Treatments for Food poisoning
Food poisoning: Is the Diagnosis Correct?
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Differential diagnosis list for Food poisoning may include:
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Latest treatments for Food poisoning:
The following are some of the latest treatments for Food poisoning:
Hospital statistics for Food poisoning:
These medical statistics relate to hospitals, hospitalization and Food poisoning:
- 0.001% (168) of hospital consultant episodes were for bacterial foodborne intoxications in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 80% of hospital consultant episodes for bacterial foodborne intoxications required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 48% of hospital consultant episodes for bacterial foodborne intoxications were for bacterial foodborne intoxications men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 52% of hospital consultant episodes for bacterial foodborne intoxications were for bacterial foodborne intoxications women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- more hospital information...»
Medical news summaries about treatments for Food poisoning:
The following medical news items
are relevant to treatment of Food poisoning:
Discussion of treatments for Food poisoning:
Bacteria and Foodborne Illness: NIDDK (Excerpt)
Most cases of foodborne illness are mild and can
be treated by increasing fluid intake, either orally or intravenously, to
replace lost fluids and electrolytes. In cases with gastrointestinal or
neurologic symptoms, people should seek medical attention.
In the
most severe situations, such as HUS, the patient may need hospitalization
in order to receive supportive nutritional and medical therapy.
Maintaining adequate fluid and electrolyte balance and controlling blood
pressure are important. Doctors will try to minimize the impact of reduced
kidney function. Early dialysis is crucial until the kidneys can function
normally again, and blood transfusions may be needed. (Source: excerpt from Bacteria and Foodborne Illness: NIDDK)
Foodborne Infections General: DBMD (Excerpt)
There are many different kinds of foodborne diseases and they
may require different treatments, depending on the symptoms they
cause. Illnesses that are primarily diarrhea or vomiting
can lead to dehydration if the person loses more body fluids and
salts (electrolytes) than they take in. Replacing the lost
fluids and electrolytes and keeping up with fluid intake are important.
If diarrhea is severe, oral rehydration solution such as Ceralyte*,
Pedialyte* or Oralyte*, should be drunk to replace the fluid losses
and prevent dehydration. Sports drinks such as Gatorade*
do not replace the losses correctly and should not be used for
the treatment of diarrheal illness. Preparations of bismuth
subsalicylate (e.g., Pepto-Bismol)* can reduce the duration and
severity of simple diarrhea. If diarrhea and cramps
occur, without bloody stools or fever, taking an antidiarrheal
medication may provide symptomatic relief, but these medications
should be avoided if there is high fever or blood in the stools
because they may make the illness worse. (Source: excerpt from Foodborne Infections General: DBMD)
Foodborne Infections General: DBMD (Excerpt)
A health care provider should be consulted for a diarrheal illness
is accompanied by
- high fever (temperature over 101.5 F, measured orally)
- blood in the stools
- prolonged vomiting that prevents keeping liquids down (which
can lead to dehydration)
- signs of dehydration, including a decrease in urination,
a dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up.
- diarrheal illness that lasts more than 3 days
Do not be surprised if your doctor does not prescribe an antibiotic.
Many diarrheal illnesses are caused by viruses and will improve
in 2 or 3 days without antibiotic therapy. In fact, antibiotics
have no effect on viruses, and using an antibiotic to treat a
viral infection could cause more harm than good It
is often not necessary to take an antibiotic even in the case
of a mild bacterial infection. Other treatments can help
the symptoms, and careful handwashing can prevent the spread of
infection to other people. Overuse of antibiotics is the
principal reason many bacteria are becoming resistant. Resistant
bacteria are no longer killed by the antibiotic. This means
that it is important to use antibiotics only when they are really
needed. Partial treatment can also cause bacteria to become
resistant. If an antibiotic is prescribed, it is important
to take all of the medication as prescribed, and not stop early
just because the symptoms seem to be improving. (Source: excerpt from Foodborne Infections General: DBMD)
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Book Excerpts: Treatment of Food poisoning
Treatments of Food poisoning: Online Medical Books
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Nausea & Vomiting:
Treatment
(In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)
-
Fluid resuscitation is a mainstay of therapy, because vomiting may cause significant dehydration
-
Antiemetics (e.g., metoclopramide, ondansetron, prochlorperazine) may be administered to control symptoms
-
Treat reversible causes as necessary (e.g., uremia, hypercalcemia, CNS infections, toxic exposures)
-
Treatment of underlying etiologies generally eliminates vomiting
-
Inner ear causes of vomiting may respond to treatment with anticholinergics (e.g., meclizine)
-
Endoscopy/colonoscopy may be used diagnostically and therapeutically in cases of peptic ulcer disease or large bowel obstruction
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: In a Page: Signs and Symptoms, 2004
Vomiting:
Treatment
(In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms)
-
Stabilize patient and fluid resuscitation as initial therapy with electrolyte correction
-
Surgical consultation if obstruction suspected
-
Oral rehydration with small amounts of liquids if tolerated
-
If signs of obstruction, nasogastric tube decompression and bowel rest
-
Treat infections if indicated
-
Remove toxins and allergens
-
Surgical interventions for volvulus, Hirschprung, intracranial masses, pyloric stenosis, other anatomic causes
-
Correct metabolic derangements
-
Lifelong gluten-free diet for celiac disease
-
Rare use of antiemetics/promotility agents for chemotherapy, motion sickness, postsurgery, gastroesophageal reflux disease
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms, 2007
Vomiting – Projectile:
Treatment
(In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms)
-
Maintain fluid balance
-
Correct electrolytes
-
Surgical correction
–Pyloroplasty for pyloric stenosis
–Ladd procedure for malrotation
-
Treat infections
-
Superior mesenteric artery syndrome
–May require nasojejunal feeds/TPN
-
Acid blockers for gastroesophageal reflux
-
Amino acid or hydrolysate formula for milk allergy
-
PKU
–Avoid phenylalanine (requires special formula, dietary restrictions until maturation, possibly lifelong)
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms, 2007
Poisonous snakebite:
Treatment (Tx)
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Patient positioned lying down, with bitten limb placed lower than heart; surgical debridement; antivenin; I.V. fluids; blood products; endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation; analgesics
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Poisonous snakebites:
Treatment
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Prompt, appropriate first aid can reduce venom absorption and prevent severe symptoms.
❑ If possible, identify the snake, but don’t waste time trying to find it.
❑ Place the victim in the supine position to slow venom metabolism and absorption.
❑ Don’t give the victim any food, beverage, or medication orally.
❑ Authorities disagree about what constitutes appropriate prehospital care. Some recommend against placing a constrictive tourniquet (band) on the affected limb unless the victim is far from a medical facility.
❑ Whether you apply a tourniquet or not, immediately immobilize the victim’s affected limb below heart level, and instruct the victim to remain as quiet as possible.
❑ If a tourniquet is applied, the victim or the person applying the tourniquet should check the victim’s distal pulses regularly and loosen the tourniquet slightly as needed to maintain circulation. Remember that the goal of applying a tourniquet is to obstruct lymphatic drainage, not blood flow.
❑ When indicated, apply the tourniquet so that it’s slightly constrictive, obstructing only lymphatic and superficial venous blood flow. Apply the band about 4(10 cm) above the fang marks or just above the first joint proximal to the bite. The tourniquet should be loose enough to allow a finger between the band and the skin. After the tourniquet is in place, don’t remove it until a physician has examined the victim.
Alert Don’t apply a tourniquet if more than 30 minutes have elapsed since the bite. Keep in mind also that total tourniquet time shouldn’t exceed 2 hours and that the use of a tourniquet shouldn’t delay antivenin administration. Loss of a limb is possible if a tourniquet is too tight or if tourniquet time is too long.
❑ If the patient is more than a few hours away from a hospital, wash the skin over the fang marks. Within 5 to 15 minutes of a pit viper bite, make an incision through the fang marks about ½"(1.3 cm) long and ⅛"(3.2 mm) deep. Be especially careful if the bite is on the hand, where blood vessels and tendons are close to the skin surface.
Using a bulb syringe — or, if no other means is available, mouth suction — apply suction for up to 1 hour in the absence of antivenin administration.
Alert Remember, an incision and suction are effective only in pit viper bites and only within 1 hour of the bite. Suction is also indicated if transport time to an emergency facility would exceed 30 minutes. Mouth suction is contraindicated if the rescuer has oral ulcers, if the victim is close to a medical facility, or if antivenin can be given promptly.
Alert Never give the victim alcoholic drinks or stimulants because they speed venom absorption. Never apply ice to a snakebite because it will increase tissue damage.
❑ Record the signs and symptoms of progressive envenomation and when they develop. Most snakebite victims are hospitalized for only 24 to 48 hours. Treatment usually consists of antivenin administration, but minor snakebites may not require antivenin. Other treatments include tetanus toxoid or tetanus immune globulin; various broad-spectrum antibiotics; and, depending on respiratory status, severity of pain, and the type of snakebite, acetaminophen, codeine, morphine, or meperidine. (Opioids are contraindicated for the treatment of coral snakebites.)
Necrotic snakebites usually need surgical debridement after 3 or 4 days. Intense, rapidly progressive edema requires fasciotomy within 2 or 3 hours of the bite; extreme envenomation may require amputation of the limb and subsequent reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation, and physical therapy.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Poisoning:
Treatment (Tx)
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Depending on poison: airway management, CPR, poison antidote, patient placed on left side, supportive care (I.V. fluid replacement, oxygen therapy, seizure precautions)
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Vomiting:
Patient counseling
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Advise patients to replace fluid losses to avoid dehydration. If vomiting is persistent, administer an antiemetic; consider hospitalizing the patient for I.V. fluid replacement or parenteral nutrition therapy. Advise patients suffering from migraine headaches that vomiting may be a prodromal symptom and that they should take antimigraine medication.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Snakebites, poisonous:
Treatment
(Handbook of Diseases)
Prompt, appropriate first aid can reduce venom absorption and prevent severe symptoms.
❑ If possible, identify the snake, but don’t waste time trying to find it.
❑ Place the victim in the supine position to slow venom metabolism and absorption.
❑ Don’t give the victim any food, beverage, or medication orally.
❑ Authorities disagree about what constitutes appropriate prehospital care. Some recommend against placing a constrictive tourniquet (band) on the affected limb unless the victim is far from a medical facility.
❑ Whether you apply a tourniquet or not, immediately immobilize the victim’s affected limb below heart level, and instruct the victim to remain as quiet as possible.
❑ If a tourniquet is applied, the victim or the person applying the tourniquet should check the victim’s distal pulses regularly and loosen the tourniquet slightly as needed to maintain circulation.
CLINICAL TIP: Remember that the goal of applying a tourniquet is to obstruct lymphatic drainage, not blood flow. The use of a tourniquet in prehospital care is controversial.
❑ When indicated, apply the tourniquet so that it’s slightly constrictive, obstructing only lymphatic and superficial venous blood flow. Apply the band about 4" (10 cm) above the fang marks or just above the first joint proximal to the bite. The tourniquet should be loose enough to allow a finger between the band and the skin. After the tourniquet is in place, don’t remove it until the victim is examined by a physician.
Caution: Don’t apply a tourniquet if more than 30 minutes has elapsed since the bite. Keep in mind also that total tourniquet time shouldn’t exceed 2 hours and that the use of a tourniquet shouldn’t delay antivenin administration. Remember: Loss of a limb is possible if a tourniquet is too tight or if tourniquet time is too long.
❑ If the patient is more than 30 minutes away from a facility, wash the skin over the fang marks. Within 1 hour of a pit viper bite, make an incision through the fang marks about ½" (1.3 cm) long and ⅛" (0.3 cm) deep. Be especially careful if the bite is on the hand, where blood vessels and tendons are close to the skin surface.
Using a bulb syringe — or, if no other means is available, mouth suction — apply suction for up to 2 hours in the absence of antivenin administration.
Remember: An incision and suction are effective only in pit viper bites and only within 1 hour of the bite and if transport time to an emergency facility would exceed 30 minutes. Mouth suction is contraindicated if the rescuer has oral ulcers, if the victim is close to a medical facility, or if antivenin can be given promptly.
❑ Never give the victim alcoholic drinks or stimulants because they speed venom absorption. Never apply ice to a snakebite because it will increase tissue damage.
❑ Record the signs and symptoms of progressive envenomation and when they develop. Most snakebite victims are hospitalized for only 24 to 48 hours. Treatment usually consists of antivenin administration, but minor snakebites may not require antivenin. Other treatments include tetanus toxoid or tetanus immune globulin; various broad-spectrum antibiotics; and, depending on respiratory status, severity of pain, and the type of snakebite, acetaminophen, codeine, morphine, or meperidine. (Opioids are contraindicated in coral snakebites.)
Necrotic snakebites usually need surgical debridement after 3 to 4 days. Intense, rapidly progressive edema requires fasciotomy within 2 to 3 hours of the bite; extreme envenomation may require amputation of the limb and subsequent reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation, and physical therapy.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Vomiting:
Nursing considerations
(Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series)
Draw blood to determine fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance. (Prolonged vomiting can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and metabolic alkalosis.) Have the patient breathe deeply to ease his nausea and help prevent further vomiting. Keep his room fresh and clean smelling by removing bedpans and emesis basins promptly after use. Elevate his head or position him on his side to prevent aspiration of vomitus. Continuously monitor his vital signs and intake and output (including vomitus and liquid stools). If necessary, administer I.V. fluids or have the patient sip clear liquids to maintain hydration.
Because pain can precipitate or intensify nausea and vomiting, administer pain medications promptly. If possible, give these by injection or suppository to prevent exacerbating associated nausea. If an opioid is used to treat pain, monitor bowel sounds and flatus and bowel movements carefully because they slow down GI motility and may exacerbate vomiting. If you administer an antiemetic, be alert for abdominal distention and hypoactive bowel sounds, which may indicate gastric retention. If this occurs, insert a nasogastric tube.
Patient teaching
Advise the patient to replace fluid losses to avoid dehydration. Inform the patient suffering from migraine headaches that vomiting may be a prodromal symptom; advise him to take antimigraine medication should vomiting occur.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series, 2007
Vomiting:
Patient counseling
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)
Have the patient breathe deeply to ease his nausea and help prevent further vomiting. Advise him to replace fluid losses to avoid dehydration. A patient suffering from migraine headaches should be advised that vomiting may be a prodromal symptom and antimigraine medication should be taken.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007
Vomiting:
Nursing considerations
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
▪ Draw blood to determine fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance.
▪ Keep the patient's room clean smelling by removing bedpans and emesis basins promptly after use.
▪ Elevate the patient's head or position him on his side to prevent aspiration of vomitus.
▪ Monitor vital signs and intake and output (including vomitus and liquid stools).
▪ If necessary, administer I.V. fluids, or have the patient sip clear liquids to maintain hydration.
▪ Because pain can precipitate or intensify nausea and vomiting, administer pain medications promptly.
▪ Insert a nasogastric tube, as ordered.
Patient teaching
▪ Teach the patient deep-breathing exercises to ease nausea.
▪ Explain the importance of replacing fluid losses.
▪ Teach the patient about dietary restrictions and how to advance the diet.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007
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