Food Poisoning: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

 What is food poisoning?

Food poisoning (also known as foodborne illness) occurs when you eat or drink something that contains harmful germs (bacteria, viruses, or parasites). Bacteria produce a toxin in food. It is this toxin that causes the problem.

Symptoms of food poisoning.

Symptoms of food poisoning can begin hours to days after consuming contaminated food or drink. Timing depends in part on the cause of the food poisoning. It can also depend on the amount of food or drink you consume. Symptoms can include:

• abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• fever
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• throwing up
• weakness and fatigue

Food poisoning can affect just one person or a whole group of people who are exposed to contaminated food or drink. It depends on the amount of germ or toxin that each person has consumed. It also depends on how sensitive they are to the germ or toxin.

What are the symptoms of fish food poisoning?

There are two types of food poisoning that you can get from eating fish. They are ciguatera poisoning and scombroid poisoning.

Symptoms of ciguatera poisoning include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Symptoms can progress to headache, muscle aches, and itching, tingling, or numbness of the skin. An early sign may be numbness of the lips, tongue, or the area around the mouth. It may taste metallic or feel like your teeth are loose. You may notice a change in your ability to feel hot or cold temperatures. You may think that something feels hot when it is actually cold.

Scombroid poisoning symptoms develop 20 to 30 minutes after eating the affected fish. They include flushing (flushing) of the face, nausea, vomiting, hives, and abdominal pain. These symptoms are similar to those of other allergic reactions. Having scombroid poisoning does not mean you are allergic to fish.

Vibrio vulnificus infection is a bacterial infection of warm seawater fish. It is found in shellfish (especially oysters), other shellfish, or the ocean. You can get it from eating contaminated fish. It can be spread by contact with a fish or the ocean (through an open cut). It is neither common nor contagious. The symptoms are similar to those of general food poisoning: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. More serious symptoms include high fever, chills, low blood pressure, redness, swelling, and blistering of the skin. If the bacteria enter through an open cut, it can develop into a more serious infection. Once that happens, it can spread through the bloodstream and be life-threatening. Blood and stool tests lead to a diagnosis. Your doctor may also examine the blisters on your skin.

You can reduce your risk of exposure by not eating shellfish and other undercooked shellfish. Wash cookware in hot soapy water. Wear gloves when handling fish if you have an open cut. Avoid ocean water until your cut or wound has healed.

Antibiotics are often used to treat the infection. In severe cases, you may need surgery or amputation where a cut or wound became infected with the bacteria.

What Causes Food Poisoning?

Many foods can cause food poisoning. Foods that need to be kept fresh but are not among the main causes of food poisoning. This is why food poisoning is most common at picnics and buffets. There, foods (like mayonnaise in potato salad) are often left out of the refrigerator for a long time.

Other common sources of food poisoning include:

• raw or undercooked meats or poultry
• unpasteurized dairy products
• raw seafood
• unwashed fruits
• unwashed vegetables

How is food poisoning diagnosed?

Many cases of food poisoning never receive an official diagnosis. This is because most people recover within a few days at home. If you have severe symptoms of food poisoning, your doctor will diagnose you. He or she can order a blood test to determine if food poisoning is caused by bacteria. Or, you can collect a stool sample to find out which germ is causing the food poisoning.

I advise my pregnant patients to prevent Listeria infection by avoiding high-risk foods and following basic food safety guidelines.

by Dr. Karlynn Sievers

Can food poisoning be prevented or avoided?

The best way to prevent food poisoning is to always know what you are eating. The best way to always know what you are eating is to eat at home. You can better control food storage and preparation at home. When dining out, watch out for buffets.

Tips to avoid food poisoning

You can take a few simple steps to avoid food poisoning:

• Wash fruits and vegetables well.
• Clean countertops, cutting boards, knives, and utensils before exposing them to different foods.
• Wash your hands and utensils frequently.
• Don't put raw and cooked meats on the same plate.
• If knives have been used to cut raw chicken, do not use them to cut other ingredients that will not cook.
• Cook the meat thoroughly. Use a meat thermometer if necessary. Make sure beef is cooked to at least 160 ° F, chicken and other poultry at 180 ° F, and fish at 140 ° F.
• Do not use packaged foods that have expired.
• Discard food in bulky or dented cans.
• Refrigerate leftover food if it will not be eaten within 4 hours.
• Don't eat wild mushrooms.
• Do not eat soft cheeses (especially imported) if you are pregnant or have a weak immune system.
• When traveling abroad, do not eat raw fruits or vegetables that have not been washed with an antimicrobial rinse. Avoid unfiltered (or unboiled) tap water.
• When at restaurants or social gatherings, avoid food that has been left out of the refrigerator for long periods of time.

How can I avoid food poisoning from fish?

To avoid ciguatera poisoning, do not eat fish that commonly carry the poison. This includes amberjack, grouper, snapper, sturgeon, king mackerel, barracuda, and moray eel. The venom is most concentrated in the internal organs of a fish, so you should never eat those parts of a fish.

To avoid scombroid poisoning, do not eat any fish that has not been properly refrigerated. Be especially careful when eating fish such as tuna, sardines, mackerel, mahi-mahi, or anchovies.

Food poisoning treatment

Most cases of food poisoning are mild and go away within a few days. During that time, the goal is to prevent dehydration. Dehydration is the loss of fluids and electrolytes (nutrients and minerals) that your body needs. You should avoid solid foods and dairy products until the vomiting and diarrhea have passed. Once you feel better, resume eating and drinking calmly. Try soft foods, like crackers, toast, and bananas. Avoid spicy, fried, dairy, and foods high in fat and sugar. Drink plenty of fluids but avoid milk or caffeinated drinks. Also, sports drinks (brand name: Gatorade, others) should not be used to treat diarrhea. They do not replace the body's electrolytes (salts and minerals) properly to prevent dehydration.

When should I go to the doctor?

Make an appointment with your doctor if:

• Severe diarrhea lasts more than 3 days.
• Frequent vomiting lasts more than 2 days.
• You see blood in your stool.
• You are taking diuretics and have diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.
• You have a fever over 101 ° F.

Seek emergency care if:

• Your stool is brown or black, or you see a lot of blood in your stool.
• He is vomiting blood.
• You have trouble breathing.
• You have severe abdominal pain or stomach cramps.
• You have double vision or trouble moving parts of your body.
• You have symptoms of severe dehydration (see list below).
• You have trouble swallowing.
• You feel your heart pounding.
• You have food poisoning from eating mushrooms or shellfish.

How is fish food poisoning treated?

Ciguatera poisoning is treated with medications that help relieve your symptoms. There is no medicine to cure ciguatera poisoning. The symptoms will go away on their own over time. Scombroid poisoning is treated with an antihistamine (one brand: Benadryl). An antihistamine is a medicine that blocks histamine in your blood.

How long will I be sick?

Symptoms of ciguatera poisoning can last 1 to 2 weeks. The exact duration will depend on the amount of poison you have in your body. Symptoms can reappear every time you eat an affected fish. The symptoms of scombroid poisoning usually last 24 hours or less. Symptoms can return any time you eat fish that has not been properly refrigerated. Ciguatera and scombroid poisonings are rarely fatal.

How do I know if I am dehydrated?

Symptoms of dehydration include:

• little or no urine, or urine darker than usual
• dry mouth
• drowsiness or fatigue
• extreme thirst
• headache
• confusion
• feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• no tears when crying

To treat mild dehydration, try sipping water frequently. Clear soups, clear sodas, and juice mixed with water can also help. Avoid coffee, tea, black soda, and other caffeinated beverages. These drinks can make dehydration worse. Give children who have mild dehydrated water and/or an oral rehydration solution (ORS). An ORS contains the right mix of salt, sugar, potassium, and other nutrients to help replace lost body fluids. You can buy an ORS at most grocery stores and pharmacies. If your dehydration is severe, you may need to be treated in the hospital. There, doctors will give you fluids and electrolytes intravenously (through an IV).

Is food poisoning a serious condition?

Can be. Dehydration can be dangerous, as can certain types of food poisoning. Food poisoning caused by the Listeria bacteria can be very dangerous for unborn babies of pregnant women. The infection is usually very mild for the mother, but it can cause miscarriage, premature labor, fetal death, and developmental problems in her babies. People with weakened immune systems are also at risk for complications from Listeria. Food poisoning caused by the bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS can cause kidney failure, especially in people with weakened immune systems.

Living with food poisoning

Food poisoning is a condition that comes and goes. However, one person may be more likely to get food poisoning than another.

Children and the elderly are more likely to get food poisoning. You may also be at higher risk if:

• You have a chronic medical condition, such as kidney disease or diabetes.
• Are pregnant
• You have recently traveled to areas outside of the United States. You may have had increased exposure to germs that can cause food poisoning.

You have a weakened immune system. This could be due to drugs taken after an organ transplant, certain chemotherapy drugs, or an infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Questions to ask your doctor

• How do I know if my symptoms are due to food poisoning?
• Are there medications that prevent food poisoning?
• Is food poisoning dangerous? When should I call you?
• How is food poisoning different from other digestive disorders?
• How long will it take me to recover from food poisoning?
• Do I have a food allergy?
• How long will I feel sick with a Vibrio vulnificus infection?
• I have kidney disease. Should I avoid eating seafood?