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Food Poisoning: Symptoms, Causes, Preventions, and FAQ

Food Poisoning

Most of us have experienced food poisoning which comes with vomiting, diarrhea, or gastrointestinal torment that can leave us huddled miserably on the bathroom floor. Food poisoning or foodborne illness does not relate to one specific thing, in actual fact, the U.S Center for Disease Control names 31 unique species of bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are common culprits, but there are hundreds of them in total. The truth however is this, different microbes tend to contaminate different foods, cause slightly different symptoms, and have different incubation periods. You should note that food poisoning is relatively common so while talking about how to handle food poisoning, we will also look at its meaning, causes, likely symptoms, and prevention.

Food Poisoning

Food Poisoning can be defined as the intake of contaminated food or drink. It turns out that most cases of food poisoning clear out on their own without having to treat it however, one of the most serious complications of food poisoning is dehydration, which can lead to death.

Causes and symptoms of Food Poisoning

Food poisoning is majorly caused by bacteria and viruses because they can contaminate food at any point of production or preparation. While food poisoning can be caused by a variety of pathogens, including staphylococcus aureus, clostridium, Norovirus, Salmonella, Listeria, Vibrio, or Campylobacter, we will begin with a very notorious cause of food poisoning called E.coli.

1. E.coli: E.coli means Escherichia coli and it consists of a diverse group of bacteria belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, which are associated with diseases ranging from UTIs to respiratory illness to meningitis. Pathogenic strains of E.coli can be categorized into what are called “pathotypes”. These pathotypes are listed below:

  • Diarrheagenic E.coli: These are Shiga toxin-producing E.coli or STEC.
  • Enterotoxigenic E.coli (ETEC)
  • Enteropathogenic E coli (EPEC)
  • Enteroaggregative E.coli (EAEC)
  • Enteroinvasive E.coli (EIEC)
  • Diffusely adherent E.coli (DAEC)

2. Staphylococcus aureus: This cause of food poisoning is characterized by vomiting which is because of the ingestion of preformed toxins. It is the picnic food poisoning everyone warns you about. Bacteria is the culprit here, which releases its toxins at the comfy incubator that is room temperature food, which gives Staph food poisoning its signature cookout-ruining reputation, and re-heating the contaminated food cannot kill it. The symptoms of this causative agent can start 6 hours after toxin ingestion and last for two or three days.

3. Norovirus: This causes half of the cases of food poisoning according to the CDC. Viruses are minimalist microbes that cannot reproduce or do much on their own hence, the reason why they always need a host cell. When you eat a Norovirus-contaminated food, it finds plenty of hosts in the gut where the virus tricks membrane receptors to get into the intestines where it makes copies of itself. Eventually, those virus minions burst from the infected cell to find more victims and at the same time, dead and damaged cells release chemicals that trigger an inflammatory response in your body. This inflammatory response contributes to some of the classic symptoms of food poisoning: Diarrhea, Vomiting, and sometimes, low fever.

4. Listeria: The range of Listeria infection or listeriosis leads you somewhere between asymptomatic and dead which can occur from eating meat or drinking milk or dairy product that was grown, raised, or milked. The culprits are raw or improperly pasteurized dairy products, vegetables grown in contaminated soil, preserved and smoked meats, canned and raw seafood then fresh fruit. Listeria symptoms include the bad flu, although more serious complications like meningitis can occur in people with a weakened immune system, as well as in young children and pregnant women.

5. Salmonella: The bacteria that causes salmonellosis or salmonella poisoning has a serious reputation among poultry and their handlers. Although eggs, processed chicken parts, and other raw meat are particularly good at spreading the bacteria, pet reptiles and rodents are also carriers. The symptoms include severe stomach cramps that could last for a week, fever, and possible nausea.

6. Campylobacter: Also known as Campylobacter Enteritis, this is a common bacterial infection producing severe gastrointestinal upset that can hang around for as long as two weeks. It is rarely fatal in healthy people and is caused by improper handling or slaughtering of meat not thoroughly cooked, contaminated vegetables, milk, or water. Pets can also shed bacteria.

Steps to take to handle Food poisoning

1. Let your stomach settle

After experiencing the most explosive symptoms of food poisoning, like vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach upset, experts recommend letting your stomach rest which means avoiding food and drink altogether for a few hours.

2. Stay hydrated

Drinking enough water helps to push out food poisoning from the digestive tract and might reduce its symptoms. Vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration so sucking on ice chips or taking small sips of water is a good start. Sports drinks that contain electrolytes are the best way to prevent dehydration during this time, other suggested liquids include: clear soda (sprite, 7up, or ginger ale)

3. Eat bland foods

When you feel your stomach can handle some food, eat foods that can be gentle on the gastrointestinal tract. Stick to bland, non-fatty, and low-fiber foods because fats are hard to digest especially after a stomach upset. Foods that are gentle to the stomach include bananas, cereal, eggs, honey, oatmeal, plain potatoes, etc.

4. Delay brushing your teeth

Yes, you should delay brushing your teeth at least for an hour because stomach acid expelled during vomiting can damage the enamel of the teeth, and brushing your teeth can further erode the enamel. Instead of brushing, rinse your mouth with a mixture of water and baking powder.

5. Take a shower

As funny as it sounds, showering helps to cleanse your body of unhealthy bacteria.

6. Get plenty of rest

Getting sufficient rest can make you feel better faster and relax the stomach.

7. Avoid over-the-counter diarrhea medications

Prevention of Food poisoning

1. Wash your hands, utensils, and plates between the raw and cooking stages.

2. Seek medical attention and drink plenty of fluid as often as possible

3. Maintain regular temperature for foods, this means you should keep hot and cold foods in hot and cold temperatures respectively.

4. Food handling practices that include principles of cooling, reheating, and defrosting should be learned and equally practiced.

5. Avoid food preparation when critically ill.

6. Wash all vegetables and fruits thoroughly.

7. Raw meat should be properly and thoroughly washed and cooked.

8. Serve food immediately and preserve any leftovers in a refrigerator or cold-water bath.

9. Store ingredients and food at their correct temperatures to stop bacteria and viruses from reproducing.

10. Check for expiration dates and discard expired or foods whose expiration dates are quite close.

Frequently Asked Questions About Food Poisoning

1. Can the symptoms wear away on their own without any form of treatment?

Yes, they can wear off on their own but it is best to take enough liquid.

2. How frequently does food poisoning causes death?

According to the Centers For Diseases Control CDC, roughly 1 in 6 Americans or 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die of food poisoning in a year.

3. What are the types of Food Poisoning?

The types of food poisoning are also the same in their causes (Listeria, E.coli, Staphylococcus, etc).

4. How long do the symptoms start?

Symptoms start within hours of eating contaminated food, or even days/weeks after.

5. What medications help with foodborne?

It is advised to avoid over-the-counter medications for diarrhea, and ensure a proper prescription from a doctor or experienced pharmacy.

6. What is the fastest-acting food poisoning?

Staphylococcus bacteria can get you sick within 1 to 7 hours because of their fast-acting toxins

In foods such as meat.

7. Do Lemons help in food poisoning?

Yes, technically the anti-inflammatory properties in lemons can give relief by killing the bacteria that cause food poisoning.

8. Are foodborne diseases infectious?

Foodborne diseases can only be transmitted through contact with contaminated food or water.

9. What are the diseases associated with foodborne?

They include dysentery, diarrhea, salmonellosis, shigellosis, and other gastrointestinal diseases that can be acute or mild depending on the causative agent.

Conclusion

In summary, food poisoning can be pretty normal to have or encounter but it is best to always prevent anything that would lead you to have those excruciating stomach cramps and throat-tiring vomits. E.coli is a deadly causative agent of food poisoning hence, there is a need to always go for checkups when any of the above symptoms are experienced. The steps on how to handle food poisoning as listed in this article can be very effective if adhered to the last. Other tips on how to avoid food poisoning are; always closing our foods or drinks with lids, ensuring good and hygienic table manners, and avoiding the act of leaving your food or drink unattended.

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