Food Poisoning

Food poisoning is a common issue that can affect anyone, and it’s a mild condition that resolves on its own in most of the cases.

Food poisoning

Food poisoning occurs when a person consumes a type of food or drink that is contaminated with germs or any other harmful thing.

Causes and risk factors of food poisoning

Bacteria are the most common cause of food poisoning, and they can grow in food when it isn’t fresh, washed, cooked properly, frozen properly, or kept at a suitable temperature.

There are a lot of types of food poisoning; the most common of them are:

• Salmonella, which is commonly found in raw eggs and undercooked poultry.
• Certain strains of E. coli, which is often found in raw vegetables and undercooked meat.
• Listeria, which is especially dangerous during pregnancy and is found in soft cheeses, deli meats, hot dogs, and raw sprouts.
• Shigella, which is found in cream- or mayonnaise-based salads in most of the cases.
• Norovirus, which is found in undercooked shellfish, leafy greens, and fresh fruits.
• Hepatitis A, which can infect shellfish and water contaminated by stool.
• Campylobacter, which causes severe symptoms and is found in undercooked poultry, raw milk, and contaminated vegetables.
• Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens, which are found in foods that are kept at room temperature for too long.

The risk of food poisoning increases in pregnant women, children under 5 years old, people older than 65 years old, and people with a weak immunity.

Symptoms of food poisoning

Symptoms of food poisoning differ depending on the cause, and they can start within hours or weeks. They generally include:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Stomach upset.
• Diarrhea.
• Fever.
• Headache.
• In some cases, food poisoning can affect the nervous system and cause blurred vision, tingling or numbness of the skin, weakness, and paralysis.
• Foodborne illness can cause serious complications, such as dehydration, blood clots in the kidneys, sepsis, meningitis, arthritis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, miscarriage, stillbirth, and breathing problems.

Diagnosis of food poisoning

• Physical exam.
• Asking about the symptoms and what foods were consumed recently.
• Blood tests.
• Stool tests.

Treatment of food poisoning

Treating food poisoning depends on the cause, and in most of the cases the condition resolves on its own with fluid replacement and resting.

• Food poisoning can be prevented by following safe food handling practices:
• Washing the hands continuously.
• Cleaning raw vegetables and fruits properly before eating.
• Cook meats and seafood thoroughly.
• Washing kitchen utensils well.
• Cleaning inside the fridge every few months.