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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you have eaten food that has been recalled because of listeria contamination, you should see a doctor only if you are experiencing signs and symptoms of a listeria infection. However, if you're pregnant, you should see a doctor even if you aren't experiencing symptoms because of the danger to your unborn child.
What you can do
Before the appointment, you might want to write a list that answers the following questions:
- What are your symptoms and when did they start?
- Are you pregnant? If so, how far along are you?
- Are you being treated for any other medical conditions?
- What medications and supplements do you take?
You might also want to write a food diary, listing all the foods you've eaten each day for as far back as you can reliably remember.
What to expect from your doctor
To help with diagnosis, your doctor may ask if you've recently consumed:
- Soft cheeses, such as Brie, Camembert, feta, queso blanco or queso fresco
- Raw milk or cheeses made of raw (unpasteurized) milk
- Processed meats, such as hot dogs or cold cuts
- Any foods that have been implicated in a recent food recall
- Reducing the risk of foodborne listeria. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm078667.htm. Accessed Jan. 21, 2011.
- Gelfand MS. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of listeria monocytogenes infection. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 21, 2011.
- Baltimore RS. Listeria monocytogenes. In: Kliegman RM. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1608/0.html. Accessed Jan. 21, 2011.
- Lorber B. Listerosis. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html#. Accessed Jan. 21, 2011.
- Bortolussi R. Listeriosis: A primer. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2008;179:795.
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