

All you can do is wait for your body to get rid of the germ that is causing the illness.

You can significantly reduce your risk of food poisoning by handling food properly and following four easy steps: In extreme cases, foodborne illness can also result in death. Long Term Risks and Side-EffectsĪlthough long-term risks of food poisoning are relatively rare, they can be very serious when they do happen, resulting in problems such as kidney failure, chronic arthritis and brain or nerve damage. The symptoms and severity of food poisoning vary, but common symptoms include upset stomach, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, fever and dehydration.

Food poisoning also can result from foods or drinks that are contaminated with Escherichia coli ( E.Coli), Listeria and Clostridium botulinum (or botulism) and result in severe reactions requiring hospitalization. The top five pathogens accounting for the vast majority of food poisoning outbreaks include: Norovirus, Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter and Staphylococcus aureus. These high risk groups include older adults, infants and young children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems and chronic illness such as diabetes, kidney disease, HIV/AIDS and some cancer patients. 1 And, because food poisoning is so common, it is good to know the causes, symptoms and treatments so you can be prepared. The symptoms can be dramatic, not to mention miserable Luckily, you can usually care for yourself at home and you should start feeling better within a week. Those at Risk for Food PoisoningĮveryone has some risk of getting food poisoning, but some people are at greater risk of developing serious illness with long-term effects. Most of us have had food poisoning at some time. Food poisoning causes an estimated 48 million illnesses (1 out of 6 Americans) with 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Food poisoning (also known as foodborne illness or foodborne disease) is an illness caused by bacteria or other pathogens in food.
