Food poisoning

Food poisoning: Symptoms are mostly diarrhea and vomiting

Food poisoning occurs when a person ingests food or drinks that are contaminated with toxins, bacteria, viruses or other pathogens. Salmonella poisoning and fish poisoning are well known. Food poisoning symptoms can vary depending on the trigger. The extent of the discomfort can also vary. But almost anyone who catches food poisoning will develop the following signs:  bacobolts.yictic

• nausea
• Vomit
• diarrhea
• Stomach cramps

A food infection without vomiting or without diarrhea hardly ever happens, because the body is trying to get rid of the toxins as soon as possible. The quick way to do this is to vomit on the "upper floor" and diarrhea on the "lower way".

In addition - depending on the cause - there may be other symptoms of food poisoning:

• Fever , chills
• headache
• Muscle, joint and limb pain
• Circulatory problems (dizziness)  construction-bolts.tockhop
• With botulism: symptoms of paralysis (e.g. eyes, lips, tongue), speech disorders or swallowing disorders. The cause of this food poisoning is the bacterium "Clostridium botulinum", which produces neurotoxins. Botulism is very rare in Germany.

Often it is not possible to differentiate food poisoning from other gastrointestinal diseases, such as gastrointestinal flu . Because the symptoms of both diseases are very similar.

In some sick people, the signs of food poisoning are only weak and subside on their own after a few days. Food poisoning with severe symptoms such as violent vomiting and frequent (bloody) diarrhea must always be clarified by a doctor.

Food poisoning: The course is usually mild

There is no general answer to how long food poisoning lasts. A wide variety of bacteria (e.g. salmonella, listeria, Escherichia coli), toxins (e.g. from marine animals, fish), pollutants (e.g. metals such as lead or mercury), but also poisonous fungi (bulbous agaric and fly agaric) and plants (e.g. angel's trumpet) are responsible for this , Herbstzeitlose) in question. The duration of food poisoning, for example, depends on the cause, and the length of time it takes for the symptoms to subside again can vary.  techqueer

Sometimes the symptoms improve after a few hours, while in other cases they last for a few days. On average, most people survived food poisoning in one to two days. The course of food poisoning is usually mild, although constantly going to the toilet can be extremely uncomfortable because of the vomiting and diarrhea.

Food poisoning - with consequences

Sometimes food poisoning has consequences. In the worst case, it can even be life-threatening. People whose immune systems are weakened or not yet fully functional have a higher risk of a severe course: babies, young children, pregnant women, the elderly or people with chronic diseases.

In addition, some types of bacteria can have health consequences. In rare cases, for example, the Campylobacter bacterium causes Guillain-Barré syndrome, which changes the nervous system. Infections with enterohaemorrhagic E. coli bacteria (EHEC) can also cause a life-threatening haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). A lack of blood platelets, anemia and kidney failure are the consequences.  tc-bolts.dyifo

Is Food Poisoning Contagious?

Food poisoning is contagious when it is caused by bacteria such as Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, EHEC or Yersinia. Anyone who comes into contact with vomit or stool from the sick person can become infected. Transmission from person to person is therefore possible. Therefore, adequate hygiene measures (in the sanitary area and hand washing!) Are particularly important. Better to keep your distance from the sick person. Anyone who has caught food poisoning should also not go to work in order to avoid infecting others. Stay home for at least two days after symptoms improve.

Often not just one person but the whole family gets sick with food poisoning because everyone has eaten the same food. Such outbreaks sometimes occur in community facilities (schools, daycare centers, old people's and nursing homes) or when traveling on cruise ships. Then you become infected with food poisoning from contaminated, spoiled food.  bolts.answerhop

Food poisoning: incubation period is different

The incubation period generally states how long it takes from infection to the appearance of the first symptoms. In the case of food poisoning, the incubation period is often very short. It usually only takes a few hours after infection for the first symptoms to appear. Sometimes it can take a day or two for symptoms to set in. Very rarely does it last about a week. It depends on the pathogen, the pollutant or the poison, how long the incubation time is in the case of food poisoning.

 

Food poisoning: treating symptoms

Food poisoning is uncomfortable, but usually harmless. Sick people usually recover quickly on their own. Food poisoning treatment only addresses symptoms - all about home remedies, medications, and when to go to the hospital.

Food poisoning: home remedies for symptoms

• Until your fitness returns, you should take it easy, rest and not exert yourself physically. The immune system has enough to do with fighting pathogens or pollutants.
• Drink a lot, because with diarrhea and vomiting, the body loses a lot of fluids and minerals. Non-carbonated water or herbal teas that keep the stomach and intestines busy (e.g. chamomile, peppermint, aniseed, caraway) are good. With sufficient fluid intake, you can also rebalance your fluid and mineral balance, which is out of balance.
• If you have severe diarrhea, electrolyte solutions may help. They are available as a powder that can be mixed in the pharmacy. You can also make the solution yourself from salt, sugar and water.
• If you have an appetite, you should also eat something. It is advisable to use light food that does not unnecessarily challenge the stomach - for example white bread, rusks, bananas or some rice. It is better to avoid coffee, cola, alcohol and dairy products for the time being.
• You may be able to try charcoal tablets for diarrhea - but the effectiveness has not been scientifically proven. Activated charcoal is said to bind toxins in the intestines and thus eliminate them. It should be noted, however, that charcoal tablets weaken the effects of many other drugs. If in doubt, ask a doctor for advice first.
• Probiotics contain beneficial bacteria and are said to have a positive effect on the intestinal flora. There are probiotic foods, for example yogurt, or dietary supplements in capsules or powders that contain probiotic strains of bacteria. They are supposed to suppress the "sick makers". Probiotics may shorten the duration of diarrhea.

Food poisoning medication

Medicines for food poisoning work against vomiting (antiemetics) and diarrhea (antidiarrheal drugs). However, they should be treated with caution because they slow down both. And in the event of food poisoning, it is very important to get the germs and toxins out of the body as quickly as possible. Such drugs are therefore only used in severe cases of food poisoning (very violent vomiting, very frequent diarrhea). Antibiotics only work if the causative agent is bacteria, such as salmonella or listeria.

Food poisoning: when to the doctor and when to the hospital?

If the symptoms persist for an unusually long time or if they are particularly severe, it is better to consult your family doctor. Food poisoning in babies and children should always be assessed by a doctor because the immune system of children is not yet fully functional. Germs and toxins therefore affect them more strongly. A visit to the doctor is also advisable for the elderly and people with chronic illnesses.

Doctors always treat very severe food poisoning, for example botulism, in the hospital: they administer an antidote. Even with mushroom poisoning, you have to go to the hospital because doctors pump out your stomach.