Treating C. perfringens food poisoning

For Everyone

Key points

  • Most people recover from C. perfringens food poisoning without treatment.
  • People with diarrhea should drink extra fluids to prevent dehydration.
An older adult drinking a glass of water sitting down indoors.

Treatment overview

Fluids

People with diarrhea should drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Dehydration is not having enough water in the body. Fluids to drink include:

  • Clear liquids (such as water)
  • Oral rehydration solutions (including Pedialyte®)*

*Use of trademarks is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the Public Health Service or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Antibiotics

Most people with C. perfringens food poisoning get better without using antibiotics.

Keep Reading Preventing C. perfringens Food Poisoning
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Content Source
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
About This Page
Published: May 15, 2024
Updated: April 3, 2024

This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.

Reviewed: October 28, 2026

The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.

  • The use of trademarks is for identification only and does not imply an endorsement by the Public Health Service or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.