The most important treatment for food poisoning is to replace lost fluids by rehydration. Food and fluids are absorbed almost normally even in a case of severe diarrhoea. If you have food poisoning, you should drink several litres of fluids throughout the day. If you vomit a lot, taking small sips at a time may help. The replacement of fluids and salts lost from diarrhoea is best done by a variety of beverages containing energy, such as diluted squash, water, tea, soup of berries and broth. Milk-based, caffeinated drinks and artificial sweeteners are not recommended; avoid also energy drinks.
Eating will not make your condition worse as long as you have something light and easy to digest. However, eating may give you stomach cramps or you may find eating impossible due to nausea and vomiting. Do not have solids as long as you are vomiting, but sip fluids regularly and often, less than 1 dl at a time. If drinking is impossible due to nausea and vomiting, wait for an hour or two and then try again. Being sick or fasting for a couple of days is not harmful to adults.
Even if eating is simply impossible, you want to ensure sufficient intake of salts and could try rehydration solutions sold in pharmacies without prescription. Pharmacy staff will help you select the right product, if necessary. You can also prepare one at home: mix 1 litre of fruit juice (preferably orange juice) with 1 litre of water and 1 teaspoon of salt. The natural sugar in the drink helps the water and salt to absorb. Special attention should be paid to sufficient hydration of the elderly because they are not always able to say if they are thirsty. If your urine is darker than normal, you may be dehydrated.
To prevent food poisonings, everyone of us can pay special attention to good hand and kitchen hygiene. Be meticulous with the correct storage and handling temperatures of foods as well as the appropriate washing and cleaning of storage and handling spaces. Check and observe the use-by dates, and refrigerate or freeze foods appropriately also at home.
