QUESTION:

Dear Doctor Heller,

Dec. 23rd, 3:00pm, I ate at Taco Bell. At 8:00pm I had severe diarrhea (totally liquid) this continued until 3:00pm the 24th, when my dad took me to the emergency room (X-mas-no docs in office). I had fever 102, and rapid pulse and was given fluids since I had not been able to keep any down w/o diarrhea happening. 9:00pm "d" started again, continued periodically until Jan.4th after taking Flagyl & some other drug. Lab work came back neg. for bact.--must be viral. Bed rest--run its course. It is 21 days later --had fever of at least 99 every day--hot then cold--going on day & night--occasional very soft stool still. Could a virus hang this long & do this? When should I get concerned? When should it stop. I am female, 37 yrs. old. And have been on 100mg p day of Seroquel for over a year now.

Thank you for any input, Dr. Heller.

ANSWER:

It sounds like food poisoning, and that you still may have it. It may or may not be related to the Taco Bell meal either. Toxins released from eating bad food can cause GI symptoms right away, but true bacterial infections can take a day or more. Please also understand that blood tests are not accurate, and even a normal stool test can be present during an infection.

Your story should be reported to the local health department who may know of many other cases like yours. Depending upon your physical examination and lab tests, there are a number of options...

1) Get another stool culture, making sure that campylobacter is tested for

2) See a gastroenterologist (intestinal specialist)

3) Treat for the common intestinal infections with certain antibiotics (this has its risks)

4) Treat for diarrhea by avoiding dairy and citrus for a week, combined with an anti-diarrheal medication like Lomotil.

5) Wait to get better. It’s highly unlikely the Seroquel is involved at all. Irritable bowel, a bad gallbladder, pancreatitis, and many other conditions can cause your problem.

I highly encourage you to be thoroughly evaluated if simple treatments don’t work.