These conditions include:
* liver disease, either from excessive alcohol use, viral hepatitis, or other causes
* hemochromatosis, an iron disorder
* diabetes
* stomach problems, including previous stomach surgery and low stomach acid (for example, from antacid use)
* cancer
* immune disorders, including HIV infection
* long-term steroid use, as for asthma and arthritis.
When symptoms are severe, the victim should see a doctor or get emergency help. This is especially important for those who are most vulnerable. For mild cases of foodborne illness, the individual should drink plenty of liquids to replace fluids lost through vomiting and diarrhea.
Source: Excerpted from FDA Consumer - The Unwelcome Dinner Guest: Preventing Foodborne Illness, Jan.-Feb. 1991; Revised Dec. 1997, Feb. 1999, Oct. 1999, and June 2000