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Food Poisoning Treatment

Call 911 if: 

  • You think the food poisoning may be from seafood or mushrooms
  • If the person is severely dehydrated

1. Control Nausea and Vomiting

 

  • Avoid solid foods until vomiting ends. Then eat light, bland foods, such as saltine crackers or bread.
  • Sipping soda may help prevent vomiting. 
  • Don’t eat fried, greasy, or sweet foods.
  • Don’t take anti-nausea or anti-diarrhea medication without asking your doctor. They may make some kinds of diarrhea worse. Your doctor may give you anti-nausea medication if you are at risk of being dehydrated.

 

2. Prevent Dehydration

 

  • Drink clear fluids, starting with small sips and gradually drinking more.
  • If vomiting and diarrhea last more than 24 hours, drink an oral rehydration solution.

 

3. When to Call a Doctor

 

Call a doctor immediately for diarrhea:

 

  • That lasts more than 3 days
  • That happens after you eat seafood or mushrooms
  • Accompanied by a fever
  • With blood or dark stools
  • With prolonged vomiting that prevents keeping liquids down
  • With signs of severe dehydration, such as dry mouth, decreased urination, dizziness, fatigue, or increased heart rate or breathing rate

 

WebMD Medical Reference

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Reviewed by Jonathan L Gelfand, MD on May 03, 2010
© 2011 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

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