- thoroughly cooking all animal-based foods
(including eggs), to 160ºF for most meats and
poultry (no pink in the flesh) - prompt refrigeration of leftover foods
Most foodborne illnesses are self-limiting; the
infection runs its course (usually within three to
five days) and the person fully recovers without
medical treatment. Supportive treatment such as
adequate fluid intake is important to prevent
DEHYDRATION; soups and juices also help maintain
nutrition. Doctors often discourage people from
taking ANTIDIARRHEAL MEDICATIONS that work by
slowing gastrointestinal motility, such as loper-
amide or diphenoxylate, because these drugs may
prolong the illness by prolonging the presence of
the PATHOGENin the gastrointestinal tract.
Some foodborne illnesses need prompt medical
treatment, such as BOTULISM. Some parasitic and
bacterial infections require appropriate medica-
tions. Some foodborne illnesses may spread from
one person to another, such as HEPATITIS and
ESCHERICHIA COLIINFECTION. A doctor should evaluate
symptoms that are severe or persist longer than
five days.
FOODBORNE ILLNESSES
AMEBIASIS BOTULISM
CAMPYLOBACTERIOSIS Escherichia coliINFECTION
GIARDIASIS HEPATITIS
LISTERIOSIS Norwalk-like virus
SALMONELLOSIS SHIGELLOSIS
TOXOPLASMOSIS
See also FUNGUS; PARASITE; VIRUS; WATERBORNE ILL-
NESSES.
fungus Any of the 200,000 or so of single or
multiple cell organisms (living structures), micro-
scopic (visible only using a microscope for magni-
fication) and macroscopic (visible to the unaided
EYE), that are abundant in the natural environ-
ment. Yeasts are single-cell fungi that live in
colonies; molds are multiple-cell fungi that form
structures. Like BACTERIA, fungi are among the old-
est life forms to inhabit the Earth; fossils of yeasts
date back more than 2 billion years.
Most fungi are harmless to humans and many
are NORMAL FLORA(present in body and on the
SKIN). Fungi break down organic waste; yeasts, for
example, populate the gastrointestinal tract where
they aid in digestion. Many ANTIBIOTIC MEDICATIONS
derive from fungi, notably penicillin (first culti-
vated from the mold Penicillium chrysogenum).
Some fungi are pathogenic (disease causing) in
people under any circumstances and others cause
OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONin people who are IMMUNO-
COMPROMISED. Fungal diseases may be localized,
such as ONYCHOMYCOSIS(fungal INFECTIONof the nail
beds), or systemic, such as HISTOPLASMOSIS. Doctors
use ANTIFUNGAL MEDICATIONSto treat fungal infec-
tions that cause disease.FUNGAL DISEASES
ASPERGILLOSIS blastomycosis
CANDIDIASIS COCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS
CRYPTOCOCCOSIS HISTOPLASMOSIS
mucormycosis ONYCHOMYCOSIS
sporotrichosis tinea barbae (ringworm)
tinea capitis (ringworm) tinea corporis (ringworm)
tinea cruris (jock itch) tinea pedis (athlete’s foot)Fungi may also be a source of poisoning.
Aspergillusmolds on grains produce aflatoxins, for
example, which cause LIVERdamage and are asso-
ciated with LIVER CANCER. Many types of mush-
rooms produce toxins (mycotoxins) that cause
illness or death when eaten, such as the highly
toxic “death cap” mushroom, Amanita phalloides.
Molds may grow in buildings where humidity and
darkness converge to provide the ideal environ-
ment for their growth, such as inside walls and
floors where there have been water leaks. The
spores of these fungi cause respiratory illnesses
and other health problems when breathed in with
the air, particularly for people who have ASTHMA
or other chronic pulmonary conditions.
See also BUILDING-RELATED ILLNESS; INDOOR AIR
QUALITY; MICROBE; OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY;
PARASITE; PATHOGEN; PROTOZOA; TINEA INFECTIONS;
VIRUS.genital herpes A sexually transmitted disease
(STD) resulting from INFECTIONwith herpesvirus,
usually HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS 2 (HSV-2). Herpesgenital herpes 327