Food poisoning is not a common cause of intestinal obstruction, a condition where stool cannot pass through the intestines, although botulism, a type of food poisoning, can cause ileus, a slowdown or stoppage of peristalsis. Peristalsis, the rhythmic contractions of the intestinal muscle, moves food through the intestinal tract. There is no actual obstruction in the bowel. Occasionally, food poisoning in children also causes paralytic ileus.
Transmission
A number of different bacteria can cause food poisoning. Food poisoning affects the intestine when contaminated food carries bacteria into the intestines. Food can be infected if people who carry bacteria handle food. Most bacteria that affect the intestines are carried in the stool, so people with poor hygiene may carry the bacteria on their hands if they don't wash after using the toilet. Food can also be contaminated in farm fields bacteria in animal stool. If you don't thoroughly wash the food before eating it, bacteria will remain on the food. In botulism, bacteria multiply in foods where little oxygen is present, such as canned foods. Once bacteria enter the intestine, they multiply.
Causes
Food poisoning in older children can lead to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, called gastroenteritis. In some cases, gastroenteritis leads to secondary appendicitis and peritonitis, inflammation or infection of the peritoneum, the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity. Botulism produces toxins that cause a temporary ileus, which may last a week or more, the State of Alaska Department of Health and Human Services reports.
Symptoms
Symptoms of food poisoning include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, fever and malaise. If paralytic ileus or intestinal obstruction occurs as a complication of food poisoning, the abdomen may become distended and firm and the person may vomit fecal material. Either no stool is passed or only watery diarrhea occurs. Patients with botulism also have dry mouth, blurry or double vision, trouble swallowing and muscle weakness that can lead to paralysis and difficulty breathing.
Treatments
Intestinal obstruction can damage parts of the bowel. In most cases, the bowel will heal, but in some cases, the damaged part needs to be surgically removed. A tube may be placed through the nose into the stomach to remove gas and reduce the chance of vomiting or aspirating vomited material into the lungs. Enemas to remove botulism toxin from the intestines may prevent worsening symptoms.
