Food Poisoning

When To Call A Professional

Call a doctor immediately if food poisoning is suspected in:

• People with an impaired immune system

• Pregnant women

• Young children

• Elderly people

If you are otherwise healthy, you should call a doctor if:

• Vomiting and nausea last more than 24 hours

• Vomiting and nausea are severe and abrupt and are accompanied by a feeling of extreme weakness

• Any of the symptoms of food poisoning are accompanied by high fever

• Diarrhea is severe or contains blood

Prognosis

For most people, food poisoning is an unpleasant experience that lasts for a day or two, then passes. In very young children, elderly people, people with compromised immune systems and pregnant women, it can be dangerous. Anyone in these risk groups should go to an emergency room immediately.

Additional Info

American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 4900 B South, 31st St. Arlington, VA 22206 Phone: (703) 820-7400 Fax: (703) 931-4520 http://www.acg.gi.org/

American Gastroenterological Association 7910 Woodmont Ave. Seventh Floor Bethesda, MD 20814 Phone: (301) 654-2055 Fax: (301) 652-3890 http://www.gastro.org/

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 200 C St. SW Washington, DC 20204 http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/nutguide.html

Food Safety and Inspection Service United States Department of Agriculture Room 2944-South Building 1400 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20250 Toll-Free: (800) 535-4555 Fax: (202) 720-9063 http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/consedu.htm

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 5600 Fishers Ln. Rockville, MD 20857-0001 Phone: (301) 827-6242 Toll-Free: (888) INFO-FDA (463-6332) http://www.fda.gov/