Personal Injury Law

Food Poisoning: Get over it (literally)

By Megan Roth

We've already established that there's no guaranteed way to predict whether or not someone will contract a food-borne illness; granted, it's relatively likely an illness will result if one eats raw hamburger, consumes home-canned goods that aren't sealed properly, or drinks the water in Mexico.

But outside of that, there's just no guarantee. As I said in Thursday's post, we'd prevent it if we could, but unfortunately that's just not an option (at least not a realistic one...we could forego eating, but I don't really like the sound of that...) Instead, we're left to suffer and attempt to rapidly overcome the consequences of such illnesses.

Though many of the symptoms resemble those of the flu, the treatments do not. Food poisoning can't easily be cured with a prescription or shot. Unfortunately, it's not something easily cured. Instead, we work to overcome the illness step-by-step, depending on the symptoms.

As mentioned numerous times, food poisoning is usually accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea; thus, the most important treatment a victim can do is drink plenty of fluids. Though cases of food poisoning are generally mild illnesses (as defined by publications, not sufferers), they often become more severe and lead to hospitalization due to dehydration.

Something else to consider? If you're feeling naseaus and vomiting, don't eat solid food (think about it - no sense worsening your condition by increasing your discomfort and vomiting even more)! It is, however, important to maintain your energy - start with fluids containing electrolytes (which are are often sold at drugstores) and gradually work your way back into solid foods. Eat small amounts of foods that are easy to digest, such as soft carbs (bread, rice, etc) and lean meats.

Also important in avoiding dehydration? Avoid direct sunlight immediately after experiencing food poisoning. I admit: I found this to be an incredibly strange piece of advice when I first read it; however, after doing my homework on the issue, I found it makes perfect sense. Not only does being in the sun increase the odds of dehydration, it can also increase the rate at which certain bacteria multiply (thus increasing the severity of certain strains of food poisoning). And if that's not bad enough, many individuals recovering from food poisoning report increased sensitivity to bright lights; so even if the sunlight doesn't affect the illness itself, it may lead to personal discomfort (and let's face it: food poisoning is uncomfortable enough the way it is - why contribute?!)

Another at-home treatment that can help guide you back to good health? Avoid dairy. Dairy products can actually worsen the effects of such illnesses because they can worsen diarrhea (thus increasing the odds of dehydration).

As can easily be seen, most issues pertaining to food poisoning treatment revolve around dehydration (and how to avoid it). By following the aforementioned steps, most individuals can overcome food poisoning on their own. However, there are certain situations where medical treatment is necessary. And for those such as myself who aren't all that enthused about going to the doctor, there are numerous at-home remedies to try - some of them I wouldn't poke with a twelve-foot stick, but certain others don't seem so bad...

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on November 11, 2008 (boomark / email).