Food Poisoning: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is an illness caused by the consumption of contaminated food or water. The infectious agents involved in causing food poisoning are bacteria or their toxins, parasites, viruses, or chemicals. It is also termed a foodborne illness.
Older people are at higher risk of developing food poisoning because of their weaker immune systems. Food poisoning is also common during pregnancy because of the changes in metabolism and circulation.
Certain diseases such as diabetes, liver disease, cancer, and AIDS also increase the risk of food poisoning. It is mild in most cases and resolves without treatment. In severe cases, you need to go to the hospital.
Symptoms Of Food Poisoning
The clinical presentation of food poisoning may vary from person to person. The symptoms appear a few hours after eating the contaminated food.
People diagnosed with food poisoning may present symptoms of nausea, vomiting, indigestion, hiccups, melena, diarrhea, abdominal cramps or pain, and loss of appetite.
Symptoms of general weakness, headaches, dehydration, dry mouth, weight loss, mild fever, dizziness, and lightheadedness are also reported in patients diagnosed with food poisoning.
Causes Of Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is caused by infectious agents such as bacteria or their toxins, parasites, viruses, or chemicals. Commonly involved bacteria in causing food poisoning are staphylococcus aureus, campylobacter, Escherichia coli, listeria, Giardia lamblia, salmonella, shigella, staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio vulnificus, and clostridium botulinum.
In viruses, norovirus, sapovirus, adenovirus, rotavirus, and hepatitis A virus are the most commonly reported viruses in causing food poisoning. Food poisoning is also caused by a parasite, toxoplasma.
Treatment Of Food Poisoning
Treatment plans for food poisoning may vary from person to person depending upon the causative agents. If the food poisoning is caused by a bacterium, then antibiotics can be prescribed.
Commonly used antibiotics for food poisoning are fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and macrolides such as azithromycin.
For the treatment of severe diarrhea, antidiarrheal drugs are prescribed such as bismuth subsalicylate, loperamide, diphenoxylate, and Imodium.
For the treatment of vomiting, conventional anti-emetics are given such as dexamethasone, dolasetron, granisetron, ondansetron, and palonosetron.
The aim of treatment for food poisoning is to prevent complications such as severe dehydration. For the prevention of dehydration, oral rehydration therapy and IV fluids can be prescribed.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a formula for oral rehydration solution (ORS). ORS contains sodium, potassium, glucose, chloride, and bicarbonate in an almost isotonic fluid.
If there is a decreased level of consciousness or severe dehydration, intravenous rehydration therapy is recommended. Intravenous rehydration therapy consists of ringer lactate infusion, dextrose plus sodium chloride, 5% dextrose with electrolytes, ringer lactate infusion with 5% dextrose, and normal saline 0.9%.
Dietary modifications also play a vital role in the treatment of food poisoning. You must stop eating or drinking for some time to give your stomach rest. You should avoid solid food for some time and consume soft, easily digestible food.
Avoid dairy products in case of severe diarrhea. Don’t take any oral food if vomiting is severe. Caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and fatty foods must be avoided during food poisoning.