title: Food poisoning.
abstract: Food poisoning is encountered throughout the world. Many of the toxins responsible for specific food poisoning syndromes are no longer limited to isolated geographic locations. With increased travel and the ease of transporting food products, it is likely that a patient may present to any emergency department with the clinical effects of food poisoning. Recognizing specific food poisoning syndromes allows emergency health care providers not only to initiate appropriate treatment rapidly but also to notify health departments early and thereby prevent further poisoning cases. This article reviews several potential food-borne poisons and describes each agent's mechanism of toxicity, expected clinical presentation, and currently accepted treatment.
authors.affiliation: Blue Ridge Poison Center, Division of Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0774, USA.
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Stephen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Dobmeier
authors.forename: Laura K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Bechtel
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Holstege
mesh_terms: D001904:Botulinum Antitoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001906:Botulism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D036841:Ciguatera Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000506:poisoning*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000145:classification / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D001904:Botulinum Antitoxin; D008387:Marine Toxins; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; C034101:scombrotoxin