Food poisoning
Food poisoning is a condition caused by ingesting food contaminated by bacteria. These bacteria produce toxins which are very harmful for the human body. Although we have an inbuilt system within our stomach to inhibit the growth of these bacteria, in some cases we end up ingesting such large quantities of the bacterium that it causes illness. Generally caused by bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter or Clostridium perfringes, food poisoning is usually caused by eating food that is prepared under unsanitary conditions.
Symptoms
The symptoms of food poisoning usually manifest instantaneously or even upto 48 hours later. The most common symptoms include –
Treatment
The treatment options available in such a condition is usually very simple. Your doctor will prescribe medicines that will control your vomiting or diarrhea, fever, combined with a round of antibiotics. In case you don’t feel better even after taking the medicine, you will be asked to get a few blood tests done like a CBC, and to give a stool sample. The CBC will help identify if there is still an infection in the body and the stool sample will help identify exactly which organism has caused the food poisoning.
A common precaution your doctor will take, is to prescribe rehydrating agents, and advice you to drink a lot of water. This not only helps rehydrate your body but will also help flush out the toxins faster.
Oral rehydration Therapy or ORS is an essential part of treating food poisoning. This is because when a person suffers from diarrhea and/or vomiting, he/she loses not only water but a number of essential salts and minerals from the body. This rapid loss of nutrients could send the body into shock causing a shut down in the main functions of the body.
There are a number of commercial Oral rehydrating agents available in the market. All you need to do is add it to a litre of boiled water and keep sipping the solution throughout the day.
Another natural option is to have nimbu pani with salt and sugar or coconut water. Both these substitutes are cheap yet effective methods of rehydration.
Complications
If left untreated, food poisoning might lead to -
- Severe dehydration
- Haemolytic ureamic syndrome: a condition where the body does not have enough water and leads to the build up of urea in the body leading to kidney failure.
- Reactive arthritis: This is a condition where the joints become inflamed due to the gastrointestinal infection.
- Pericarditis: It is a condition where the outer covering of the heart gets infected
- Death
Prevention
Food poisoning is a completely avoidable condition, here are a few precautions you can take:
- Wash your hand before every meal.
- Eat food cooked in sanitary conditions
- Do not eat leftovers that are more than two days old
- If someone else cooks for you make sure he/she washes their hands, the utensils, the vegetables and meat well before cooking.
- Do not eat raw cut fruits or vegetables that are sold on the street in the open.
- Always make sure you eat food cooked in clean and filtered water. A number of organisms can survive even after the food is cooked.
- Do not eat eggs or meat that is not well cooked. They are very common carriers of bacteria such as Salmonella and E.coli.
- Always remember to wash your hands well with a good antibacterial soap after visiting the toilet. This is a must because the door handles, taps and other surfaces of a toilet are known to have almost 3 times the number of bacteria as the toilet seat.
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