title: Diagnosis and Management of Foodborne Illness.
abstract: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that each year, one in six Americans will experience a foodborne illness. The most common causes in the United States are viruses, such as norovirus; bacteria, such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, and Listeria; and parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii and Giardia. Resources are available to educate consumers on food recalls and proper handling, storage, and cooking of foods. Diagnosis and management of a foodborne illness are based on the history and physical examination. Common symptoms of foodborne illnesses include vomiting, diarrhea (with or without blood), fever, abdominal cramping, headache, dehydration, myalgia, and arthralgias. Definitive diagnosis can be made only through stool culture or more advanced laboratory testing. However, these results should not delay empiric treatment if a foodborne illness is suspected. Empiric treatment should focus on symptom management, rehydration if the patient is clinically dehydrated, and antibiotic therapy. Foodborne illnesses should be reported to local and state health agencies; reporting requirements vary among states.
authors.affiliation: Reynolds Army Community Hospital, Fort Sill, OK, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Switaj
authors.affiliation: William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Fort Bliss, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.affiliation: Reynolds Army Community Hospital, Fort Sill, OK, USA.
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D003085:Colic / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000930:Antidiarrheals; D000932:Antiemetics