$Unique_ID{PAR00076}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Food Poisoning}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Food Poisoning Vomiting Abdominal cramps Diarrhea Fever
electrolyte solutions electrolytes solution antidiarrheic antidiarrhetic
medication antidiarrheal medications bloody stools stool blood weakness
stomach intestine intestines intestinal bacteria chemicals staphylococci staph
bacterium boils impetigo germ germs improper refrigeration refrigerated foods}
$Log{}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Food Poisoning


     Quick Reference

     SYMPTOMS
     - Vomiting
     - Abdominal cramps
     - Diarrhea
     - Fever or no fever

     HOME CARE
     - Treat vomiting first by restricting the child's diet to clear liquids
       only.
     - When vomiting has stopped, treat diarrhea by limiting or not
       reintroducing solid foods.  Especially avoid butter, fatty meats,
       peanut butter, whole-grain cereals, vegetables, and most fruits (apples
       and bananas are all right).
     - Do not give the child milk.
     - Give the child plenty of clear liquids, such as tea, water, flavored
       gelatin water, and commercial electrolyte solutions (available from
       your pharmacist).

     PRECAUTIONS
     - Do not prepare food that needs refrigeration for a child's lunch box or
       for a picnic if refrigeration will not be available.
     - A child with diarrhea and vomiting needs plenty of clear liquids to
       avoid dehydration (a serious loss of body fluids).
     - Do not give antidiarrheal medications to children.
     - Isolate an infant from children who are ill with vomiting and diarrhea.
     - If there is blood in the stools, high fever, extreme weakness, or
       severe or prolonged diarrhea (more than 12 to 24 hours for a young
       infant or more than two to three days for an older child), call your
       doctor.


     Food poisoning is a disorder of the stomach and intestines caused by
bacteria or chemicals in foods.  The classic form of food poisoning is caused
by staphylococci ("staph" bacteria), the same germs that cause boils and
impetigo.  The germs enter the food during its preparation.  If the food is
not properly refrigerated, the germs multiply rapidly, contaminating the food
with a toxin (poison) produced by the germs.  The foods in which staph germs
grow best are pastries and other starchy foods ordinarily served cold, salads,
cold chicken, ham and beef in gelatin, whipped cream, and custards.  Since
staph germs and their toxins are odorless and tasteless, the contaminated food
smells and tastes normal.
     A variety of organisms other than staph germs can cause food poisoning of
a milder nature.  Two more serious conditions that are sometimes classified as
food poisoning are botulism and dysentery.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     Food poisoning causes vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea within one
to six hours after the contaminated food was eaten.  The child may or may not
have a fever.  Symptoms last 12 to 24 hours.
     Food poisoning is usually considered when a number of people who have
eaten the same food become ill within hours of one another.  Food poisoning
can occur after picnics, parties, or eating in a cafeteria or restaurant where
foods have been prepared in advance and improperly stored.

     HOME CARE

     When a child has both diarrhea and vomiting, treat vomiting first by
restricting the child's diet to clear liquids only.  Once the vomiting has
stopped, treat the diarrhea by limiting or not reintroducing solid
foods--especially butter, fatty meats, peanut butter, whole-grain cereals,
vegetables, and most fruits (apples and bananas are all right).  Do not give
the child milk, since milk may further aggravate diarrhea.
     Encourage the child to drink plenty of clear liquids, such as tea, water,
flavored gelatin water, and commercial electrolyte solutions (available from
your pharmacist).

PRECAUTIONS

  -  Do not prepare food that requires refrigeration for your child's lunch
     box or for a picnic if refrigeration will not be available.
  -  A child with diarrhea and vomiting needs plenty of clear liquids to avoid
     dehydration (a serious loss of body fluids).
  -  Do not give antidiarrheal medications to children, since side effects are
     common and can be dangerous.
  -  Isolate an infant from children who are ill with vomiting and diarrhea.
  -  If there is blood in the stools, high fever, prostration (extreme
     weakness or collapse), or severe or prolonged diarrhea (more than 12 to
     24 hours for a young infant or more than two to three days for an older
     child), call your doctor.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     In severe cases, hospitalization may be required so that the child can be
given intravenous fluids.  Local health departments can investigate food
poisoning outbreaks and trace the source of food poisoning by testing
suspected foods.

RELATED TOPICS:  Botulism; Dehydration; Diarrhea in older children; Diarrhea
in young children; Dysentery; Stomachache, acute; Vomiting