What is food poisoning?
Food poisoning is often diagnosed based on a detailed history, including how long you've been sick, your symptoms and specific foods you've eaten. Your doctor will also perform a physical exam, looking for signs of dehydration in the case for further treatment.
Symptoms of food poisoning
Symptoms of food poisoning can begin hours or days after consuming contaminated food or drink. The timing depends in part on the cause of food poisoning. It can also depend on the amount of food or drink you consumed. Symptoms may include:
- abdominal pain
- diarrhoea
- fever
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- vomiting
- weakness and fatigue.
Treatment
Treatment for food poisoning typically depends on the source of the illness, if known, and the severity of your symptoms. For most people, the illness resolves without treatment within a few days, though some types of food poisoning may last longer.Treatment of food poisoning may include:
- Replacement of lost fluids. Fluids and electrolytes — minerals such as sodium, potassium and calcium that maintain the balance of fluids in your body — lost to persistent diarrhoea need to be replaced. Some children and adults with persistent diarrhoea or vomiting may need hospitalization, where they can receive salts and fluids through a vein (intravenously), to prevent or treat dehydration.
- Antibiotics. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if you have certain kinds of bacterial food poisoning and your symptoms are severe. Food poisoning caused by listeria needs to be treated with intravenous antibiotics during hospitalization. The sooner treatment begins, the better. During pregnancy, prompt antibiotic treatment may help keep the infection from affecting the baby.
Antibiotics will not help food poisoning caused by viruses. Antibiotics may actually worsen symptoms in certain kinds of viral or bacterial food poisoning. Talk to your doctor about your options.
N/B: Food poisoning may affect just one person or a whole group of people who are exposed to the same contaminated food or drink. It depends on how much of the germ or toxin each person consumed. It also depends on how sensitive they are to the germ or toxin to each person.You can take a few simple steps to avoid food poisoning: - Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
- Clean countertops, cutting boards, knives, and utensils before exposing them to different food items.
- Wash your hands and utensils often