All you need to know about Food Poisoning

Food poisoning, also known as foodborne illness, is typically caused due to the consumption of unhygienic food that is contaminated with infectious organisms like bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical substances. It is a painful and severely discomforting experience that can become prevalent within hours of eating the infected food item.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 1 in 10 people in the world (600 million) fall sick after consuming contaminated food. However, it is generally a mild condition that can be resolved with medications and other pharmaceutical products.

Here is all you need to know about food poisoning:

Symptoms

Food poisoning manifests clear symptoms. However, they can vary depending upon the source of the infection. Additionally, the time taken for the symptoms to become prevalent and severity of the illness also depends on the infection source. For instance, leafy greens, fresh fruits and water contaminated with the Norovirus can make symptoms noticeable within 30 minutes to 6 hours of consumption. Some common symptoms of food poisoning include:

• Upset stomach
• Abdominal cramps
• Vomiting or nausea
• Diarrhea
• Fever and headache
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness

In some extreme cases, the illness may even become life-threatening. Some symptoms associated with severe food poisoning include:

• Diarrhea that persists for more than 3 to 4 days
• Fever that crosses 101.5°F
• Difficulties with seeing or speaking
• Severe dehydration (Dry mouth, reduced urine passing)
• Blood in the urine

If a person experiences any of the above-mentioned symptoms, they are advised to seek medical help as soon as possible.

Causes

As mentioned earlier, food poisoning is primarily caused by consuming contaminated or adulterated food. According to health experts, contamination of food due to pathogens can happen at any course of time i.e. production, harvesting, storing, processing, or transporting. Pathogens are typically known as disease-causing microbes and are found in almost all the human foods. However, the heat emitted during the cooking process potentially kills all the pathogens and makes the food safe for consumption.

Prevention

Food poisoning is a common health illness that can result in abdominal discomfort, pain and stress. Though it can be treated easily with medications manufactured by pharma companies, it is better to take certain preventive measures to safeguard yourself and your loved ones. Some of the preventive measures include:

• Wash your hands properly before eating and cooking food
• Serve food in clean and properly washed utensils
• Keep ready-to-eat foods separate from raw foods
• Freeze or refrigerate perishable food products
• If necessary, defrost the food safely
• Don’t eat if you’re unsure about the quality and safety of the food

Lastly, people should always avoid eating foods that do not suit their digestive system. For instance, lactose intolerant people should always avoid consuming dairy products, especially when suffering from food poisoning.