Food Poisoning

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Thinking food poisoning?

You may have eaten or drank contaminated food or water.
Pharmacist

Let's see if you can ride this out on your own or need to go to the nearest urgent care clinic or even the emergency room.



Lady experiencing food poisoning

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Food poisoning

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What make you think you have food poisoning?

You have diarrhea. Is this correct?
Pharmacist

Yes No

 

 

 

 

Food poison

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How bad is it?

Alright.
Let's make sure this diarrhea won't lead to complications such as Dehydration.
Pharmacist

 

Is there blood or pus in your stools?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Possible bacteria or parasite cause.
  • Need documentation by health department.
  • No over-the-counter diarrhea medication for this type.

Clinic

 

What about diarrhea with a fever above 101.5°F
(measured orally)?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Serious case of food poisoning.
  • Require documentation by health authorities.

Clinic

 

In addition to the diarrhea, are you feeling thirsty, dizzy or light-headed?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Signs of dehydration
  • Prefer emergency room visit.

Nearest ER

 

Is your heart racing, pounding?

Or skipping?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Possibly severe dehydration.
  • Losing electrolytes

Clinic

 

Has this diarrhea being going on for more than 3 days now?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Risking dehydration.
  • May need antibiotics to take care of this.

Clinic

 

Are you also taking medications called diuretics (water pills) right now?
Pharmacist

 

Call your doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • You may need to ask the doctor if you need to stop taking the diuretic if the diarrhea is getting severe.
  • Remember to talk to the doctor first before stopping the medication.

Clinic

 


Dehydration is the most common complication from food poisoning.
Pharmacist

The goal should be to manage the diarrhea. A pharmacist will tell you how to this very soon.

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Food poison

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nausea, vomiting?

Are you experiencing nausea and or vomiting?
Pharmacist

No

 

Yes?

 

Has this vomiting been going on for more than 24 hours now?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Risking electrolyte loss.
  • Will need anti-vomiting prescription medication.

Clinic

 

Have you thrown up 3 or more times within the past 24 hours?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Risking dehydration.
  • Need prescription anti-vomiting medication to take care of this.
  • If office is closed, call the after-hour line. A nurse or doctor can always call in nausea medication to the pharmacy for you.

Clinic

 

Have you been able to keep liquid down for the past 12 hours or more?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call the doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • You don't want to risk dehydration.
  • Need medication to stop the nausea and vomiting.
  • If doctor office is closed, call the after-hour line. A nurse or doctor can always call in nausea medication to the pharmacy for you.

Clinic

 


Nausea and vomiting due to food poisoning can lead to dehydration.
Pharmacist

It is very important you know when to seek emergency or urgent care

If it is just diarrhea and no vomiting, you may be looking at a viral case.

If it is both diarrhea and vomiting, you may be looking at a bacteria cause which will require urgent care.

Let's continue and see what we can come up with.

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Food Poisoning

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Is it food poisoning?

Stomach cramps. Are you experiencing one?
Pharmacist

 

No?
This is the most common symptom of food poisoning.
Pharmacist

If You are not having stomach cramps or pain and think you have food poisoning, we advice you see a health care provider.

 

Did you start feeling sick a few hours after you ate food?
Pharmacist

 

No?
If think you have food poisoning, you will have to see a health care provider.
Pharmacist

 

Is someone else that ate the same food sick?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or the emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • You may be looking at an outbreak if a group of you became ill after eating something.

  • Proper reporting and documentation is required in case product need to be recalled.

Clinic

 

Are you feeling weak and very tired as a result of this?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call the doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • You don't know when it would stop. So seek help.
  • If you feel you can handle it let's continue.

Clinic

 

Do you have a headache in addition to the diarrhea or vomiting?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call the doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Serious case of food poisoning. Don't take it lightly if you suspect food poisoning.

Clinic

 

Is the food poisoning from mushrooms, fish?

Or canned food?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or the emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • If it is from canned food, you will want to rule out botulism. Which, although is rare, can result in a very serious illness such as paralysis.

The bacteria that causes botulism, produce spores which survive in preserved or canned food, that was not done properly. These spores produce toxins that even a tiny amount can lead to severe cases of poisoning.

Clinic

 


Those were the symptoms of food poisoning.
Pharmacist

If you suspect one and don't think you need to seek urgent care or emergency room visit let's see what a pharmacist recommend that is available over-the-counter to manage this in a symptomatic fashion.

If in doubt about seeking urgent care visit, err on the side of going to the urgent care clinic or emergency room. You don't know how long it would last.

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