Food poisoning from eating contaminated food can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The condition will usually run its course within 24 hours without need for medical treatment. During that time, it is important that you avoid dehydration by drinking lots of fluids, beginning with water and/or weak tea for the first 12 hours, and then gradually add juices, broth and bland solid foods over the next day or so.
You should seek medical treatment if food poisoning occurs in a child younger than 3, if the food poisoning lasts longer than 2 days, if watery diarrhea occurs every 10 or 15 minutes, if it contains blood or mucus, or if stomach pain or fever does not subside.
The most common sources of food poisoning include seafood; poultry; meat that is undercooked, inadequately defrosted, or reheated; and raw or undercooked eggs. However, most food poisoning can be avoided by exercising the following precautions:
1) Wash your hands before handling food and after handling raw meat and eggs.
2) Wash fresh fruit and vegetables in cold, running water.
3) Thaw meat and poultry completely before cooking.
5) Keep fresh fish in the freezer, and wash it thoroughly before cooking.
6) Reheat meat quickly and thoroughly.
7) Eat meat as soon as it has been cooked.
Store egg dishes in the refrigerator.
9) Throw away food that has become moldy or smelly— also discard damaged cans.
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