Listeria food poisoning symptoms

Symptoms may be mild and stomach-focused, but invasive infection can spread beyond the gut. Headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures are concerning neurological features. Pregnant people may have a mild illness while the pregnancy is at risk, so fever or flu-like symptoms after a possible food exposure should be discussed promptly. Older adults and people with weakened immunity also need a lower threshold for medical advice.

Rest and take frequent small sips of water or oral rehydration solution if you can swallow safely. Keep a note of when symptoms began, foods eaten, and anyone else who became ill. Do not prepare food for others while vomiting or having diarrhoea. Contact a clinician promptly if you are pregnant, older, immunocompromised, or have a persistent fever; testing and antibiotics may be considered after assessment.

Get urgent help for confusion, stiff neck, seizure, severe weakness, fainting, breathing difficulty, blood in stool or vomit, severe abdominal pain, or inability to keep fluids down. Signs of dehydration include very little urine, marked dizziness, dry mouth, and unusual sleepiness. Infants and vulnerable adults should be assessed promptly when they cannot drink or are becoming less alert.

Ask whether your symptoms need testing, whether antibiotics are appropriate, how to replace lost fluids, which foods to avoid, and how to protect household members from infection.