How to Diagnose Listeria Poisoning

The Listeria (Listeria monocytogenes) bacteria are found in soil and water and contaminates various food products. Refrigeration does not kill the Listeria bacteria. Eat only cooked meats, washed vegetables and pasteurized milk and pasteurized milk products. Pregnant women, babies, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are high risk candidates for Listeriosis. Learn more about Listeria if you are in this high risk group.

Instructions

• 1

  Suspect Listeriosis if you experience fever, muscle aches and gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea or nausea.

• 2

  Contact your doctor if also experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions. Listeriosis can affect the nervous system.

• 3

  Learn about Listeria if you are pregnant. Listeriosis can cause still birth, miscarriage, premature delivery and infection of the baby in pregnant women. Contact your doctor immediately if you suspect you have eaten food suspected of having Listeria contamination. Listeria can affect your unborn baby.

• 4

  Request a blood test if you are concerned about Listeria during pregnancy. Routine testing for Listeriosis is not common.

• 5

  Notify your doctor if you have consumed food recalled because of listeria contamination if you are high risk and experience symptoms.

• 6

  Visit the doctor for an antibiotic prescription if you suspect Listeriosis and you are pregnant, elderly or in the high risk group for Listeria. Listeriosis causes death in one fifth of the diagnosed cases of Listeriosis each year.