Food poisoning is a common condition that affects millions of people throughout the world. It occurs when a person consumes a source that has become infected with parasites, viruses or bacteria. Since this illness can range in severity and can affect people differently, it is important to know the symptoms associated with food poisoning, as well as its causes, treatment and prevention.
Symptoms
Most cases of this illness affect the stomach and the gastrointestinal tract. While it can certainly vary depending upon the type of contaminant, most symptoms of food poisoning appear within 2-6 hours after consuming the infected source. Typical symptoms of this illness include vomiting, nausea, stomach pain and cramps, fever, chills and diarrhea.
Causes
There are a variety of ways in which an item can become contaminated. While it can become infected during the growing, processing, storing and preparing stage, cross-contamination, which occurs as bacteria become transferred from one area to another, is the most common way in which a source can become tainted. Cross-contamination becomes an issue when an individual uses the same cutting board for dicing vegetables and preparing meat. The most common contaminants that people become exposed to include salmonella, botulism, E. coli enteritis, staphylococcus and campylobacter enteritis.
Treatment
Most cases of this illness typically become resolved within a few days without the need for treatment or medication. However, if an individual becomes very ill and has severe symptoms, food poisoning doctors in Indianapolis and other specialists will prescribe a course of antibiotics.
Replacing fluid loss and preventing dehydration is the main goal when treating such an illness. This is accomplished by drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding solid foods until the symptoms have dissipated. It is also advised that an individual avoid dairy products and caffeine until diarrhea and vomiting have subsided. Bland items such as crackers, bananas, toast and gelatin will help to settle an individual's stomach while they are recovering from their illness.
Prevention
There are many steps a person can take which will reduce their risk of developing a food-borne illness. One of the most important steps to take is for an individual to wash their hands both before and after handling food, in addition to all utensils and surfaces. Cooking items to their recommended temperature will also help to ensure that any bacteria are killed. It is also necessary to either refrigerate or freeze any products that are perishable within two hours of opening or preparing. An additional step to prevent illness is to keep any type of raw meat fish, or poultry away from ready-to-eat foods, which will prevent cross-contamination.
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