Food Poisoning: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

 Food poisoning is a type of foodborne illness, typically, food poisoning is not life-threatening. Although it can be uncomfortable, most people who don't receive treatment recover fully in only a few days.

Is a sickness people get from something they ate or drank. The causes are germs or other harmful things in the food or beverage.

What is food poisoning?

Eating contaminated, spoiled, or toxic food can result in foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning. The most typical signs of food poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea.

Eating infected food can result in food poisoning, often known as foodborne illness. When anything is contaminated, it indicates that a hazardous organism—such as a virus, fungus, bacteria, or parasite—is present. Food poisoning is occasionally brought on by these microbes' harmful metabolites.

 Your body is trying to cure itself when you have food poisoning, which is why the symptoms are uncomfortable.

Symptoms of food poisoning:

 your food poisoning will likely be detected.
Depending on the infection's source, symptoms can change.

Several of the following symptoms are commonly seen in cases of food poisoning:

• Cramping in the abdomen
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Appetite loss 
• Slight fever
• Weakness
• Headache

Food poisoning that could be fatal symptoms include:

• Diarrhea lasting more than three days 
• and a degree of fever greater than 102°F (38.9°C)
• Indications of extreme dehydration, such as dry mouth, little to no urine output, trouble keeping fluids down, and bloody urine, can include trouble seeing or speaking.
• Make quick medical treatment arrangements or call a doctor if you encounter any of these symptoms.

 

Food poisoning causes:

One of the three main causes of food poisoning—parasites, viruses, or bacteria—is usually to blame.

Nearly every meal that humans eat has these germs on it. On the other hand, cooking heat typically eliminates viruses from food before it reaches our plates. Due to their lack of preparation, foods consumed raw are frequently the cause of food illness.

Food will occasionally come into contact with the microorganisms found in vomit or feces. This is most likely to happen when someone who is unwell cooks without washing their hands first.



Bacteria:

By far the most frequent cause of food poisoning is bacteria. Among the bacterial sources of food poisoning are:

• E. Coli, specifically the strain that produces Shiga toxin (STEC)
• Listeria Monocytogenes 
• Salmonella
• Clostridium botulinum
• Campylobacter
• S. aureus
• Shigella
• Vibrio vulnificus
• It makes sense that when one thinks of harmful bacteria, names like Salmonella and E. Coli immediately come to mind.

In the US, salmonella is the most common bacterial cause of food poisoning episodes. Salmonella infection is thought to be the cause of 1,350,000 food poisoning cases annually, which includes 26,500 hospital admissions, according to the CDC.

Two less well-known but potentially deadly germs that can lurk in our food are Campylobacter and C. botulinum.

Dairy products, eggs, and meat are often contaminated. Additionally, pathogenic organisms could contaminate water.

Insect parasites

Although parasite-related food poisoning is less frequent than bacterial-related food poisoning, parasites can still be very dangerous. Among them are:

• Toxoplasma gondii
• Various tapeworms such as
•  Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm) 
• Diphyllobothrium latum (Fish tapeworm)
• Cryptosporidium 
• Ascaris lumbricoides, including Roundworm 
• flukes (flatworms) 
•  Opisthorchiidae (liver fluke)
• Paragonimus (lung fluke) 
•  Enterobiasis 

For years, parasites in your digestive system may go undetected. Pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems may experience more severe side effects if certain parasites settle in their intestines.

Viruses

Viruses like the following can also result in food poisoning:

• Norwalk virus, sometimes referred to as norovirus
• Hepatitis A virus
• Rotavirus
• Astrovirus
•  Sapovirus

19 to 21 million cases are caused by the norovirus. 

How contamination occurs in food

From the farm or fishery to the table, food can get contaminated at any stage. Growing, harvesting, catching, processing, storing, exporting, or preparing are some of the stages where the issue may arise.

Anywhere food is handled, including the house, it can become contaminated due to:

• Hand washing is poor. After using the restroom, feces that are still on the hands can contaminate meals. Additional pollutants can be spread from hands used in food preparation or serving. Not disinfecting surfaces used for eating or cooking. Cutting boards, knives, and other kitchenware that hasn't been cleaned can transfer contaminants.

• Improper storage. Food that is kept unrefrigerated for extended periods may become contaminated. Food left in the fridge for extended periods might go bad.

How to diagnose food poisoning:

Based on your symptoms, a doctor might be able to determine the sort of food poisoning you have.

In extreme situations, testing on the food you've eaten, blood tests, and stool tests may be performed to identify the cause of the food poisoning. To determine whether you are dehydrated as a result of food poisoning, a doctor may also perform a urine test.

Food poisoning risk factors:

A case of food poisoning can strike anyone. According to statistics, almost everyone will have food poisoning at some point in their lives.

Certain populations are more at risk than others. Among them are:

• Immunocompromised people. A person who suffers from an autoimmune condition or has a weakened immune system may be more susceptible to infections and complications from food poisoning.

• Individuals who are pregnant. Because their bodies are adjusting to changes in their metabolism and circulatory system during pregnancy, pregnant women are more at risk.

• Senior citizens. Additionally, adults 65 years of age or older are more likely to have food poisoning. This is due to the possibility that their immune systems will take longer to react to pathogenic organisms.

• Young children. Since their immune systems aren't as developed as adults, children under the age of five are likewise regarded as an at-risk group. Dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea is more common in young children.

Also Read: 19 Food to Boost the Immune System

Treatments for food poisoning:

Most cases of food poisoning can be treated at home. The following are some methods for treating food poisoning:

• Stay hydrated.
• It's important to stay properly hydrated if you have a food illness. Electrolyte-rich sports beverages may be beneficial. Coconut water and fruit juice may restore carbohydrates and help fatigue.
• Steer clear of caffeine as it can irritate the digestive tract. An upset stomach may be soothed by decaffeinated teas infused with calming herbs including dandelion, peppermint, and chamomile.
• See more about how to treat upset stomachs.

Utilize over-the-counter (OTC) medications:

OTC (over-the-counter) medications like Pepto-Bismol and loperamide (Imodium) can help you control diarrhea and reduce nausea.

Before taking these drugs, though, you should consult a doctor because the body uses vomiting and diarrhea to get rid of the toxin. Additionally, taking these drugs may make the condition appear worse than it is and make you put off getting professional help.

A typical treatment for pinworms is pyrantel pamoate, often known as Reese's Pinworm Medicine.

Take prescribed medications:

Depending on the pathogen causing their sickness, some people may benefit from prescription medications even though many cases of food poisoning resolve on their own.

Prescription medications may be beneficial for elderly, immunocompromised, or pregnant individuals. Antibiotic therapy aids in preventing infection transmission to the fetus in pregnant women.

Your doctor might suggest one of these regimens if you need prescription drugs for any of the following conditions:

• A. lumbricoides: mebendazole or albendazole  antiparasitic medications
• Campylobacter: azithromycin is an antibiotic
• Cryptosporidium: nitazoxanide, an antiparasitic drug used to treat diarrhea
• D. latum (fish tapeworm): praziquantel, an antiparasitic drug
• Mebendazole  or albendazole for enterobiasis (pinworms)

G. lamblia:

Nitazoxanide and the antibiotics furazolidone, paromomycin, quinacrine, or metronidazole.

Tinidazole, sometimes known as Tindamax, is an antibiotic and antiparasitic medication.

L. monocytogenes: ampicillin is an antibiotic.

Opisthorchiidae (liver fluke): albendazole or praziquantel.

Praziquantel or triclabendazole an antiparasitic drug, are effective treatments for paragonimus (lung fluke).

Antibiotics that treat Shigella include ciprofloxacin and azithromycin.

T. gondii: as a stand-alone drug, a combination of the antiparasitic drug pyrimethamine  with an antibiotic like sulfadiazine or spiramycin

Trichinella : Albendazole  or mebendazole.

T. saginata (beef tapeworm): off-label therapies for T. saginata include albendazole and praziquantel.

Take an antitoxin:

 C. botulinum infection is regarded as a medical emergency. Consult a physician as soon as you can.

An antitoxin will be given by a doctor if you have C. botulinum. Babies will be given a unique antitoxin known as BabyBIG, which stands for botulism immune globulin.

Relax:

Those who have food poisoning should also make sure they receive lots of rest.

If the severity of your case:

If you have severe food poisoning, you might need to be hospitalized and given intravenous (IV) fluids to stay hydrated.

In severe food poisoning situations, you might need to stay in the hospital longer to recuperate. Rarely, those who have severe instances of C. botulinum may even need mechanical ventilation.

What to eat when suffering from food illness:

It's advisable to progressively postpone eating solid meals until after vomiting and diarrhea have subsided. Rather, gradually reintegrate into your regular diet by consuming bland, easily digested foods and beverages like:

• Saltine crackers
• Banana
• Gelatin
• Bland potatoes
• Rice, and oatmeal
• Cooked veggies
• Soda without caffeine, such as root beer or ginger ale, chicken broth, and diluted fruit liquids
• Sports drinks

Things not to do:

Even if you feel better, try to stay away from the following harder-to-digest foods to keep your stomach from becoming more upset:

• Dairy products, particularly cheese, and milk
• Fatty foods
• Fried dishes
• Intensely spiced cuisine
• Foods heavy in sugar and/or spice

How to prevent food poisoning:

The best defense against food poisoning is to handle food safely and stay away from any potentially dangerous foods.

Certain foods have a higher risk of causing food poisoning due to their manufacturing and preparation methods. Certain foods may contain infectious pathogens that are destroyed by cooking, such as:

• Poultry
• Meat
• Eggs
• Shellfish

If these foods are consumed uncooked, improperly prepared, or hands and surfaces aren't washed after contact, food poisoning may result.

The following foods can also result in food poisoning:
Raw or under-cooked sushi and other fish products; unpasteurized milk, cheese, and juice; raw or unwashed fruits and vegetables, and ground beef that may contain meat from multiple animals

Try to prevent food poisoning by following these measures:

• Washing your hands. For at least 20 seconds, wash your hands with soap and water. Do this before and after handling food, after using the toilet, and before eating.
• Hands should always be washed before handling or consuming food.
• Ensure that the food is kept and packaged correctly.
• Cook the meat and eggs well.
• Before using anything to cook other items, sanitize it if it comes into contact with raw materials.
• Fruits and vegetables should always be washed before serving.
• Make sure your refrigerator is clean. Every few months, give the refrigerator a thorough cleaning.