What Is Food Poisoning?
Food poisoning is caused by bacteria, sometimes viruses or other bacteria. They can eat food or drink liquids. You can’t taste, smell, see, or see these microorganisms (unless you have a microscope). Although it is small, it has a powerful effect on the body. When food poisoning bacteria enter our system, toxins are released. These toxins are toxic (hence the name “botulism”) and can cause diarrhea and vomiting.
Doctors use the term “food poisoning” to describe illness that occurs after eating contaminated food. Diarrhea or vomiting usually begins a few hours after a person becomes ill. The good news is that botulism goes away quickly. Most people recover within a few days with no lasting problems.
In some cases, severe food poisoning may require a visit to a doctor or hospital. When people seek treatment for food poisoning, it’s often related to dehydration. The biggest side effect of botulism is fatigue.
Different pathogens cause different symptoms, but botulism usually presents with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and other symptoms.
What causes food poisoning?
Food poisoning is common and most of us know it. You ate something that looked (or smelled) weird, or you traveled to a country where you can’t drink it and washed your salad in water you didn’t recognize. Abdominal pain, nausea (vomiting) and return to the toilet shortly after. You can get botulism almost anywhere, even at home.
1-Characteristics of bacteria
Campylobacter is the most common cause of foodborne illness in the UK. Other germs (bacteria) that can cause foodborne illness include:
- Salmonella.
- Escherichia coli (commonly known as E. coli).
- Listeria strains.
- Shigella.
- Clostridium perfringens.
2-Viruses
Some bacteria (viruses), such as norovirus or rotavirus, can contaminate food and cause food poisoning.
3-Parasites
It is a different type of microorganism. A parasite is an organism that lives in or on the body of another person. Examples of parasites include Cryptosporidium parvum, Entamoeba histolytica, and Giardia. Bacterial botulism is common in developing countries. Toxoplasma gondii is the most common cause of foodborne illness in the UK. It is a parasite that lives in the bones of many animals, including cats. Food poisoning can occur when food or water is contaminated with feces from a sick cat, or from rotten or undercooked meat that carries other bacteria. This disease is called toxoplasmosis. Symptoms of this type of botulism include swollen lymph nodes and sometimes a rash.
4-Toxins and chemicals
Bacteria produce toxins that can contaminate food and bacteria. For example, bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus can contaminate ice cream, and its toxins can cause food poisoning. Bacillus cereus can contaminate rice. If contaminated rice is heated and eaten, the toxins released can cause food poisoning.
Certain fish (shark, marlin, swordfish, and tuna) contain large amounts of the chemical mercury. This fish is safe for most people as it does not cause stomach upset or botulism. However, pregnant women are advised to avoid shark, marlin, and swordfish, and to limit their intake of tuna. Because high levels of mercury can damage the fetal nervous system.
Oily fish can be contaminated with chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls. Again, this won’t cause problems or food poisoning for most people. However, avoid eating oily fish during pregnancy as these chemicals can harm your growing baby. Public Health England recommends eating no more than two servings of oily fish a week.
10 Signs and Symptoms of Food Poisoning
Microorganisms or poisons present in food or beverages might result in botulism. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and fever. Food poisoning is extremely common, affecting approximately 9.4 million Americans each year.
Food poisoning can occur from eating food contaminated with bacteria or food that contains toxins, such as certain types of mushrooms.
Symptoms vary in severity and can take hours to days (4) to appear, making it difficult to identify problematic foods. High-risk foods include undercooked meat/poultry, eggs, unpasteurized dairy, shellfish, and unwashed fruits/vegetables. This article lists 10 symptoms of botulism and what to do if you think you have it.
1.Abdominal pain and cramps:-
Abdominal pain caused by food poisoning spreads throughout the body. Harmful toxins can irritate the stomach lining, making the cramps worse as the stomach muscles expel their contents.
However, abdominal pain and cramps can be caused by other factors besides botulism. Therefore, these symptoms may not themselves be signs of food poisoning (8). Additionally, not all food poisoning causes abdominal pain or cramps.
2.Diarrhea:-
Diarrhea is thin, watery stool that occurs three or more times in 24 hours and is usually caused by food poisoning. This is often accompanied by an urge to go to the toilet and bloating/pain (9).
Diarrhea occurs because inflammation makes the intestines less efficient at reabsorbing water and other fluids produced during digestion (10). This means you are more likely to become dehydrated. Be sure to drink fluids such as water or broth, and check to see if your urine is light yellow (11).
3.Headache:-
Headaches are common. Stress, alcohol, dehydration and exhaustion can all be causes. Food poisoning can cause headaches because it can lead to exhaustion and dehydration. Vomiting and diarrhea increase the risk of dehydration and headaches.
4.Vomiting:-
Nausea is a common reaction to food poisoning. This happens when your body tries to get rid of harmful organisms or toxins. Some people vomit quickly, while others vomit for days. If you have trouble controlling fluids, talk to your doctor to prevent dehydration.
5.Generally feeling sick:-
Food poisoning often causes loss of appetite and fatigue as the immune system responds to the infection. Your body releases chemical messengers called cytokines, which have many different effects. This includes regulating the body’s immune system and our brain signals that are commonly associated with disease.
This set of symptoms can sometimes lead to what’s called “sick behavior,” in which you withdraw from social interactions, rest, and stop eating. Your physical symptoms draw attention away from other body processes, such as digestion, to prioritize fighting the infection.
6.Fever:-
Fever occurs when the body temperature rises to 97.6 to 99.6 degrees Fahrenheit (36 to 37 degrees Celsius).The body’s natural defense against infection is fever. Pyrogens that cause fever are released by the immune system or invading bacteria. They raise the temperature by tricking your brain into thinking you’re colder than you actually are. It helps increase the activity of white blood cells to fight infection
7.Chills:-
Shivers occur when your body shakes in an effort to warm up. These tingling sensations are caused by the rapid contraction and relaxation of muscles that produce heat. Because pyrogens trick your body into thinking it’s cold and you should stay warm, you often get a fever (23). Different illnesses, including food poisoning, can cause fever, making the common cold one of the most common symptoms.
8.Weakness and fatigue:-
Weakness or fatigue can lead to food poisoning, in part due to the release of chemical messengers called cytokines. These symptoms are also symptoms of illness, which will help you rest and recover. If you feel this way, it’s important to listen to your body and rest.
9.Nausea:-
Vomiting is painful. This could be due to food poisoning, migraines or behavioral problems. If you have an infection, this is a warning that you are eating the wrong thing. If you are experiencing hair loss, you can try some of these natural remedies to relieve your symptoms.
10.Muscle aches:-
You may have muscle pain from an infection, such as food poisoning. This is because your body fights infection by producing histamine, increasing red blood cells and white blood cells. Cytokines and other substances that interact with the immune system can travel to other parts of the body, causing an inflammatory response and causing pain.
How to treat food poisoning
Most foodborne illnesses are mild and clear up within a few days. Preventing dehydration is the aim this time. Dehydration means your body loses essential fluids and electrolytes (nutrients and minerals). Avoid solid foods and dairy products until the vomiting and diarrhea stop. You can eat and drink again if you want. Try soft foods like cookies, toast, and bananas. Avoid spicy foods, fried foods, dairy products, and foods rich in fat and sugar. Drink plenty of water, but avoid milk or caffeinated beverages. Sports drinks (brand names Gatorade, others) are not used to treat diarrhea. It does not replace good electrolytes (salts and minerals) in the body to prevent dehydration.
Blog By:- ExpertSadar
