Exams and Tests
Most
is mild and passes in a few days, so most
people do not go to a doctor for a diagnosis. You can often
diagnose food poisoning yourself if others who ate the same food as you also
become ill.
If you do go to your doctor, he or she
will make the diagnosis based on your symptoms, a physical exam, and your
medical history. Your doctor will ask
where you have been eating and whether anyone who ate the same food has the
same symptoms.
Sometimes the following tests are done.
- A
stool culture may be done if your doctor
suspects that you have eaten contaminated food, your symptoms are severe, or
the diagnosis is uncertain.
- Blood tests may be done to help
find out whether the food poisoning is caused by bacteria or to rule out other
causes. A
complete blood count and a
chemistry screen can help show whether you are
severely ill or dehydrated.
- If you are pregnant or have an
and have been exposed to
, you may need a
toxoplasmosis test. For more information, see the
topic Toxoplasmosis During Pregnancy.
Your doctor may need to report your condition
to the health department. This is done to help the government track the
condition and identify possible outbreaks.