How to Handle Food Poisoning |
One of the signs and symptoms of food poisoning is diarrhea and vomiting that can lead to complications of dehydration or loss of body fluids. consume electrolyte fluid can be done for preventive therapy or dehydration at home.
One of the signs and symptoms of food poisoning is diarrhea and vomiting that can lead to complications of dehydration or loss of body fluids. consume electrolyte fluid can be done for preventive therapy or dehydration at home.
Food poisoning is a disorder caused by food contaminated by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins. Organisms or toxins that infect or contaminate food can occur in any food processing process. Food contamination can also occur at home when food is wrongly handled or cooked. Symptoms of food poisoning can occur while consuming contaminated food. Generally food poisoning starts from the category of mild to severe. In the mild category, food poisoning can heal without treatment. However, in some severe cases requiring hospital treatment.
What are the signs and symptoms of food poisoning?
The symptoms of food poisoning vary depending on the cause. Generally food poisoning causes one or more signs and symptoms, such as:
- Nausea
- Gag
- Watery diarrhea until bleeding
- Abdominal pain and cramps
- Fever
What is the cause of food poisoning?
Food contamination can occur from an early stage such as when fruit is still beginning to grow, picked, processing, storage, delivery, or preparation when it will be consumed. Cross-contamination is common, especially when preparing raw foods such as salads. Food that is not cooked or not cooked properly can cause food poisoning because harmful organisms do not die before consumption.
The causes of food poisoning or organisms that contaminate food are:
Bacteria
Bacteria are the most common cause of food poisoning. Some of the bacteria that can cause food poisoning are E.coli, Listeria, and Salmonella.
- Parasite
- Food poisoning caused by parasites causes signs and symptoms that are different from bacterial contamination. Toxoplasma is the most common parasite in food poisoning. Toxoplasma is commonly found in cat feces. The parasite can live on the digestive system without showing signs and symptoms. However, people who have weakened immune systems and pregnant women can be at risk of serious side effects if the parasite lives in the intestine.
- Virus. Food poisoning can also be caused by a virus. One of the serious viral contamination of food is hepatitis A virus.
The risk of food poisoning can occur depending on the organism present in the diet, the number of organisms in the diet, age, and health condition of a person. Here are some groups of people who have a higher risk of food poisoning :
- The elderly (elderly)
- Women who are pregnant
- Infants and toddlers
- People with chronic illness
How to handle food poisoning?
Treatment for food poisoning generally depends on the source of the disease and the severity of the symptoms. In general, signs and symptoms of food poisoning can heal without treatment within a few days, but also in some cases poisonings may occur longer. Handling of food poisoning that can be done is:
- Treatment for replacement of lost fluids
- Antibiotic therapy
Therapy to help stop diarrhea or vomiting
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for the selection of medications that treat diarrhea and vomiting.
Source:
- Healthline. (2017, 18 July). Food Poisoning. Retrieved 20 September 2017 from: https://www.healthline.com/health/food-poisoning#overview1
- Mayo Clinic. (2017, July 15). Food Poisoning. Retrieved 20 September 2017 from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/food-poisoning/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20337621
- WebMD. (2017). Food Poisoning: What to Know. Retrieved 20 Sept 2017 from: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/food-poisoning-causes#2