Treatments for Listeriosis

 Posted on November 15, 2015 in Food Poisoning

Listeriosis is the disease caused by contact with listeria, a type of bacteria that can grow in soft cheeses, processed meats, and certain types of vegetables. When an individual comes into contact with listeria, he or she can experience food poisoning symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and confusion. Usually, these symptoms resolve themselves within a few days. But sometimes, listeriosis can develop into a much more serious illness, necessitating more substantial treatment methods.

Infants and young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and any other individuals with weakened immune systems are especially at risk of developing listeriosis if they come into contact with listeria. If you are in one of these categories or you have a young child who might have been exposed to listeria, call your doctor right away for medical attention. If the illness becomes severe to the point that you experience substantial losses because of it, you could have grounds to file a personal injury claim with help from an experienced food poisoning attorney.

Antibiotic Treatment for Listeriosis

When a pregnant woman or an infant is exposed to listeria, a doctor may prescribe an antibiotic treatment. This is because infants do not have strong enough immune systems to handle this type of illness on their own and if left untreated, listeriosis can result in death. Sometimes, antibiotics are also ordered for other individuals whose immune systems cannot effectively eliminate listeriosis.

How is Listeriosis Diagnosed?

< a href="http://www.about-listeria.com/listeria_diagnosis">Diagnosing listeriosis can be difficult because it has similar symptoms to other types of food poisoning. Stool samples are often performed to determine if an individual has consumed listeria. When this type of sample is inconclusive, doctors might use spinal fluid, blood, or joint fluid to isolate listeria within an individual's body. Sometimes, an MRI is necessary to determine if the contamination reached the patient's brain.

Preventing Listeriosis

With listeriosis and other types of food poisoning, it is much easier and more effective to prevent contamination than it is to treat it. Listeria grows in unpasteurized foods, especially when they are in the “danger zone” of 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. To reduce your risk of becoming infected with listeria, always cook food to 140 degrees or higher and if there are leftovers, store them promptly in a refrigerator below 40 degrees. But sometimes, you cannot prevent exposure to listeria. When this happens, you could have grounds to file a claim against the party responsible for your exposure.

Chicago Food Poisoning Attorneys

Food poisoning like listeriosis can lead to serious complications for a patient. Sometimes, these complications become expensive, requiring extensive medical treatments and time off from work to receive them. If you or a loved one have suffered from listeriosis and want to seek compensation for these expenses, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to get started on your claim. Our team of food poisoning attorneys at Newland & Newland, LLP is here to answer your questions about listeria and food poisoning claims and help you get the money you are seeking.