Food poisoning, often known as a foodborne illness, is an ailment brought on by consuming tainted food. The most frequent causes of food poisoning are infectious organisms or their toxins, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
The majority of people bounce back on their own, but some can get quite sick. If you are pregnant, older than 60, or have a compromised immune system, you are more at risk.
What is Food Poisoning?
The term “food poisoning” originated in the 1880s and quickly became interchangeable with “stomach flu.” Your immune system’s ability to combat the illness will determine how severe your food poisoning symptoms are. Initial feelings of weakness are frequent.
A doctor visit is only necessary in extremely rare circumstances; generally, the ailment goes away in a week or two. Older adults are more likely to develop food poisoning because they have weakened immune systems that make it difficult for them to easily fight off pathogenic germs.
Which signs and symptoms indicate food poisoning?
The illness’s symptoms may vary depending on its underlying aetiology. Among the most typical warning signs and symptoms of food poisoning are the ones listed below:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Weakness
Many different signs of food poisoning include:
- Diarrheal episode lasting longer than three days
- Severe dehydration is indicated by symptoms such as a dry mouth, little to no urination, and difficulty swallowing liquids.
- 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.9 degrees Celsius) or higher
- Having difficulty speaking or seeing
What causes food poisoning?
There are three main causes of food poisoning: bacteria, parasites, or viruses.
Nearly majority of the food that people consume contains these viruses. However, before food reaches our plate, heat from cooking typically destroys microorganisms on the food. As a result of not having been cooked, raw foods are frequently the cause of food poisoning.
Food may occasionally come into touch with bacteria found in vomit or faeces. The most common scenario for this to happen is when a sick person prepares food without washing their hands first.
Frequently contaminated foods include dairy, meat, and eggs. Viruses and other disease-causing organisms can pollute water.
Bacteria
Food poisoning is almost always caused by bacteria. among the bacterial causes of food poisoning are
Salmonella and E. coli are immediately thought of when considering harmful bacteria, and for good cause.
Two lesser-known but potentially fatal bacteria that can be found in our food are campylobacter and C. botulinum.
Viruses
A virus, such as the following, can also result in food poisoning:
Norovirus, also referred to as the Norwalk virus
The most prevalent foodborne illness, norovirus, is frequently contracted when infected food handlers contaminate the food being prepared (eg, in restaurants). The norovirus is extremely contagious and spreads quickly when people encounter contaminated objects or surfaces. Usually, 24 to 48 hours after exposure, symptoms such nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach pain start to appear. Most situations are resolved without medical intervention.
Rotavirus
Diarrhea is caused by the highly contagious virus rotavirus. Prior to the creation of a vaccine, by the age of 5, the majority of kids had had experienced the virus at least once.
Despite how nasty rotavirus infections are, you can typically treat them at home by drinking more fluids to stay hydrated.
Regular hand washing is an essential part of good hygiene. But the best defence against rotavirus infection is immunisation.
Astrovirus
Gastroenteritis is brought on by a class of viruses called astroids (diarrheal illness). While elderly adults and others with weakened immune systems are also at risk, infants and young children are most likely to experience diarrhoea brought on by astroviruses. 1
The symptoms of diarrhoea brought on by an astrovirus infection can be comparable to those of other widespread viral illnesses, but they are often much milder than those brought on by rotavirus and norovirus. It also infrequently necessitates medical attention.
Sapovirus
Acute gastroenteritis outbreaks and sporadic instances are both brought on by sapovirus infections. All age groups are affected, however the disease burden is highest in children under the age of five. Vomiting and diarrhoea, which usually go away within a week, are common symptoms of sapovirus gastroenteritis, which shares many features with closely related noroviruses. Asymptomatic people have also been found to have the sapovirus.
Hepatitis A virus
Hepatitis A virus raw shellfish or foods contaminated by an infected person, such as a food handler, are the two main sources of hepatitis A virus transmission. Jaundice (a yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes) and liver failure can occasionally result from hepatitis A. It can be challenging to pinpoint the illness’s origin because symptoms don’t often present until 15 to 50 days following infection. Passive immune globulin injection or post-exposure immunisation can assist nonimmune people avoid illness. All youngsters in the United States should receive the hepatitis A vaccine.
19 to 21 million cases of the norovirus occur each year.
Dependable source of nausea and diarrhoea in the US every year. Rarely, it can even be fatal. Similar symptoms are caused by other viruses, but they are less prevalent.
It is also possible for food to spread the hepatitis A virus, which damages the liver.
Parasites
Although parasites that spread through food are exceedingly harmful, food poisoning caused by parasites is less frequent than food poisoning caused by bacteria.
Your digestive tract can harbour parasites that can go unnoticed for years. If certain parasites establish a home in a person’s intestines, they may cause more severe adverse effects, especially in immune-compromised individuals and women who are pregnant.
Food-Poisoning illness remedies
Most food poisoning cases can be handled at home.
You should visit a healthcare professional for an assessment and treatment if your symptoms are severe or persistent, if you have an underlying medical condition, or if there are any alarming signs or symptoms (fever higher than 100.4°F/38°C, severe abdominal pain, inability to eat or drink, bloody stools, or vomit).
The following are some methods for treating food poisoning:
Keep hydrated.
The easiest method to treat food illness is to stay hydrated by taking plenty of water and other electrolytes. Knowing what to eat and what not to eat when you have food illness is crucial.
Utilize over-the-counter drugs
OTC medicines like Pepto-Bismol and loperamide (Imodium), which is used to treat diarrhoea, can help you control nausea.
The body uses vomiting and diarrhoea to get the toxin out of the system, so you should consult a doctor before using these drugs.
Medicines on prescription
Depending on the organism that caused their sickness, some people may benefit from prescription drugs even though many cases of food poisoning resolve on their own.
Get an anti-toxin
A C. botulinum infection is regarded as a medical emergency. Consult a doctor as soon as you can.
An antitoxin will be given to you by a doctor if you have C. botulinum. BabyBIG, an unique antitoxin, will be administered to infants (botulism immune globulin).
Rest
Getting lots of rest is essential for folks who have food poisoning.
When you get food poisoning, what should you eat and drink?
It is preferable to avoid food poisoning by eating a healthy diet, but if you do, consider the aforementioned foods as home treatments for a speedy recovery.
It’s preferable to progressively delay eating solid foods until after vomiting and diarrhoea have stopped.
Honey
When it comes to treating illnesses, honey has a number of advantages. It has been used for a long time to soothe an upset stomach and alleviate indigestion. The antifungal and antibacterial qualities of honey help to treat food illness. Additionally, honey adds flavour to even the blandest of diets and is tastier than the majority of medications.
Ginger
Ginger, a traditional remedy for nausea, inflammation, and stomach aches, is one of the greatest natural cures for food poisoning. It also aids in the body’s ability to absorb all essential nutrients. Slices of raw ginger can be eaten if you don’t mind the taste. You can also add ginger to your tea or juice if you can’t handle the harsh, acrid flavour.
Garlic
Garlic is a popular home remedy for loose stools or diarrhoea, and it also has antiviral characteristics that make it an excellent treatment for people who have food poisoning. The chemical diallyl sulphide, which is present in garlic, is what gives it its strong flavour. The spread of dangerous bacteria is prevented by the same diallyl sulphide that sanitises food surfaces.
Lemon
Because of their high vitamin C concentration, citrus fruits are mostly consumed. Citrus fruits like lemon, however, have a bigger role in cases of food poisoning patients. They help patients feel better by killing hazardous food poisoning bacteria thanks to their anti-inflammatory and antibacterial capabilities. They can be eaten with water or simply squeezed into a variety of dishes, making it simple to ingest them multiple times per day.
What not to eat and drink?
Even if you feel better, try to avoid eating the following difficult-to-digest items to keep your stomach from getting worse:
- A fatty diet
- High-spiced foods
- Fried food
- Dairy items
- Particularly milk and cheese
Avoid alcoholic, coffee- or sugar-containing beverages.
