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Food Poisoning

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Food Poisoning
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Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is a common, yet distressing and sometimes life-threatening problem. People infected with food-borne organisms may be symptom-free or may have symptoms ranging from mild intestinal discomfort to severe dehydration and bloody diarrhea.

Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating or drinking contaminated food. You can get food poisoning by eating food contaminated by harmful organisms, such as bacteria, parasites, and viruses.
The most common ways that harmful organisms are spread are:-

During food processing- It is normal to find bacteria in the intestines of healthy animals that we use for food. If bacteria come in contact with meat or poultry during processing, they can contaminate the food. Campylobacter, salmonella, and E. coliE. coli are often spread in this way. In one test, campylobacter was found in almost half of the raw chicken breasts tested.

During food growing- Fresh fruits and vegetables can be contaminated if they are washed or irrigated with water that is contaminated with animal manure or human sewage. Staph food poisoning and shigellosis are often spread through contaminated water.

During food handling- Food can be contaminated when an infected person handles the food or if it comes in contact with another contaminated product. For example, if you use the same cutting board for both chopping vegetables and preparing raw meat, you risk contaminating the vegetables.

Through the environment- Many harmful organisms that are commonly found in dirt, dust, and water can find their way into the foods we eat. These organisms include Clostridium perfringens and Cryptosporidium parvumCryptosporidium parvum. Environmental conditions-such as water polluted by farm runoff-may make this type of infection more frequent. Home-canned foods that have not been prepared properly may contain another organism, Clostridium botulinum.
The symptoms of food poisoning usually affect your stomach and intestines (gastrointestinal tract).

The first symptom is usually diarrhea.

Other symptoms include feeling sick to your stomach (nausea), vomiting, and abdominal (belly) cramps.

The time it takes for symptoms to appear, how severe the symptoms are, and how long the symptoms last depend on the infecting organism, your age, and your overall health.

The very young and the very old may be most affected by food poisoning. Their symptoms may last longer, and even the types of food poisoning that are typically mild can be life-threatening. This may also be true for pregnant women and people with impaired immune systems, such as those who have long-lasting (chronic) illnesses.

Not all food poisoning causes diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and belly cramps. Some types of food poisoning have different or more severe symptoms. These can include weakness, numbness, confusion, or tingling of the face, hands, and feet.

Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea and vomiting, can also be caused by organisms that aren't necessarily spread through food. These organisms are mainly spread through water or personal contact. Conditions caused by these organisms include infection with the parasiteGiardia lamblia.

Learn more about specific food poisoning organisms, including how they are spread, their symptoms, and their treatment:-

Botulism (Clostridium botulinum)
Campylobacteriosis (Campylobacter)
C. perfringens food poisoningC. perfringens (Clostridium perfringens)
Hepatitis A
Listeriosis (Listeria monocytogenes)
Marine toxins
Noroviruses
Salmonellosis (Salmonella enterica)
Shigellosis (Shigella)
Staph food poisoning (Staphylococcus aureus)
Toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii)
Vibrio vulnificus food poisoningVibrio vulnificus
Most cases of food poisoning will go away in a few days with rest and care at home. The following information will help you recover.

Prevent dehydration:-

Dehydration is the most frequent complication of food poisoning. Older persons and children should take special precautions to prevent it.

To prevent dehydration, take frequent sips of a rehydration drink (such as Pedialyte). Try to drink a cup of water or rehydration drink for each large, loose stool you have. Sports drinks, soda pop, and fruit juices contain too much sugar and not enough of the important electrolytes that are lost during diarrhea, so they shouldn't be used to rehydrate. You can make your own rehydration drink.

Try to stay with your normal diet as much as possible. Eating your usual diet will help you to get enough nutrition.

Dehydration in children:-

Take extra precautions to prevent dehydration in children.

For children who are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, continue the regular breast milk or formula feeding as much as possible. You may have to feed more often to replace lost fluids. Give an oral rehydration solution (ORS), such as Pedialyte, between feedings only if you see signs of dehydration.

For older children, give ½ cup [4 fl oz (118 mL)] to 1 cup [8 fl oz (237 mL)] of water, milk, or a rehydration drink each hour, and try to keep feeding your child his or her usual diet. Foods to try include potatoes, chicken breast without the skin, cereal, yogurt, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Try to avoid foods that have a lot of fat or sugar. Supplement feedings with small sips or spoonfuls of a rehydration drink or clear liquid every few minutes.

For more information on treating diarrhea or dehydration, see:

Diarrhea, Age 11 and Younger.
Diarrhea, Age 12 and Older.
Dehydration.

Types of food poisoning that may be treated with medicines include:-

Botulism, which usually requires the botulism antitoxin and close medical care.
Listeriosis, which in pregnant women is treated with antibiotics to prevent infection of the fetus or newborn. Babies with listeriosis may also receive antibiotics.
Toxoplasmosis food poisoning, which in pregnant women is treated with antibiotics. To learn more, see the topic Toxoplasmosis During Pregnancy.
Shigellosis, which may be treated with antibiotics. But some types of Shigella bacteria aren't killed by antibiotics. This is called resistance. Because using antibiotics can make these bacteria even more resistant, mild cases of shigellosis aren't usually treated with antibiotics.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/fact_sheets/Basics_for_Handling_Food_Safely/index.asp
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/fact_sheets/Foodborne_Illness_What
http://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/facts.html#what.
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/gen_info/faqs.html.
Food Poisoning

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