Food poisoning

Introduction: Food poisoning

Food-borne illnesses are very common and are most commonly due to bacteria or other microbes in food. Food poisoning differs from a food intolerance or food allergy which occurs when a person cannot tolerate a food, but it is not poisonous to others. Typically, food poisoning causes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but there are exceptions such as botulism which often has nerve symptoms rather than digestive symptoms. Several types of food poisoning also resemble cold or flu in their early stages.

Symptoms of Food poisoning

• Symptoms depend on the type of food poisoning
• Gastrointestinal symptoms
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal cramps

See full list of 15 symptoms of Food poisoning

Medical Textbooks Online about Food poisoning

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Food poisoning?

• Misdiagnosis of Food poisoning
• Underlying causes of Food poisoning (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Misdiagnosis and Food poisoning

Undiagnosed acute appendicitis deadly in children: It is a sad reality that a child with acute appendicitis has a high likelihood of misdiagnosis. This misdiagnosis is a well-known cause of death, and indeed of malpractice lawsuits,...read more »

Food poisoning may actually be an infectious disease: Many people who come down with "stomach symptoms" like diarrhea assume that it's "something I ate" (i.e. food poisoning). In fact, it's more likely to be an infectious...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Food poisoning

Causes of Food poisoning

• Shigella dysenteriae
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Ciguatoxin
• Botulism
• Scombrotoxin

See full list of 23 causes of Food poisoning

Read more about causes of Food poisoning.

More information about causes of Food poisoning:

• Food poisoning as a complication caused by other conditions
• Food poisoning as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Food poisoning

Videos for Food poisoning

Patient Surveys for Food poisoning

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• Survey about the symptoms of your Food poisoning
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Prognosis for Food poisoning

More about prognosis of Food poisoning

Reseach about Food poisoning

Visit our research pages for current research about Food poisoning treatments.

Clinical Trials for Food poisoning

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Food poisoning include:

• Study of Human Botulism Immunoglobulin in Infants With Botulism - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - botulism immune globulin
• A Test to Predict the Hemolytic Potential of Drugs in G6PD Deficiency - This study has been suspended (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Primaquine
• Treatment of Survivors After Botulism Outbreak - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Botulinum AntiToxin
• Botulism Outbreak in Thailand (Episode II) - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Botulinum AntiToxin

Read more about Clinical Trials for Food poisoning

Prevention of Food poisoning

Prevention information for Food poisoning has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Food poisoning.

• Wash hands - when preparing food, touching raw food, changing diapers, etc.
• Cook beef properly
• Cook chicken properly
• Cook eggs properly
• Wash fruits and vegetables

Read more about prevention of Food poisoning

Statistics for Food poisoning

• Medical statistics for Food poisoning
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Food poisoning
• Death and Mortality statistics for Food poisoning
• Society statistics for Food poisoning

Types of Food poisoning

• Typhoid fever
• Botulism food poisoning
• Infant botulism food poisoning
• Ptomaine food poisoning
• E-coli food poisoning

See full list of 22 Types of Food poisoning

Medical Guidebooks and Ebooks for Food poisoning

• Icon Health Sourcebook for Food poisoning

See all guides and ebooks for Food poisoning

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Food poisoning, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

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• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
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Article Excerpts about Food poisoning

Bacteria and Foodborne Illness: NIDDK (Excerpt)

Foodborne illness results from eating food contaminated with bacteria (or their toxins) or other pathogens such as parasites or viruses. The illnesses range from upset stomach to more serious symptoms, including diarrhea, fever, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and dehydration. Although most foodborne infections are undiagnosed and unreported, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that every year about 76 million people in the United States become ill from pathogens in food. Of these, up to 5,000 die. (Source: excerpt from Bacteria and Foodborne Illness: NIDDK)

Foodborne Infections General: DBMD (Excerpt)

Foodborne disease is caused by consuming contaminated foods or beverages.  Many different disease-causing microbes, or pathogens, can contaminate foods, so there are many different foodborne infections.  In addition, poisonous chemicals, or other harmful substances can cause foodborne diseases if they are present in food.  (Source: excerpt from Foodborne Infections General: DBMD)

Foodborne Diseases, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID (Excerpt)

Infectious diseases spread through food - so-called foodborne illnesses - are a common, distressing, and sometimes life-threatening problem for millions of people in the United States and around the world. Scientists estimate that the 76 million foodborne illnesses that occur each year in the United States account for 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths. Persons infected with foodborne organisms may have no symptoms or can develop symptoms ranging from mild intestinal discomfort to severe dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and death. (Source: excerpt from Foodborne Diseases, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

Definitions of Food poisoning:

Illness caused by poisonous or contaminated food - (Source - WordNet 2.1)