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Medical Author:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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When to Seek Medical Care

Contact your doctor if any of the following situations occur:

• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea lasts for more than two days.
• The ill person is a child younger than three years of age.
• The abdominal symptoms are associated with a low-grade fever.
• Symptoms begin after recent foreign travel.
• Other family members or friends who ate the same thing are also sick.
• The ill person cannot keep any liquids down.
• The ill person does not improve within two days even though they are drinking large amounts of fluids.
• The ill person has a disease or illness that weakens their immune system (for example, HIV/AIDS, cancer and undergoing chemotherapy, kidney disease).
• The ill person cannot take their normal prescribed medications because of vomiting.
• The ill person has any nervous system symptoms such as slurred speech, muscle weakness, double vision, or difficulty swallowing.
• The ill person is pregnant.

Go to the nearest hospital's emergency department if any of the following situations occur:

• The ill person passes out or collapse, become dizzy, lightheaded, or has problems with vision.
• A fever higher than 101 F (38.3 C) occurs with the abdominal symptoms.
• Sharp or cramping pains do not go away after 10-15 minutes.
• The ill person's stomach or abdomen swells.
• The skin and/or eyes turn yellow.
• The ill person is vomiting blood or having bloody bowel movements.
• The ill person stops urinating, have decreased urination, or have urine that is dark in color.
• The ill person develops problems with breathing, speaking, or swallowing.
• One or more joints swell or a rash breaks out on the ill person's skin.
• The ill person or caretaker considers the situation to be an emergency.