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"The most common procedure or treatment for food poisoning is to

A) induce vomiting.
B) prevent dehydration.
C) give an antidote.
D) assess for damage of the intestinal lining."

User Sawant
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1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The primary treatment for food poisoning is to prevent dehydration using oral rehydration solutions or intravenous fluids if necessary. Inducing vomiting and providing an antidote are not standard treatments, and antibiotics are only used in certain severe bacterial cases.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most common procedure or treatment for food poisoning is to prevent dehydration. When someone is experiencing food poisoning due to either an infection of the gastrointestinal tract or the ingestion of toxins already present in the food, increasing fluid intake to replace fluids lost is essential. Oral rehydration solutions, which are mixtures of water, salts, and sugars, are often recommended to rehydrate and replace lost electrolytes. Severe cases may require intravenous fluids to address dehydration effectively. Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to significant fluid and electrolyte loss, which can be dangerous or even fatal if not treated properly.

The use of antibiotics is not commonly associated with treating food poisoning since most cases are caused by viruses, which are not responsive to antibiotics. However, in specific instances where bacterial infections are the cause and are severe or life-threatening, healthcare providers might consider antibiotics. Additionally, inducing vomiting is not a standard treatment and could be harmful, while the provision of an antidote is specific to certain poisonings, such as heavy metal toxicity, and not typically associated with foodborne illnesses.

User Wittrup
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