Mend Your Diet

Should I Call the Health Department?

Last Saturday night I went out to dinner at a mediterranean restaurant. The service was great and the food was decent. About 7 hours later, I started throwing up and I didn't stop throwing up for 12 hours. It was one of the worst nights of my life. I really feel like I got food poisoning and I would almost call the health department to have them check it out. The only problem is that I work at a health clinic and I might have gotten a virus from a patient. What would you do? I don't want other people to get that sick. It was horrible. These are all good answers. The reason I didn't see a doctor at the time was that I was sick from about 10pm on Saturday to 10am on Sunday. I knew it was going to pass, so I didn't want to go to the ER. Now I'm almost 100% better. I probably just got a stomach virus, so I think I will not call the HD. Thanks for the answers! :)

Public Comments

1. Can you remember any patients coming in with symptoms similar to what you had? It could just be a virus, something which you can't prevent anyway. I know where I live there's this horrible cold which seems to send people on a rollercoaster for 2-3 weeks of sickness and health. You went out to dinnner, so, did you go with anyone? Did they get sick? Do you know anyone else who got sick when they ate there? If they did, I'd definately consider looking into some sort of action against where you ate.
2. You should be checked out by a doctor (and you should already know this working at a clinic) to see if it was food poisoning. If it was then you should report it.
3. Go see your doctor. And if you feel you should call, then you kind of a sense of knowing where you got sick at. I would call them.
4. first...you should have went to the ER to find out why you were getting sick. if they told you it was food poisoning then yes you should have reported it. don't call the HD because you are not 100% sure it wasn't a virus from work
5. I would first make sure you are ok, maybe you should see a doctor. If it is food poisoning, you really should be seen by a doctor. In case of dehydration etc. I wouldn't worry about calling the health department so they could check out the place. This happens even at the best places.