poisoning resolve within 1-3 days, but seeking medical attention is necessary if severe symptoms occur, such as high fever, bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, signs of dehydration, or if symptoms persist beyond three days. The importance of hand hygiene and infection control measures, as emphasized in the 2017 guidelines 1, should not be overlooked in the management of food poisoning at home, to prevent the spread of infection to others.
From the FDA Drug Label
Acute Diarrhea Adults and Pediatric Patients 13 Years and Older: The recommended initial dose is 4 mg (two capsules) followed by 2 mg (one capsule) after each unformed stool. Pediatric Patients 2 Years to 12 Years of Age: In pediatric patients 2 years to 5 years of age (20 kg or less), the non-prescription liquid formulation (Imodium A-D 1 mg/5 mL) should be used; for ages 6 to 12, either loperamide hydrochloride capsules or Imodium A-D liquid may be used
The recommended home treatment for food poisoning (acute diarrhea) includes:
- For adults and pediatric patients 13 years and older: an initial dose of 4 mg of loperamide, followed by 2 mg after each unformed stool.
- For pediatric patients 2 to 12 years of age:
- 2 to 5 years (13 to 20 kg): 1 mg three times daily.
- 6 to 8 years (20 to 30 kg): 2 mg twice daily.
- 8 to 12 years (greater than 30kg): 2 mg three times daily. 2
From the Research
Home Treatment for Food Poisoning
- The primary goal of home treatment for food poisoning is to manage symptoms and prevent dehydration 3.
- Common symptoms of foodborne illnesses include vomiting, diarrhea (with or without blood), fever, abdominal cramping, headache, dehydration, myalgia, and arthralgias 3.
- Empiric treatment should focus on symptom management, rehydration if the patient is clinically dehydrated, and antibiotic therapy if necessary 3.
Medications for Food Poisoning
- Loperamide is an effective therapy for a variety of diarrheal syndromes, including acute, nonspecific (infectious) diarrhea 4.
- However, loperamide can have adverse effects, such as abdominal pain, distention, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and constipation, especially when taken in high doses 4, 5.
- It is essential to use loperamide only at recommended nonprescription doses and under medical supervision to avoid toxicity 5.