--- title: "Foodborne illnesses can be severe in elderly, young" date: 2006-07-17T11:21:19-07:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/foodborne-illnesses-can-be-severe-in-elderly-young" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / # Foodborne illnesses can be severe in elderly, young Salmonella, hepatitis A and E. coli are caused by ingesting contaminated food products. Jennifer M. Phelps News-Leader July 16, 2006 This interview is with Dr. Donald L. Maples Jr., a doctor of osteopathy and family practice physician at Butterfield Park Medical Center, a Citizens Memorial Healthcare Clinic. He’s been with CMH for a year. Q: What is a foodborne illness? A: Foodborne illnesses are diseases spread by ingesting contaminated food products. Q: How is having a foodborne illness different from having food poisoning? A: These terms are considered interchangeable in most circumstances. Q: What are some examples of foodborne illnesses, and what foods may they come from? A: Some of the most common are: Salmonella, which comes from raw meats, poultry, unpasteurized milk and dairy products, seafoods, fresh produce including sprouts, and foods handled by infected food handlers. Hepatitis A, which comes from shellfish, salads, cold meats, sandwiches, fruits, vegetables, fruit juices, milk, milk products, and infected food handlers. E. coli, which comes from undercooked minced meat, unpasteurized milk, lettuce, sprouts and unpasteurized fruit juices. Listeria, which comes from long shelf-life products stored under improper refrigeration temperatures. Products include deli meat and poultry, smoked sea foods, cheeses and pre-cooked sausage products. Q: How would someone know if they have a foodborne illness? A: Typical symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever, headache, vomiting, severe exhaustion and sometimes pus or blood in the stool. Symptoms typically do not develop for several days to weeks. Q: What should someone do if they suspect they have a foodborne illness? A: They should see their physician immediately. Q: How are foodborne illnesses diagnosed/treated? A: Stool cultures and an examination are typical ways to diagnose foodborne illnesses. Many viral illnesses can be diagnosed clinically. Bed rest and fluid consumption will be the best way to help prevent dehydration, a typical side effect from a foodborne illness. Q: What can happen to someone if a foodborne illness is left untreated? A: For most healthy individuals, foodborne illnesses are not long-lasting or life-threatening. However, foodborne illnesses can be severe in the very young, elderly or people with diseases that suppress their immune system. Q: Do the symptoms of food-born illnesses mimic symptoms associated with any other sicknesses? A: They can easily mimic many flu-like illnesses. Q: How can illness sufferers be sure their food made them sick? A: Only by medical laboratory diagnosis. ### Other Hepatitis A Lawsuits [La Serranita Concha Negra Frozen Clam Hepatitis A Outbreak Lawsuits](https://marlerclark.com/la-serranita-concha-negra-frozen-clam-hepatitis-a-outbreak-lawsuits) [Washington and California Hepatitis A Outbreak linked to Imported Strawberries](https://marlerclark.com/washington-hepatitis-a-outbreak-linked-to-imported-strawberries) [Hepatitis A outbreak - Strawberries sicken 27 in Canada and United States](https://marlerclark.com/hepatitis-a-outbreak-strawberries-sicken-27-in-canada-and-united-states) [Gino's Ristorante & Pizzeria linked to Hepatitis A Outbreak](https://marlerclark.com/ginos-ristorante-pizzeria-linked-to-hepatitis-a-outbreak) [Famous Anthony's Hepatitis A Outbreak; 52 sick, 36 hospitalized and 4 deaths](https://marlerclark.com/hepatitis-a-outbreak-linked-to-roanoke-famous-anthonys-restaurants) [Los Angelos Hepatitis A Outbreak linked to 555 East American 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Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=botulism&year=all) [Campylobacter Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=campylobacter&year=all) [Shigella Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=shigella&year=all) [Cyclospora Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=cyclospora&year=all) ### Lawsuits updates by year [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1998](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=1998) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1999](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=1999) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2000](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2000) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2001](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2001) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2002](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2002) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2003](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2003) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2004](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2004) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2005](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2005) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2006](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2006) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2007](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2007) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2008](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2008) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2009](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2009) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2010](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2010) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2011](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2011) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2012](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2012) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2013](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2013) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2014](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2014) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2015](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2015) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2016](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2016) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2017](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2017) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2018](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2018) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2019](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2019) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2020](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2020) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2021](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2021) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2022](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2022) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2023](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2023) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2024](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2024) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2025](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2025) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2026](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2026) ##### Get Help #### Affected by an outbreak or recall? 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