Signs And Symptoms Of Food Poisoning

By Author: Rob Thomas
Total Articles: 4762
Comment this article

Food poisoning happens because of improper food storage methods within the kitchen. These methods then lead to the food to become contaminated. Foods that are not appropriately washed and stored within canteens, hotels and other outings normally result in food poisoning. The symptoms associated with food poisoning vary based on the type of germ and the quantity of food eaten.

The most frequent bacteria can cause food poisoning in two separate ways. Some bacteria contaminate the intestines, causing inflammation and difficulty when digesting water and nutrients, this occurrence then causes diarrhea. Other bacteria produce toxins within the foods which infect the digestive tract. Whenever foods like these are eaten, the chemicals can cause vomiting, kidney failure, and even death.

Food poisoning from salmonella bacteria gives the victims flu like symptoms. Botulism bacteria lead to dry mouth, nausea, abdominal pain and blurring of vision. This contaminant prevents the nerves from communicating with the brain, so the person loses control of the muscles starting from the face moving down to the neck. Then the person ...
... loses their ability to swallow and therefore they are unable to eat. This can further lead to choking from food particles being caught within the lungs. In severe cases this can lead to death unless the person receives urgent medical aid.

There is also staphylococcal food poisoning which is related to abdominal cramps, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. This appears about 6 hours after eating provision that is contaminated with an enterotoxin formed by the staph bacteria. This kind of bacteria is regularly found in goods such as dairy products, pastries and fish. In half an hour, warning signs from food poisoning can appear gradually, or quickly and can ultimately become even more dangerous over a few days to weeks. Usually food poisoning is mild, and can be easily cured from home where the sickness may continue for about 24-48 hours.

Viruses account for most cases of food poisoning where a specific contaminant is found. For instance 'noroviruses' which belongs to the group of viruses associated with the 'Caliciviridae' virus family. This virus causes a mild illness (sometimes called "stomach flu") which causes vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, and low-grade fever which normally resolve within two to three days. It is the most popular virus found in food poisoning transmitted from water, shellfish, and vegetables infected by feaces, as well as from person to person.

Epidemics from these food poisoning are more frequent in densely populated areas such as schools, nursing homes and cruise ships. Another virus known as rotavirus causes mild to severe cases of sickness with vomiting followed by watery stool and fever. It is the most common cause of food poisoning in infants and children, which is transmitted from person to person or by exposure to fecal contamination of food and shared play areas. Hepatitis A: can also cause mild sickness with unexpected occurrence of fever, loss of appetite, and feeling of tiredness followed by jaundice, which is a yellowing of the eyes and skin transmitted from person to person by fecal contamination of food.

You can use the help of a medical symptoms guide to see if you possibly contracted food poisoning. A medical symptom guide aids you to make a note of all the warning signs to formulate a conclusion to determine whether or not you are infected with food poisoning. By placing in a group of symptoms, the medical symptoms guide gives a list of the various kinds of illnesses you may possibly have along with ways of treating the problem whether naturally or through specialized medical assistance.

The most frequently used cure for simple food poisoning is simply supportive care from home. The person needs to stay hydrated by consuming lots of fluid, and after vomiting or diarrhea subside, they can gradually return to eating solids, starting with a mild diet (such as rice, bread, potatoes and milk). If the person has nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a fever or dizziness that lasts for over 2 days.

You should go to a medical doctor especially if the symptoms occur after recently visiting to a foreign country, or if some people who ate the same thing are also sick. If the person encounters vomiting blood, a swollen abdomen, difficulty breathing, swollen joints, yellow eyes or skin, or sharp abdominal pain that endures for over 15 minutes then the person should go to the hospital.
About Author:
Please visit this link for more information on Food Poisoning Symptoms and this link for information on Symptoms Of Food Poisoning.