COMMON CAUSES AND TREATMENT OF FOOD POISONING

 

Food poisoning is caused  by consuming contaminated food. Most people recover without treatment in a few days.

In most cases of food poisoning, the food is contaminated by bacteria, such as salmonella or Escherichia coli (E. coli), or a virus, such as the norovirus.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Food poisoning symptoms can appear any time between a few hours and several weeks after consuming contaminated food, but most often appear one to two days later.

The main symptoms include:

feeling sick (nausea)

vomiting

diarrhoea, which may contain blood or mucus

stomach cramps and abdominal pain

a lack of energy and weakness

loss of appetite

a high temperature (fever)

aching muscles

chills

Most of the time, these symptoms will subside within a few days, and you will fully recover.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET POISONED

Most victims of food poisoning heal at home without the need for any special care, however there are some instances where you should visit a doctor

Rest and hydration are recommended until you feel better to avoid becoming dehydrated. Even if you can just sip it, make an effort to drink enough of water.

Oral rehydration solutions (ORS), which are available from pharmacies, are recommended for more vulnerable people, such as the elderly and those with another health condition.

How are meals contaminated?

At any point during the process of producing, processing, or preparing food, contamination can occur. It might be contaminated, for instance, 

Not correctly storing food that needs to be chilled at below 5C

Not properly cooking the food (particularly meat)

Keeping prepared food in a warm environment for too long

Not sufficiently reheating previously cooked food

Someone who is ill or who has dirty hands touching the food

Eating food that has passed its "use by" date

The spread of bacteria between contaminated foods (cross-contamination)

Raw meat and poultry

Raw eggs

Raw shellfish

Unpasteurized milk

Raw milk 

"ready-to-eat" foods, such as cooked sliced meats, pâté, soft cheeses and pre-packed sandwiches

FOOD POISONING TREATMENT

Gastroenteritis and food poisoning usually resolve without any medical intervention. Treatment is focused on reducing the symptoms and preventing complications, especially dehydration.

The main treatment and prevention strategy for food poisoning is to rest and replace lost fluids and electrolytes by:

Drinking plenty of liquids (preferably with oral rehydration salts to replace lost electrolytes — see below)

Ensuring fluid intake even if vomiting persists, by sipping small amounts of water or allowing ice cubes to melt in the mouth

Gradually starting to eat again

What should a person eat?

There are no specific restrictions on food, but blander foods might be easier to digest. These can include:

cereal

rice

toast

bananas

A person may want to avoid fatty, sugary, or spicy foods, as well as dairy products, caffeine, and alcohol, as these may worsen symptoms.

How to prevent dehydration?

To avoid the dangerous and potentially fatal effects of dehydration from diarrhea, a person should drink oral rehydration salts (ORS).

Dehydration has been a more significant risk in low or middle-income countries. In higher-income countries, while the threat of death is smaller, rehydration is nonetheless important.

A person can replace salt, glucose, and minerals lost through dehydration through sachets of oral rehydration salts available from pharmacies and online. A person can dissolve the salts in drinking water and this does not require a doctor’s prescription.