About Food Poisoning

Overview

Food poisoning, or food-borne illness, comes from having consumed food or water that has been contaminated in some way. Food poisoning may be bacterial or viral in nature, and generally runs its course in a couple of days without serious complications. Complications may occur in some people, especially women who are pregnant, senior citizens and people of all ages who have a compromised immune system. Some toxins that cause food poisoning, such as in the case of botulism, can cause great damage before they are expelled from the person's digestive system. Preventive measures against food poisoning may protect you from unpleasant symptoms and possible complications.

Causes

There are many causes of food poisoning. Perhaps food was left out too long at a picnic and became tainted with bacteria. Food products may have been contaminated with bacteria such as E. coli, botulinum or salmonella during its processing and packaging stages. Water, especially in non-developed areas of the world, may not be sanitary and contains shigella bacteria or the staph virus. All of these are ways the food in your pantry can potentially harbor unsafe toxins that may make you sick.

Symptoms

Symptoms of food poisoning usually begin with the digestive tract. Diarrhea and vomiting are common and may start as soon as a couple of hours after eating tainted food, though this timeframe is not a hard and fast rule. Some incidences of food poisoning may go unnoticed for a day or so before experiencing symptoms. Stomach cramping is common. Dehydration may occur as a secondary symptom of food poisoning if the diarrhea and vomiting bouts are frequent and do not allow you to keep down plain water. Symptoms of this kind normally resolve themselves in two to three days. Some forms of food poisoning, such as botulism, produce non-gastrointestinal symptoms. Double vision and slurred speech may indicate food poisoning in this case.

Treatment

Treatment for food poisoning depends on the symptoms and what type of toxins (if any) are found in the body. Mild symptoms can be treated like any other stomach virus by increasing fluids to avoid dehydration, and eating a bland diet until you are feeling better. More serious forms of food poisoning, such as illness stemming from the E. coli bacteria, for example, may include dialysis to help your body rid itself of waste products. A pregnant woman who has developed listerosis, a type of food poisoning caused by a bacterium called listeria, is treated with antibiotics to protect her unborn child. People who have accidentally eaten seafood with a disease called red tide, or poisonous mushrooms, should seek emergency medical attention. These two cases often require stomach pumping to remove the offending items from your stomach to avoid serious complications.

Prevention

Food poisoning is easy to prevent to keep your kitchen sanitary. Wash your hands, all cooking utensils and surfaces with soap and hot water after handling raw meats to prevent the contamination of other foods. Store food in the refrigerator immediately after serving to prevent the growth of bacteria. Reheat items until steaming hot, giving the heat a chance to kill and bacteria that may have formed in storage. When traveling to areas that are known for sub-par conditions, boil tap water before using it. Stick to bottled water if you cannot be sure that your water source is safe.

Consideration

Pregnant women must be cautious with the foods they eat to avoid contaminants that may harm their babies. Sliced lunch meats and soft cheeses such as feta, brie and chevre (goat cheese) are especially susceptible to bacteria growth and should be avoided during pregnancy. Pregnant women should always make sure their food is cooked, and refrain from eating sushi and other types of raw meat and fish during gestation.