What To Do If You Have Food Poisoning

Food poisoning is one of the last things most of us want to plan for when preparing for a trip. Even the thought of an upset stomach while on the road is uncomfortable. In any case, the possibility is always there, so it's best to know how to identify and manage your symptoms ahead of time.

Click here to see the What to Do If You Have Food Poisoning Slideshow

According to the Mayo Clinic, food poisoning (also called a foodborne illness) "is illness caused by eating contaminated food." The most common causes of food poisoning include various infectious organisms like "bacteria, viruses, and parasites," which can contaminate food at any stage of production and/or preparation.

Thankfully, however, most cases can be handled without seeing a physician (although there are times when one should seek medical attention). There are also basic steps, like washing your hands and cooking foods to a safe temperature, that you can take to avoid food poisoning when in charge of preparing your own food. One doesn't always have this control when traveling, though, so check out our slideshow for tips on how to bounce back in case you've come down with a stomach bug.