Food Poisoning: Symptoms, Treatment, Signs of Poisoning
Poisoning, resulting from the consumption of poisonous or substandard foods, is called food.
All products contain a certain number of bacteria.
In small quantities they do not pose a threat to human health. But if the products are not properly stored or exposed to poisonous substances, the pathogenic bacteria will begin to grow rapidly.
This can cause food poisoning. Everyone at least once in his life experienced unpleasant symptoms of poisoning in varying degrees of severity.
The reasons for food poisoning are numerous. So, a person can eat stale fruit from a refrigerator or drink slightly acidified milk.
In such a case, the products are abundantly populated by pathogenic and toxic microorganisms, which adversely affect the gastrointestinal tract( GI tract).Sometimes fruits and vegetables absorb pesticides, nitrates and other toxic substances. In this case, their use, even in fresh form, can cause serious poisoning.
The above reasons for food poisoning are two different cases of the disease. For correct and effective treatment it is necessary to understand what kind of poisoning a person has. Isolate microbial and non-microbial food poisoning.
Microbial food poisoning accounts for 95% of cases. Such poisonings have a food transmission path, which means that it is impossible to get infected from a sick person through close contacts. Microbial poisoning can occur as a toxic and infection intoxication.
In case of toxic infection, various conditionally pathogenic bacteria play an important role in the development of the disease state. Under certain conditions, for example, with a gross violation of sanitary standards, rules for the heat treatment of products, storage and transportation rules, bacteria begin to grow.
At the same time, toxins are released, which adversely affect the gastrointestinal tract. Having eaten a similar product, a person, most likely, will feel bad in the near future.
Another type of poisoning is intoxication. The reasons for it are:
Sometimes fruits, vegetables and foods can absorb many nitrites and nitrates that are often used in production. Despite the fact that there is now strict control over the content of such impurities in products, there is a risk of poisoning.
In addition, the transition to food of heavy metal salts, for example, lead, zinc, copper, as well as pesticides, poisoning which also has a non-microbial nature, is possible.
In most cases, the first signs of food poisoning develop within a day.
There may be chills and pains in the stomach of varying severity. There is an increase in body temperature to 37.5-39 degrees ° C.There is nausea, frequent vomiting is possible, and when the stomach is empty, the painful urge to it. In addition, there is a place to be diarrhea.
Severe poisoning leads to dehydration, which is expressed in weakness, dry mouth, dizziness, micturition, constant thirst.
In case of poisoning with heavy metal salts, pesticides and other chemical impurities, the above symptoms of food poisoning may be absent. But there are other signs, for example, a variety of functional disorders of the central nervous system.
The most common symptoms of food poisoning subsided during the day, and the person is on the mend. Anxiety should cause a painful condition with no signs of improvement.
Vomiting or diarrhea with blood, fever, convulsions, symptoms of dehydration - good reasons to consult a doctor immediately.
The first thing you need to do with food poisoning is to rinse the stomach to reduce the impact of pathogenic microorganisms or poison on the digestive tract. In hospital conditions, the procedure is performed using a probe, but at home it is also possible to perform this procedure.
A person should drink a weak( 2-5%) soda solution or regular boiled water, and then induce vomiting, pressing on the root of the tongue. Washing is done until the stomach is completely cleansed. An important part of the treatment of food poisoning is the intake of sorbents - substances that already draw in harmful substances. Most often, activated carbon is used for these purposes. In the case of diarrhea, symptomatic treatment in the form of taking antidiarrhoeals is possible.
In order to avoid dehydration, especially in case of severe poisoning, a person needs to constantly replenish fluid loss. It is best to drink ordinary boiled water. In addition, there are special rehydration solutions that will help cope with dehydration. When acute symptoms of poisoning pass, a person needs to ensure peace and rest. In food is not recommended to eat dishes that irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach. It can again cause new attacks of vomiting.
If you feel well, then in the first day after poisoning you can eat light soup or crackers with weak tea. In other cases, meals should be left for the second day. After food poisoning a person will need maintenance treatment, which includes taking drugs that help in the work of the digestive tract and restore normal microflora.
Food poisoning is easy enough to prevent. For this it is necessary to adhere to simple rules:
If it is suspected that the poisoning is caused not by spoiled products or there is a place to be a sharp deterioration in the person's well-being, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
All products contain a certain number of bacteria.
In small quantities they do not pose a threat to human health. But if the products are not properly stored or exposed to poisonous substances, the pathogenic bacteria will begin to grow rapidly.
This can cause food poisoning. Everyone at least once in his life experienced unpleasant symptoms of poisoning in varying degrees of severity.
Causes of food poisoning
The reasons for food poisoning are numerous. So, a person can eat stale fruit from a refrigerator or drink slightly acidified milk.
In such a case, the products are abundantly populated by pathogenic and toxic microorganisms, which adversely affect the gastrointestinal tract( GI tract).Sometimes fruits and vegetables absorb pesticides, nitrates and other toxic substances. In this case, their use, even in fresh form, can cause serious poisoning.
The above reasons for food poisoning are two different cases of the disease. For correct and effective treatment it is necessary to understand what kind of poisoning a person has. Isolate microbial and non-microbial food poisoning.
Microbial food poisoning accounts for 95% of cases. Such poisonings have a food transmission path, which means that it is impossible to get infected from a sick person through close contacts. Microbial poisoning can occur as a toxic and infection intoxication.
In case of toxic infection, various conditionally pathogenic bacteria play an important role in the development of the disease state. Under certain conditions, for example, with a gross violation of sanitary standards, rules for the heat treatment of products, storage and transportation rules, bacteria begin to grow.
At the same time, toxins are released, which adversely affect the gastrointestinal tract. Having eaten a similar product, a person, most likely, will feel bad in the near future.
Another type of poisoning is intoxication. The reasons for it are:
- 1) Staphylococci, which produce an engerotoxin.
- 2) Botulinum stick. It is found in meat products. Starts active growth in the event of violation of the rules of storage of food and general sanitary norms.
- 3) Microscopic fungi that produce mycotoxins that are highly toxic. They can cause a variety of mental disorders, cramps, "drunken" gait, GI disorder.
Sometimes fruits, vegetables and foods can absorb many nitrites and nitrates that are often used in production. Despite the fact that there is now strict control over the content of such impurities in products, there is a risk of poisoning.
In addition, the transition to food of heavy metal salts, for example, lead, zinc, copper, as well as pesticides, poisoning which also has a non-microbial nature, is possible.
Symptoms of food poisoning
In most cases, the first signs of food poisoning develop within a day.
There may be chills and pains in the stomach of varying severity. There is an increase in body temperature to 37.5-39 degrees ° C.There is nausea, frequent vomiting is possible, and when the stomach is empty, the painful urge to it. In addition, there is a place to be diarrhea.
Severe poisoning leads to dehydration, which is expressed in weakness, dry mouth, dizziness, micturition, constant thirst.
In case of poisoning with heavy metal salts, pesticides and other chemical impurities, the above symptoms of food poisoning may be absent. But there are other signs, for example, a variety of functional disorders of the central nervous system.
The most common symptoms of food poisoning subsided during the day, and the person is on the mend. Anxiety should cause a painful condition with no signs of improvement.
Vomiting or diarrhea with blood, fever, convulsions, symptoms of dehydration - good reasons to consult a doctor immediately.
Treatment of food poisoning at home
The first thing you need to do with food poisoning is to rinse the stomach to reduce the impact of pathogenic microorganisms or poison on the digestive tract. In hospital conditions, the procedure is performed using a probe, but at home it is also possible to perform this procedure.
A person should drink a weak( 2-5%) soda solution or regular boiled water, and then induce vomiting, pressing on the root of the tongue. Washing is done until the stomach is completely cleansed. An important part of the treatment of food poisoning is the intake of sorbents - substances that already draw in harmful substances. Most often, activated carbon is used for these purposes. In the case of diarrhea, symptomatic treatment in the form of taking antidiarrhoeals is possible.
In order to avoid dehydration, especially in case of severe poisoning, a person needs to constantly replenish fluid loss. It is best to drink ordinary boiled water. In addition, there are special rehydration solutions that will help cope with dehydration. When acute symptoms of poisoning pass, a person needs to ensure peace and rest. In food is not recommended to eat dishes that irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach. It can again cause new attacks of vomiting.
If you feel well, then in the first day after poisoning you can eat light soup or crackers with weak tea. In other cases, meals should be left for the second day. After food poisoning a person will need maintenance treatment, which includes taking drugs that help in the work of the digestive tract and restore normal microflora.
Prevention of food poisoning
Food poisoning is easy enough to prevent. For this it is necessary to adhere to simple rules:
- to avoid eating food of questionable freshness;
- should always wash hands before eating;
- fruits and vegetables should be washed thoroughly before use;
- do not eat poorly fried meat and raw fish;
- it is not necessary to eat canned food if the lid of the container is swollen or the integrity of the packaging is damaged;
- thaw meat or fish in a refrigerator or microwave oven;
- is not worth the risk by buying snacks in dubious catering establishments.
If it is suspected that the poisoning is caused not by spoiled products or there is a place to be a sharp deterioration in the person's well-being, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.