Toxins in food can cause a variety of unpleasant illnesses, ranging from mild to severe. Toxins develop when food is contaminated with bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the most commonly recognized food-borne infections result from the bacteria campylobacter, salmonella and E. coli. Mild illnesses may resolve with home treatment, but more severe food-borne illnesses might require hospitalization.
Identification
Campylobacter, salmonella and E.coli bacteria are found in the intestinal tracts of both humans and animals. The bacteria exits the body through the feces when a person or animal has a bowel movement. Food-borne illnesses are spread when feces from people or animals come in contact with food or water. Thorough cooking can kill bacteria present in meat, while chlorination or pasteurization can kill bacteria present in water or milk. Infected people can unknowingly spread infections when failing to wash their hands after having a bowel movement and then handling food or failing to clean utensils and surfaces after preparing infected food.
Camplyobacter Infections
A campylobacter infection occurs when you eat food or drink water containing campylobacter jejuni. Undercooked chicken and raw milk, hamburger and shellfish can contain the bacteria as well as unchlorinated water. Symptoms of a campylobacter infection include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, headache, pain in the muscles and abdominal cramps. In some cases, an infection can cause more serious conditions, such as meningitis, gallbladder attacks, urinary tract infections or even death. Although medications are not usually prescribed for mild cases of campylobacter infections, your doctor might prescribe an antibiotic if you have a severe infection. If you develop dehydration due to frequent diarrhea, your doctor may recommend that you receive intravenous fluids in the hospital.
Salmonella Infections
A salmonella infection called salmonellosis can develop if you eat contaminated poultry, eggs, beef, fish, pork, milk, potato or tuna salad, desserts made with cream or raw sprouts. The disease can also spread if you come in contact with the infected feces of pets, particularly reptiles, chicks and ducklings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that children should not handle chicks or ducklings and further advises that turtles are appropriate pets for small children. If you have salmonellosis, you may experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, chills, vomiting or fever 12 to 26 hours after exposure. Severe dehydration can result in hospitalization. Some people who have salmonellosis can develop Reiter’s syndrome, a painful condition characterized by chronic arthritis. Arthritis symptoms can develop approximately one month after the infection.
E. Coli Infections
You can develop an E. coli infection after eating ground beef, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, or drinking contaminated water, unpasteurized milk, apple juice or apple cider. Symptoms of an E. coli infection might include abdominal cramps, watery or bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or fever. Treatment with intravenous fluids might be needed if you become dehydrated. In severe cases, you might develop a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which affects the kidneys and blood. The condition results in a combination of kidney damage, low red blood cell count and low platelet count. FamilyDoctor.org reports that hemolytic uremic syndrome is more common in children and can cause acute renal failure in children.
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