Food Poisoning or Viral Gastroenteritis (Adult)

Home care

Follow all instructions given by your health care provider. Rest at home for the next 24 hours, or until you feel better. Don't have any caffeine, tobacco, or alcohol. These can make diarrhea, cramping, and pain worse.

If taking medicines:

• Over-the-counter diarrhea or nausea medicines are generally okay unless you have bleeding, fever, or severe abdominal pain.

• You may use acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), such as ibuprofen or naproxen to reduce pain and fever. Don’t use these if you have chronic liver or kidney disease. Don't use NSAIDs on an empty stomach or if you ever had a stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding. Talk with your provider first. Don't use NSAIDs if you are already taking them for another condition (such as arthritis) or are on daily aspirin therapy (such as for heart disease or after a stroke).

To prevent the spread of illness:

• Remember that washing with soap and clean, running water is the best way to prevent the spread of infection. Wash your hands before and after caring for a sick person. Dry your hands with a single-use disposable towel.

• Use a separate bathroom or clean the toilet after each use.

• Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer before eating.

• Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after preparing food. Keep in mind that people with diarrhea or vomiting should not prepare food for others.

• Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer after using cutting boards, counter-tops, and knives (and other utensils) that have been in contact with raw foods.

• Wash and then peel fruits and vegetables.

• Keep uncooked meats away from cooked and ready-to-eat foods.

• Use a food thermometer when cooking. Cook poultry to at least 165°F (74°C). Cook ground meat (beef, veal, pork, and lamb) to at least 160°F (71°C). Cook fresh beef, veal, lamb, and pork to at least 145°F (63°C).

• Don’t eat raw or undercooked eggs (poached or sunny side up), poultry, meat or unpasteurized milk and juices.

Food and drinks

The main goal while treating vomiting or diarrhea is to prevent dehydration. This is done by taking small amounts of liquids often.

• Keep in mind that liquids are more important than food right now.

• If you are nauseated, you can sip liquids often rather than drinking a large amount at once.

• Don’t force yourself to eat, especially if you are having cramping, vomiting, or diarrhea. Small, frequent meals are better tolerated than a few large meals.

• If you eat, stay away from fatty, greasy, spicy, or fried foods.

• Don’t eat dairy foods or drink milk if you have diarrhea. These can make diarrhea worse.

The first 24 hours you can try:

• Oral rehydration solutions. These are available at grocery stores and pharmacies. Sports drinks are not a good choice if you are very dehydrated. They have too much sugar and not enough electrolytes.

• Soft drinks without caffeine.

• Ginger ale.

• Water (plain or flavored).

• Decaf tea or coffee.

• Clear broth, consommé, or bouillon.

• Gelatin, ice pops, or frozen fruit juice bars.

 The second 24 hours, if you are feeling better, you can add:

• Hot cereal, plain toast, bread, rolls, or crackers.

• Plain noodles, rice, mashed potatoes, chicken noodle soup, or rice soup.

• Unsweetened canned fruit (no pineapple).

• Bananas.

As you recover:

• Limit fat intake to less than 15 grams per day. Don’t eat margarine, butter, oils, mayonnaise, sauces, gravies, fried foods, peanut butter, meat, poultry, or fish.

• Broaden your diet when you feel ready. In general, a low-fat diet may be better tolerated. This includes lean meat, poultry, and fish.

• Limit fiber. Initially limit raw or lightly cooked vegetables, fresh fruits except bananas, or bran cereals. Add them back when you feel ready.

• Limit caffeine and chocolate.

• Limit dairy. If you tolerated dairy products before your diarrhea, add them back when you feel ready. Some people are lactose intolerant for a while after diarrhea.

• Choose bland foods. They may be easier to tolerate than highly spiced foods.

• Resume a normal diet over time, as you feel better and your symptoms improve.

• If the symptoms come back, go back to a simple diet or clear liquids.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your health care provider, or as advised. If a stool sample was taken or cultures were done, call the provider for the results as instructed.

Call 911

Call 911 if you have:

• Trouble breathing.

• Confusion.

• Extreme drowsiness or trouble walking.

• Loss of consciousness.

• A rapid heart rate.

• Chest pain.

• A stiff neck.

• A seizure.

When to call your doctor

Contact your health care provider right away if:

• You have belly pain that lasts or gets worse.

• You have constant lower right belly pain.

• You have continued vomiting and inability to keep liquids down.

• You have diarrhea more than 5 times a day.

• You have blood in your vomit or stool.

• You have dark urine or no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth and tongue, tiredness, weakness, or dizziness.

• You have a new rash.

• You don’t get better in 2 to 3 days.

• You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your provider.

• You have new symptoms of arthritis.