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Food Poisoning or Foodborne Illness, Pediatric

Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Any illness resulting from the ingestion of food or drink contaminated with an infectious organism or associated toxin 

EPIDEMIOLOGY

  • Highest incidence in children <5 years

  • Hospitaliz...

DIAGNOSIS

Signs and symptoms 
  • Gastroenteritis

    • Sudden onset vomiting

    • Fever and diarrhea may also be present.

    • Consider: viral etiology, preformed toxin ingestion

  • Noninflammatory diarrhea

    • Acute watery diarrhea...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Gastroenteritis

    • Treat dehydration with oral rehydration solution (ORS):

      • Standard ORS contains 75 to 90 mEq of sodium and 74 to 111 mmol/L of glucose.

      • Alternative ORS, including ...

ONGOING CARE

Reporting requirements 
  • Foodborne diseases and conditions generally notifiable at the national level include the following:

    • Botulism, brucellosis, cholera, STEC O157:H7, HUS, listeriosis, s...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diagnosis and management of foodborne illnesses: a primer for physicians and other health care professionals. MMWR Recomm Rep.  2004...

CODES

ICD9

  • 005.9 Food poisoning, unspecified

  • 005.89 Other bacterial food poisoning

  • 003.0 Salmonella gastroenteritis

  • 008.00 Intestinal infection due to E. coli, unspecified

  • 005.2 Food poisoning due to Clost...

FAQ

  • Q: What are the most common causes of food poisoning?

  • A: Viruses, particularly norovirus, are the leading cause of foodborne illnesses. The most common bacterial causes include Salmonella (nontyphi...

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