This American Family Physician review summarises diagnosis and management of foodborne illness. It cites US estimates of 48 million cases, 128,000 hospitalisations and 3,000 deaths a year. Causes include norovirus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria and Giardia, and typical symptoms are vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and abdominal pain.
The review advises that diagnosis and management should be guided by the epidemiological context, the patient's risk factors and the clinical severity. Treatment includes symptom control, rehydration and, in some cases, antibiotics. Prevention rests on education about food handling, storage and cooking, and cases should be reported to public health agencies.
This is a narrative review, so its recommendations reflect expert summary rather than one trial. The figures come from the United States. In India, local pathogens, water safety and notification rules differ, and the review does not address them.
- Ask about food, travel, contacts, and others who are ill with the same illness.
- Rehydrate first; assess volume status and risk in infants, older adults and pregnant women.
- Let severity and host risk guide stool testing and antibiotics, in line with local guidance.
- Report suspected clusters through the local public health route.
Why it matters
Severity and host risk, not the label alone, should decide how far to investigate and treat.
Don't overread it
This is a narrative review using US figures; it does not address local pathogens or Indian notification rules.
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