If food poisoning is suspected, log your symptoms and what you ate, sip fluids slowly, and get medical care or call 119 if warning signs appear, then report through official channels if needed.
If you suspect food poisoning, the first things to do are write down when symptoms started and what you ate, sip water slowly, and watch for warning signs. When someone you shared a meal with suddenly starts vomiting or has diarrhea, it is easy to panic, grab medicine, or blame a specific dish. Both habits often make it harder to get proper care or to report a problem later.
This list walks through eight steps in the order you will actually need them, from the moment symptoms begin through seeing a doctor and filing a report. It follows the general intent of guidance from Korea's food safety and health authorities, and it leaves out home remedies with unclear evidence.
How to read it
- Ranks 1-4: your first response at home once symptoms start
- Ranks 5-6: warning signs and higher-risk people
- Ranks 7-8: checking with others and reporting officially
Severity varies from person to person, so this list cannot replace a diagnosis or treatment. If someone is confused or struggling to breathe, don't hesitate to call 119.
Log What You Ate and When Symptoms Started
Save Leftovers and Packaging, Don't Toss Them
Sip Fluids Slowly, Don't Gulp
Don't Self-Medicate with Anti-Diarrheals or Antibiotics
Seek Care Immediately for Dehydration or Severe Symptoms
Take It Seriously for Infants, Pregnant Women, and Older Adults
Check In with Everyone Who Ate the Same Meal
Report Through Official Channels Like 1399
How to Use This List
If symptoms just started, begin with the log in rank 1 and the slow fluids in rank 3. If the suspected food was store-bought or from a restaurant, also do rank 2 and keep the leftovers so you can ask questions later. If someone cannot keep water down or becomes confused, follow rank 5 and get care right away or call 119. When an infant, pregnant woman, or older adult is affected, rank 6 suggests reaching out earlier than you would for a healthy adult.
If several people are sick, gather symptom times as in rank 7, and move on to the official report in rank 8 only when a business or product seems to be involved. As rank 4 notes, check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine. This is general information, and procedures and phone numbers can change, so confirm current details through official channels before you report or visit.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if it's food poisoning or something else?
It's genuinely hard to tell food poisoning apart from other stomach illnesses just from symptoms at home. Keep a record of what you ate, when symptoms started, and how they progressed, and let a doctor make the call.
When is it serious enough to see a doctor?
See a doctor without delay if you can't keep water down, notice blood in your stool, feel severely dehydrated, run a high fever, or feel confused. Call 119 in an emergency such as confusion or trouble breathing. Infants, pregnant women, older adults, and anyone immunocompromised should seek care early even for milder symptoms.
Where do I report it if a group of people got sick together?
Gather everyone's symptom timing and what they ate, then contact your local public health center, Food Safety Korea, or the 1399 hotline. If a specific business or product seems responsible, hold onto the leftover food, receipt, and packaging.
How should I drink water while vomiting or having diarrhea?
Drink small amounts often instead of a large volume at once, and watch how your body responds. Less urine, dizziness, or a dry mouth can signal dehydration, in which case you should consider seeing a doctor.
Can I take anti-diarrheal medicine or antibiotics?
Don't take them on your own. Ask a doctor or pharmacist first, especially if you have a fever or blood in your stool, since the right call can differ. Avoid using leftover antibiotics or someone else's prescription.
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