Food Poisoning: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Food poisoning is a disease that develops when eating food or water contaminated with pathological microorganisms, their toxins or chemicals. Another name is food poisoning.

Most often, food poisoning in adults causes diarrhea and vomiting, although other symptoms may occur. The main danger for patients is dehydration, so the basis for treating food poisoning is rehydration - restoration of the water-electrolyte balance of the body.

Mechanisms for the development of food poisoning

The development of digestive poisoning passes through an inflammatory and non-inflammatory type.

Non-inflammatory type is caused by the action of enterotoxins on the mucous membrane of the small intestine without penetration of microorganisms into it. This action leads to the development of watery diarrhea, in which there is no blood and pus. Sometimes due to severe diarrhea, severe dehydration develops.

Inflammatory type of food poisoning is caused by the action of cytotoxins on mucosal cells, which leads to their death and invasion of microorganisms into the intestinal wall. Diarrhea in such cases is bloody in nature, in the stool there are also mucus and leukocytes.

In patients with this type of food poisoning, body temperature can exceed 38 ° C, they have a marked intoxication of the body. Since the volume of diarrhea is less than that of non-inflammatory type, severe dehydration develops less frequently in patients. Sometimes microorganisms penetrate the intestinal wall into the bloodstream or lymphatic vessels, causing sepsis. Toxins can act on the central nervous system, causing vomiting.

Similar mechanisms for the development of food poisoning are also observed with non-infectious causes of the disease - for example, poisoning with fungi or heavy metals.

Reasons for

Foods may be contaminated at any stage of their production, processing or preparation.

For example, this can happen when:

• insufficient cooking time( especially for meat);
• improper storage of food;
• long-term preservation of already prepared food without cooling;
• a touch to the products of a person who has diarrhea or diarrhea;
• cross contamination( when pathological bacteria fall on food from other objects).

Pollution of products most often occurs in bacteria, but sometimes it can be viruses or parasites.

Possible causes of food poisoning :

• Campylobacteria .These bacteria are one of the most common causes of acute food poisoning in adults. They are usually found in poorly cooked meats, unpasteurized milk and raw water. The incubation period for toxic infections caused by campylobacteria is 1-5 days, and the symptoms of the disease last less than a week.
• Salmonella .These are bacteria, often found in raw or inadequately prepared meat, raw eggs, milk and other milk products. The incubation period is 12-72 hours, the clinical picture lasts 4-7 days.
• Listeria .These bacteria can be found in refrigerated, ready-to-eat foods, including pâtés, sliced ​​meats and soft cheeses. All these products must be consumed before the expiration date. This is especially important for pregnant women, since infection with Listeria can cause them complications, including miscarriages. The incubation period can range from several days to several weeks. Symptoms usually take place within 3 days.
• Intestinal bacilli .These are bacteria that live in the digestive tract of humans and many animals. Most strains of Escherichia coli are harmless, but some of them can cause a serious illness. Cases of toxic infection caused by these bacteria are most often developed after eating improperly cooked meat or unpasteurized milk. The incubation period is 1-8 days, and the duration of the clinical picture is several days or weeks.
• Shigellas .These bacteria can get on any foodstuff washed in the contaminated water. Symptoms usually develop within 7 days and last up to 1 week.
• Viruses .These pathogens of food poisoning are easily transmitted from person to person through food or water. Examples are noroviruses and rotaviruses.
• Parasites .Foodborne toxic infections caused by parasites are less common. Poisoning can result in food contamination with lamblia, cryptosporidia and amoeba. Symptoms of a toxicoinfection caused by parasites usually develop within 10 days after consuming contaminated products. Without treatment, the disease can last several weeks or even months.

Symptoms of

The earliest symptoms of food poisoning are:

1. Spasms and abdominal pain.
2. Nausea and vomiting.
3. Diarrhea.

The whole clinical picture of food poisoning can be divided into three groups - symptoms associated with gastroenterocolitis, with intoxication and dehydration.

Symptoms of gastroenterocolitis :

• Watery diarrhea without blood. Pain and cramping in the abdomen.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Increased body temperature.

Symptoms of intoxication include general weakness, poor health, increased fatigue, headache and other signs of asthenia.

With prolonged diarrhea and vomiting, dehydration develops in a person, which is manifested by :

• by thirst;
• with dark urine and a reduced amount of urine.
• by dizziness;
• headache, fatigue;
• dry mouth, eyes;
• drying lips.

In the absence of treatment, the patient's condition may worsen, signs of severe dehydration appear :

• confusion;
• marked exhaustion and weakness;
• no urine;
• very weak and accelerated pulse;
• decreased blood pressure;
• convulsions.

Consequences of severe dehydration from food poisoning for the human body can be dangerous for his life, so you should immediately seek medical help.

Dairy products poisoning

Low-quality milk products are one of the main reasons for the development of food poisoning. Under the condition of violations of the rules for the preparation and storage of milk products, various pathogenic bacteria, including staphylococci, salmonella, campylobacteria and E. coli, may be present. It is dangerous to use expired and unpasteurized dairy products.

Poisoning with meat, chicken, eggs

Food poisoning often develops in people who eat raw or poorly cooked meat, chicken or eggs. Most often, the toxicological infection in these cases is caused by salmonella, campylobacteria or E. coli.

Poisoning of confectionery

In violation of the rules for the production and storage of confectionery products, they may contain various microorganisms that can be poisoned. Most often it is staphylococcus or salmonella.

Fish and Seafood Poisoning

The danger is the consumption of raw or poorly prepared fish and seafood, as they may contain various pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli and Staphylococci. In addition, in the raw fish there may be parasites that cause diphyllobothriasis.

Some fish species themselves can, under certain conditions, be poisoned.

Diagnosis

Acute food poisoning with high fever, vomiting and diarrhea has such a clear clinical picture that the diagnosis is established based on the symptoms of the disease. Laboratory and instrumental examination is aimed at establishing the cause of poisoning. However, at first the doctor in details asks the patient about what food he used before the development of the disease.

After this, a laboratory study of samples of stool or vomit. If suspected of certain types of toxic infections, which carry epidemiological danger to others or high risks to the health of the patient, a more detailed examination, which is carried out under stationary conditions, may be necessary.

First aid and treatment at home

Most cases of foodborne infection go through within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms without the use of any medication. Providing first aid for food poisoning and medical treatment at home can improve the patient's well-being, prevent dehydration and speed up recovery.

To do this:

• Allow the digestive tract to rest. Many people think that food poisoning can be eaten immediately, so that the body's strength can be restored. However, it is better to refrain from eating food and drinks for several hours.
• Drink water in small sips. Sometimes patients wonder whether it is possible to drink kefir or other drinks during food poisoning. However, in the acute period of the disease, it is best to use plain water, and then in small portions, so as not to provoke vomiting.
• To expand the diet for food poisoning slowly in both children and adults.
• Avoid eating certain foods, including milk products, caffeine, alcohol, fatty and fried foods.
• It should be remembered that you can eat only food that has been crushed, lean and digestible after food poisoning.
• Rest.

As practice shows, these tips also help to recover faster after food poisoning.

When is a doctor and emergency medical care required?

The doctor should be treated in the following cases:

• Frequent vomiting and inability to retain liquid in the stomach.
• Presence of blood in the stool or vomit.
• The duration of diarrhea is more than 3 days. Severe abdominal pain.
• .
• Food poisoning with a body temperature above 38.6 ° C.
• Presence of symptoms of dehydration.
• The presence of neurological disorders - blurred vision, muscle weakness, numbness in the hands.

In the presence of these symptoms, only a doctor can decide how to treat a patient with food poisoning.

Treatment of

Many people ask questions about how and what to treat food poisoning in adults and children, whether antibiotics should be used in the presence of fever.

Sometimes, medications are used against permeation( for example, Loperamide), from fever( Ibuprofen or Paracetamol), from vomiting( Cerukal, Ondasetron).The first medical aid for food poisoning is needed only in some cases.

Very popular are enterosorbents that absorb toxins in the intestine. However, their use in food poisoning is justified only immediately after eating poor-quality food. When the clinical picture has already developed, enterosorbents are too late.

It should not be forgotten that the main drug for food poisoning in adults and children is a liquid, the use of which prevents dehydration. It is necessary to drink 200 ml of water after each episode of diarrhea. This is an additional amount of fluid that must be added to the volume that the patient drinks normally. After each vomiting, you need to wait 5-10 minutes, and then start drinking water again, but more slowly.

Antibiotics for food poisoning in adults or children are used only in severe cases, and also depending on how long the illness lasts.

Folk methods

Folk methods of treating food poisoning in adults are very effective, especially considering that within 48 hours the symptoms of the disease go away on their own.

Widely used:

• Decoctions of dill.
• Infusions of the althea.
• Ginger tea.
• Tea with rosehip or mountain ash. Decoctions of rice and flax.

These decoctions, providing an anti-inflammatory, soothing and spasmolytic effect on the intestines, also replenish the body's water balance.

Diet

Many patients are interested in how to restore digestion as effectively as possible after food poisoning. Several hours from the moment of the onset of symptoms it is better not to consume any foods and drinks. Then it is recommended to eat easily digestible food - vegetable broth, soups, fruit juices, vegetables, bananas, rice, mashed potatoes, carrots. Such a diet after food poisoning is slowly expanded, gradually returning to the normal diet.

Prevention

The best prevention of food poisoning is the maintenance and maintenance of hygiene standards in the processing, preparation and storage of food products.

A person can reduce the risk of infection by using the following tips :

• You should wash your hands thoroughly after going to the toilet, before touching food.
• You need to wash vegetables and fruits before using them.
• It is necessary to check the shelf life of foodstuffs before using them.
• Care should be taken to clean all food storage areas.
• You can consume only fully cooked food.

Acute food poisoning is a common disease that develops due to the use of food contaminated with microorganisms or toxins. As a rule, it is manifested by diarrhea and vomiting. The patient's condition usually improves within 48 hours, however in severe cases dangerous dehydration can develop. The basis for the treatment of food poisoning is the replacement of the lost fluid, medicines are needed only in selected cases.

Author: Taras Nevelichuk, doctor,
specially for Moizhivot.ru

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