Foodborne illness

From WikiMD's Health & Wellness Encyclopedia


Foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning, is a disease that results from consuming food or beverages contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins.

Food Safety 1

Causes

Symptoms

Symptoms of foodborne illness vary depending on the specific pathogen involved but typically include one or more of the following: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and malaise.

Prevention

  • Key measures for preventing foodborne illnesses involve proper food handling and preparation practices:
  • Cleanliness: Washing hands and surfaces regularly.
  • Proper cooking: Ensuring foods reach an internal temperature that kills potential pathogens.
  • Avoiding cross-contamination: Separating raw and cooked foods.
  • Safe storage: Refrigerating foods promptly.

Treatment

Treatment of foodborne illness often involves symptom management, with hydration and rest being paramount. In severe cases, or those caused by certain pathogens, antimicrobial medications may be required.

Epidemiology

Foodborne illnesses are a significant public health issue worldwide, with millions of cases occurring annually.

References

<references>

  • "Foodborne Illnesses and Germs". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  • "Foodborne Illness". MedlinePlus. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  • "Foodborne Illnesses". World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 2023-05-25.

Resources

Latest articles - Foodborne illness

PubMed
Clinical trials
Up To Date
UpToDate
Medline
Medline plus
You Tube
YouTube videos
About
Apple bitten.svg

WikiMD is the world's largest, free medical and wellness encyclopedia edited only by professionals.


Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Indexâ€â€Ž - Drugs - Rare diseases - Gray's Anatomy - USMLE - Hospitals

Ad: Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's insurance physician weight loss
Philadelphia medical weight loss & NYC medical weight loss.

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD, Dr.T