Treatment of Food poisoning

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Most episodes of food poisoning clear up within a few days without seeing a doctor. In severe cases antibiotics may be prescribed for certain types of bacterial infection. The recovery period also depends upon the type of infection, age and fitness of the person and whether other medical conditions are present.

Dehydration due to diarrhoea and vomiting should be treated with rehydration solutions available from pharmacies, or by regularly drinking diluted fruit juices, salted and sugared water, or weak sweet tea.

Medical advice should be sought:

if the illness lasts for more than a few days or general condition worsens,
if there is blood in the stools,
for the elderly, babies, pregnant women, or
if diarrhoea contains yellowish or greenish mucus.