Part III. If You Can’t Get to a Doctor

In some cases, you may come down with food poisoning but not be able to get to a doctor because you are somewhere where you cannot readily obtain medical help, such as a remote destination in a foreign country, or even on a plane. If you are in the United States and have food poisoning symptoms but are too sick to drive yourself to the doctor, call 9-1-1. Otherwise, note the following advice on how to take care of yourself when you have food poisoning.

In a foreign country

Rehydrate yourself. Rehydration is the most important first aid remedy for food poisoning. Sip bottled water or electrolyte drinks, such as Pedialyte or Gatorade. Drinking bottled water rather than tap water is especially important if you are a in a third-world/developing country. If possible, try to consume a recognized brand of bottled water, such as Perrier or Evian, rather than locally bottled water (which may contain the same contaminants as the local tap water). If you don’t have bottled water but are staying in a hotel, you can boil tap water using the coffeemaker. Of course, in a nicer hotel, you may be able to order bottled water from room service (or call for medical assistance, for that matter).

Check the CDC and U.S. Department of State websites. The CDC Travelers’ Health Website will have up-to-date information on disease outbreaks in your area and advice on what to do if you get sick in the particular country in which you are staying. On the U.S. Department of State’s USembassy.gov site, you can easily find the U.S. embassy and other emergency resources in your area.

Take medication if you absolutely need to. If you obtained an emergency antibiotic from your doctor before the trip, check your symptoms against those of the conditions the antibiotic is prescribed to treat. Many food poisoning cases will not be resolved with antibiotics, but an antibiotic may be used to treat food poisoning of a bacterial nature. Over-the-counter medications to stop diarrhea and vomiting are generally not recommended with food poisoning, because your body needs to rid itself of the toxins causing the food poisoning – and unfortunately, this elimination process could require more diarrhea and more vomiting. However, if you feel you need to take something to temporarily halt your symptoms so that you may get to the doctor, you may make the judgment call to take an antidiarrheal.

Before your trip: As noted in section I, you should make certain preparations before your trip, including a visit to your doctor to receive any pertinent medical advice, immunizations, etc. You might also consider buying international medical insurance before your trip. A quality plan will assist you in getting medical help anywhere in the world. Such plans may also reimburse or offset medical costs and/or the cost of missed flights and other travel arrangements in the event you get sick. Keep a copy of the policy, as well as your emergency medical information, with you at all times when traveling. Finally, always having cash and/or credit cards with you when traveling will help you get to and pay for a doctor when you have a medical emergency in a foreign country.

More first aid/home treatments for food poisoning are provided below.

On a plane

When you’re 30,000 feet in the air, your options for medical treatment are pretty limited. While this is a non-ideal time for food poisoning to creep on you, there are a few things you can do if you become ill on a plane:

– Alert a flight attendant to your condition. He or she will help you out, monitoring your condition and bringing you fluids, an air-sickness bag, and anything else that might make you feel more comfortable. Normally, the FAA allows airplane passengers a 15-minute maximum of bathroom time before a flight attendant will knock to check on you. If you are sick, the flight attendant may bend this rule.

– In addition to fluids, ask for pretzels or crackers. These bland foods might help settle your stomach, while the salt in them can help restore your electrolyte balance.

– Once you land at the airport, rehydrate with electrolyte-infused beverages such as Gatorade and seek emergency medical assistance if necessary.

First aid/Home treatments

Wherever in the world you are when you get sick with food poisoning, you can reassure yourself with the fact that most food poisoning illnesses do not require medical treatment and will get better on their own with time (12 to 48 hours) and home care. In addition to getting plenty of rest, the following tips will help you recover faster and, in most cases, relieve your symptoms without medical assistance. If you have any of the symptoms or conditions mentioned in the “When to See a Doctor” section in Part I, seek immediate medical care.

To relieve diarrhea

When choosing fluids, go for water, an electrolyte beverage, or other clear fluids, such as soup broth. Sodas and juices may be better than no fluids in an emergency, but they are usually acidic and sugary, which can sometimes worsen diarrhea. Aim to drink 8 to 10 glasses of clear fluid per day, including at least 1 cup every time you have diarrhea. Avoid caffeinated, alcoholic, or carbonated drinks.
Once you are feeling up to eating, choose salty foods like pretzels and soup, and high-potassium foods like skinless potatoes and bananas. These foods will help restore your body’s electrolyte balance, which is disturbed when you lose a lot of fluids through diarrhea.
More safe foods to eat as you begin to recover include refined white-flour bread products (such as pasta, white rice, Cream of Wheat, saltine crackers, or corn flakes), baked or broiled meat, and cooked vegetables like carrots, green beans, peeled zucchini, and mushrooms.
Avoid dairy, greasy foods, spicy foods, and “gassy” vegetables like beans, broccoli, corn, and green, leafy vegetables.
Eat many small meals a day instead of three big meals.

For nausea and vomiting

The same rules regarding fluids for diarrhea apply (i.e., drink clear fluids), except you may have to be more careful about the quantity you consume at a time – quickly drinking an entire cup of fluid may trigger more vomiting. Try to sip drinks rather than guzzle them, even if you feel very thirsty.
Once you are able to keep food down, eat bland foods such as English muffins, potatoes, rice, clear soups, and Jell-O. Low-fat dairy is also OK. As with diarrhea, you should be eating several small meals a day instead of three big meals.
Sit up after you eat (don’t lie down).
Avoid dairy, greasy foods, spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeine.
To relieve a bad taste in your mouth after vomiting, suck on hard candies or rinse with a baking soda solution consisting of 1 tsp baking soda, ¾ tsp salt, and 4 cups warm water.