When you think about it, hospitalization due to severe symptoms is the most common foodborne illness complication in America. The CDC reports there are over 300,000 hospitalizations every year that can be attributed to foodborne illness; hospitalizations that occur because concern about the immediate well being of a food poisoning victim comes into question. Severe vomiting and diarrhea caused by pathogens like Salmonella, Norovirus and Campylobacter can lead to dangerous dehydration. Abdominal cramping and bloody diarrhea caused by an intestinal microbe like E. coli or Shigella can cause dehydration and make daily activities unbearable.
While some of these hospitalizations are just the beginning of a victim’s food poisoning battle, most of these hospital visits are short and the victim recovers when the illness passes. No matter how fully a food poisoning victim recovers, it is important to note that hospitalizations of any sort are disconcerting, life altering and expensive. The CDC puts estimates for the cost of hospitalizations due to foodborne illness into the billions. Because of its frequency, expense and likelihood of occurrence, hospitalization from foodborne illness should be a real concern for every American.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2010
