Common Mistakes When Suffering From Food Poisoning

 Posted on June 23, 2017 in Food poisoning attorney

When you are suffering from food poisoning, whether it is a case of Salmonella, Listeria, or another type of illness, you can make the illness easier or more difficult for yourself through your choices. Always put your health and safety first, which can be easier said than done for many individuals with work and family obligations. Ignoring your health when you are suffering from food poisoning can make your condition worse and potentially subject you to complications like dehydration and permanent organ damage.

Ignoring Your Symptoms

Different types of food poisoning have similar symptoms. Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are typical symptoms of many different types of food poisoning. Although they can seem minor, it is important that you listen to your body and rest while you are experiencing these symptoms. Sleeping helps your immune system fight the infection, which will help you to recover more quickly.

Failing to Determine the Cause of Your Symptoms

Take the time to determine exactly which food item caused you to suffer. This will help you gauge your symptoms and take the appropriate actions regarding your recovery. It can also enable you to warn others who have or might consume the contaminated food and help you determine if you have grounds for a food poisoning claim. A few ways to determine which food caused you to become ill include:

• Reference online charts that show symptoms, onset times, and causes of specific types of food poisoning;
• Ask those with whom you have recently dined if they experienced food poisoning symptoms and determine if you ate the same things; and
• Look online for recent food recalls and food poisoning outbreaks in your area to determine if you could have been affected.

Waiting Too Long to Seek Medical Attention

Generally, food poisoning symptoms subside on their own within a few days. This is true of numerous types of illnesses. But if your symptoms do not subside and either remain stagnant or become worse with time, you need to get yourself to a doctor to receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate medical attention.

Failing to Notify the Right Parties of Your Illness

If you suspect you became ill after eating at a restaurant or another prepared food vendor, notify the restaurant or vendor's management. You can also report your illness to your local health department, which might aid in an ongoing investigation of an outbreak.

Work with an Experienced Buffalo Grove Food Poisoning Lawyer

If you are suffering from the effects of food poisoning, how you handle your illness will affect your recovery. If your illness was due to another party's negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for your related damages through a personal injury claim. To learn more, contact our team of experienced food poisoning lawyers at Newland & Newland, LLP today to set up your initial consultation in our office. We serve clients in the Arlington Heights, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Libertyville, Mundelein, Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg, Elk Grove, and Itasca areas.

(image courtesy of Markus Spiske)