Food Poisoning (cont.)

Most cases of food poisoning last about 1 to 2 days and symptoms resolve on their own. If symptoms persist for longer than that, the affected person should contact their health care practitioner.

The first and most important complication of food poisoning is dehydration. Food poisoning can cause significant loss of body water and changes in the electrolyte levels in the blood.

If the affected individual has underlying medical conditions requiring medication, persistent vomiting may make it difficult to swallow and digest those medications.

Other complications of food poisoning are specific to the type of infection. Some are listed in the causes of food poisoning such as HUS, TTP, or encephalopathy.

Prevention of food borne illness begins at home with good food preparation technique.

• Foods should be cooked thoroughly. This especially applies to eggs, poultry, and meat. A meat thermometer can be used to measure the internal temperature of a meat dish.
• Leftovers should be refrigerated immediately so that bacteria and viruses do not have time to start growing.
• Wash fruits and vegetables well before eating. This removes dirt, pesticides, chemicals, or other infectious agents used on, or exposed to, the foods in the fields or storage facilities.
• Wash hands routinely before and after handling food will help prevent the spread of infection.
• Clean counters and other areas that are used to clean, prepare, and assemble foods thoroughly. Cross contamination of food is common and can cause food poisonings. For example, a cutting board and knife used to cut raw chicken should be washed thoroughly before cutting up fruit and vegetables to prevent the spread of Salmonella.
• In restaurants, meals are prepared by others; health inspectors check restaurants routinely and their reports on sanitary practices are usually available online. Make certain that the food ordered is thoroughly cooked, especially meats such hamburger.
• Pregnant women and people who have compromised immune systems, for example, those undergoing chemotherapy or are taking medication such as prednisone, should avoid eating soft cheeses like camembert, brie, blue, and feta because of the risk of contracting Listeria. In the Listeria outbreak of 2011 in the US, people should be advised to avoid eating cantaloupes from the suspected source, and to be very sure all fruits and vegetables are cleaned thoroughly prior to eating, no matter the source.

Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/food_poisoning/article.htm