Food poisoning is rarely serious and usually gets better within a week. You can normally treat yourself or your child at home.
Symptoms of food poisoning
Symptoms of food poisoning include:
- feeling sick or being sick
- diarrhoea
- tummy pain
- a high temperature
- feeling generally unwell
The symptoms usually start within a few hours or a few days of eating food that caused the infection.
Sometimes symptoms do not start for a few weeks.
How to treat food poisoning yourself
If you or your child have food poisoning, you can usually treat it at home.
The symptoms usually get better within a week.
Diarrhoea and vomiting can usually be treated at home. The most important thing is to have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.
Do
stay at home and get plenty of rest
drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash – take small sips if you feel sick
carry on breast or bottle feeding your baby – if they're being sick, try giving small feeds more often than usual
give babies on formula or solid foods small sips of water between feeds
eat when you feel able to – it may help to avoid foods that are fatty or spicy
take paracetamol if you're in discomfort – check the leaflet before giving it to your child
Don’t
do not have fruit juice or fizzy drinks – they can make diarrhoea worse
do not make baby formula weaker – use it at its usual strength
do not give children under 12 medicine to stop diarrhoea
do not give aspirin to children under 16
A pharmacist can help with food poisoning
Speak to a pharmacist if:
- you or your child (over 5 years) have signs of dehydration, such as dark, smelly pee or peeing less than usual
- you're an older person, have a weakened immune system, or have other health conditions that increase your risk of dehydration
- you need to stop diarrhoea for a few hours
They may recommend:
- oral rehydration powder that you mix with water to make a drink
- medicine to stop diarrhoea for a few hours, like loperamide (not suitable for children under 12)
0 Comments