FOOD POISONING

For those who have ever had a case of food poisoning you know what a terrible thing it is! Especially when it occurs after a meal that you have spent money on! It is a complicated thing, like most things in medicine. This is a medical review of how your doctor approaches the problem.

Food poisoning is an illness that can cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. The food can be contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

Food can be infected by several means. One way would be by people who work with food who are sick and do not wash their hands. Another way is that the infected food is not washed properly or cooked enough. Another way is for one food product infects another food item.

Symptoms can happen right after a meal, days or even weeks later. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea that can be watery or bloody, and fever. 

Other symptoms can include blurry vision or dizziness.

If this should happen to you, be sure to drink plenty of water. Eat small meals that do not include a lot of fat in it. See your doctor for abdominal pain, if you cannot eat or drink, vomiting blood or having blood in the bowel movements, or if you have fever more than 100 degrees.

If you are younger (child) or an older adult, see your doctor sooner as kidney involvement may occur sooner.

Here are some helpful recommendations

• Do not drink unpasteurized milk or any unpasteurized products
• Wash raw fruits and vegetables
• Keep the refrigerator temperature at 40 degrees or colder
• Use precooked or perishable or ready to eat food as soon as possible
• Keep raw meat, fish, or poultry separated from each other
• Wash hands, knives or cutting boards after handling uncooked food
• Cook chicken eggs thoroughly until yolk is firm
• Never leave cooked food at room temp for more than two hours

For pregnant women

• Do not eat hot dogs, lunch meats or other delicatessen meats unless they are reheated until steaming hot. Microwave ovens may give uneven cooking
• Avoid spilling fluids from raw meat and hot dog packages onto utensils or other surfaces that you will come in contact with
• Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood unless it has been cooked.

For more information, consult your health care provider.

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Dr. Frank Marinkovich owns and operates Eastside Family Health Center in Kirkland, WA. Serving Kirkland and the Eastside, Seattle, Bellevue, Renton and the surrounding local communities. Specializing in Primary Care, Automobile Accidents and FAA physicals. Visit them online at Eastside Family Health Center or call them at (425) 899-2525.
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