Food-Borne Illnesses
Food-borne illnesses (sometimes called food poisoning) are caused by eating foods contaminated with pathogens (disease-causing agents) such as viruses, parasites, bacteria, or fungi. Raw, unwashed, or undercooked foods are at greatest risk of being contaminated. However, most food-borne illnesses can be prevented if food is handled properly. Typical symptoms of food-borne illnesses include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and sometimes fever. Infants, the elderly, and people with diabetes, cancer, or AIDS are at an increased risk because their immune systems may not be functioning properly.
A severe complication of some types of food-borne illness is hemolytic uremic syndrome, a combination of anemia (low red blood cell count), profuse bleeding, and kidney failure.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling food
Wash raw vegetables and fruits with running water before eating
Always clean surfaces like cutting boards that touch raw foods between each use
Cook meat, poultry, and eggs thoroughly to an internal temperature of 160° F
Refrigerate (40° F or below) or freeze (0° F or below) leftovers promptly
Don't eat perishable foods (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy foods) if they have been out of refrigeration for more than 2 hours
It is often difficult to distinguish a food-borne illness from other common causes of vomiting and diarrhea such as viral gastroenteritis (viral infection of the intestinal tract usually lasting a day or two). If several individuals get sick within a few hours of eating the same food, a food-borne illness should be considered. If you think you or a family member may have a food-borne illness, consult your doctor. If you think food contamination occurred at a restaurant or other food service facility, call your local health department to investigate.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
800/311-3435
http://www.cdc.gov
US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service
800/535-4555
http://www.fsis.usda.gov
US Food and Drug Administration
888/INFO-FDA (888/463-6332)
http://www.fda.gov
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Sharon Parmet, MS, Writer; Cassio Lynm, MA, Illustrator; Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor
JAMA. 2003;290(10):1408. doi:10.1001/jama.290.10.1285.
JAMA. 2003;290(10):1408. doi:10.1001/jama.290.10.1285.
Food-borne illnesses (sometimes called food poisoning) are caused by eating foods contaminated with pathogens (disease-causing agents) such as viruses, parasites, bacteria, or fungi. Raw, unwashed, or undercooked foods are at greatest risk of being contaminated. However, most food-borne illnesses can be prevented if food is handled properly. Typical symptoms of food-borne illnesses include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and sometimes fever. Infants, the elderly, and people with diabetes, cancer, or AIDS are at an increased risk because their immune systems may not be functioning properly.
A severe complication of some types of food-borne illness is hemolytic uremic syndrome, a combination of anemia (low red blood cell count), profuse bleeding, and kidney failure.
PREVENTING FOOD-BORNE ILLNESSES
It is often difficult to distinguish a food-borne illness from other common causes of vomiting and diarrhea such as viral gastroenteritis (viral infection of the intestinal tract usually lasting a day or two). If several individuals get sick within a few hours of eating the same food, a food-borne illness should be considered. If you think you or a family member may have a food-borne illness, consult your doctor. If you think food contamination occurred at a restaurant or other food service facility, call your local health department to investigate.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
800/311-3435
http://www.cdc.gov
800/535-4555
http://www.fsis.usda.gov
888/INFO-FDA (888/463-6332)
http://www.fda.gov
Click here to download a copy of this article.
<< Back to article index...
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PEMBROKE PINES - 17890 NW 2 St., Pembroke Pines, FL 33029. Telephone (954) 442-6090, FAX (954) 442-0070
Email: Info@luislugomd.com
DON'T WASTE TIME HOLDING ON THE TELEPHONE. Do you need to make a reservation? Check on a Referral? Request a Prescription Refill? Request Medical Records? No need to call the office. Get help fast by logging on to our PATIENT PORTAL. Ask us about WEB ENABLE on your next Office Visit. All of your Health Needs are right at your fingertips. You can even access your Health Information SECURLY from your Mobile Phone or Tablet. Download the free Mobile App Today. DOWNLOAD THE FREE HEALOW MOBILE APP BY CLICKING HERE, then find us by using our unique practice code. GGAHBA. To use the Patient Portal, please call the office and ask to be Web Enabled. You will need a valid Email Address to receive instructions on the Patient Portal. New Patients may also join us by clicking on the Patient Portal Link at the top of this page then click the Pre Registration Button. Note. Pre Registration is only for new Patients. Regular patients need to be Web Enabled. Call and ask us how to get access.
PEMBROKE PINES - 17890 NW 2 St., Pembroke Pines, FL 33029. Telephone (954) 442-6090, FAX (954) 442-0070
Email: Info@luislugomd.com
DON'T WASTE TIME HOLDING ON THE TELEPHONE. Do you need to make a reservation? Check on a Referral? Request a Prescription Refill? Request Medical Records? No need to call the office. Get help fast by logging on to our PATIENT PORTAL. Ask us about WEB ENABLE on your next Office Visit. All of your Health Needs are right at your fingertips. You can even access your Health Information SECURLY from your Mobile Phone or Tablet. Download the free Mobile App Today. DOWNLOAD THE FREE HEALOW MOBILE APP BY CLICKING HERE, then find us by using our unique practice code. GGAHBA. To use the Patient Portal, please call the office and ask to be Web Enabled. You will need a valid Email Address to receive instructions on the Patient Portal. New Patients may also join us by clicking on the Patient Portal Link at the top of this page then click the Pre Registration Button. Note. Pre Registration is only for new Patients. Regular patients need to be Web Enabled. Call and ask us how to get access.