Food Poisoning is a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.
What is Food Poisoning Does AI can Stop?
Food poisoning occurs when you consume something containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins, or chemicals, resulting in illness. Most people recover without the need for treatment.
Most times, the food that makes you sick has germs like salmonella or E. coli bacteria, or a virus like norovirus. The Impurity of food can occur at any point beginning from growing, till processing and shipping of the product.
Improper cooking and transferring pathogens between surfaces can contaminate food, especially ready-to-eat or raw foods.
Eating raw food can make you sick because it may have harmful bacteria. This can cause food poisoning. Thus the Impurity of food may occur at any stage in the process from food production to consumption.
Food Poisoning Symptoms
- Feeling unwell
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach cramps
Other symptoms of food poisoning include:
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- A high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above
- Muscle pain
- Chills
Food Poisoning Causes
Foodborne illnesses are usually caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemicals entering the body through contaminated food or water. This happens when food is not handled, prepared, or stored properly.
Cross-contamination: Cross-contamination is a cause of food poisoning that is often over looked. Harmful bacteria spread between food, surfaces, and equipment.
Most common organisms that cause food poisoning:
- Bacteria-
-Campylobacter jejuni
-Clostridium perfringens
-Salmonella species . – S. typhi-murium infection
-Escherichia coli (E. coli )
- Viruses (noro virus)
- Parasites (Toxoplasmosis)
- Mushrooms and toadstools: Dozens of species can cause muscarine poisoning. These poisons attack the central nervous system, causing partial or complete paralysis in severe cases.
- Fish: Some fish, like the puffer fish, are naturally poisonous.Some Caribbean and Pacific fish can have a poison like the one found in puffer fish. A tiny sea parasite called algae produces ciguatera poison. This poison attacks the nervous system.
- Insecticides: There are many types of poisons found in insecticides but the most dangerous types are the organophosphates, which are basically nerve gas for insects. These insecticides are made to be safer for humans than insects, but they can still be harmful if not used correctly.
- Many other causes of food poisoning exist. These include wild nuts, leaves, flowers and berries, under ripe tubers, botulism, cadmium from containers, lead or arsenic from fertilizers, and acids and lead from pottery.
Food Poisoning Diagnosis
To diagnose food poisoning, doctors usually ask about your medical history, symptoms, and what you ate. Doctors typically inquire about your medical history, symptoms, and dietary intake to diagnose food poisoning. Symptoms of food poisoning may include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and signs of dehydration. Dehydration refers to insufficient water and fluid levels in the body.
Stool test: Sometimes stool test is done for detecting bacteria or parasites.
Food Poisoning Prevention
Some do’s and don’ts to prevent food poisoning at home:
- Wash hands nicely with soap and water before eating or preparing food.
- Utensils and cutting board should be washed with warm soapy water and disinfectants.
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
- Keep raw foods (raw meat, poultry, shell fish) and ready to eat foods away from other foods to avoid cross-contamination.
- Do not undercook foods. Reheat food rapidly until all parts of the food reach 75 degree C. Cook fish and meats at 145 to 165 degree F.
- Food should be discarded if there is uncertainty in its quality or safety.
If one is suffering from food poisoning:
- Avoid eating solid foods.Take bland and easy to digest foods.
- Avoid alcoholic,caffeinated or sugary drinks.
- Replace fluids lost by diarrhoea or vomiting by drinking water or oral rehydration therapy. .
- Don’t take antibiotics or anti-diarrhea medications before consulting a doctor. Certain types of food poisoning (viz. listeriosis) are treated with intravenous antibiotics.
- Consult doctor if diarrhoea and vomiting persists.