How Can You Prevent Food Poisoning?
Every person experiences food poisoning at one point in their life after eating food that has been prepared in unhygienic conditions and is therefore contaminated with microorganisms. Food poisoning can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or other toxins in food. The symptoms of food poisoning occur a few hours after eating the contaminated food and include Cypress abdominal pain and diarrhea.
The symptoms of food poisoning go away by themselves but the symptoms may persist in some people and therefore they have to go to the hospital for a check-up. When you visit a doctor with symptoms of food poisoning, the doctor will take a medical history and examine your abdomen. The doctor then orders laboratory tests to confirm which organism is giving you the symptoms. Treatment of food poisoning depends on the cause.
What Are the Symptoms of Food Poisoning?
The most common symptoms of food poisoning include diarrhea which can be watery or bloody depending on the causative microorganism. You may experience abdominal pain or cramping after food poisoning which may be accompanied by bloating. If you get a fever after food poisoning, it indicates that you have an underlying infection.
Other symptoms of food poisoning are nausea and vomiting. These symptoms may start within six hours after eating the contaminated food or they can occur after days or weeks. You should seek immediate medical attention if you are having excess vomiting and you cannot tolerate any food, if you have bloody diarrhea, and if diarrhea persists for more than 3 days.
If you have severe abdominal pain or fever of above 38 degrees celsius you should see a doctor. Excess diarrhea and vomiting may cause you to become dehydrated and experience symptoms like excess thirst, lack of urine, dizziness, and dryness of your mouth and mucus membrane which is a medical emergency. Having neurological symptoms like blurred vision and muscle weakness after food poisoning is another indicator that you require urgent medical attention.
How Can You Prevent Food Poisoning?
Maintaining high standards of hygiene by regularly washing your hands with soap and water before handling food and after visiting the toilet is one effective way of preventing food poisoning. Avoid eating raw foods or food that is not properly cooked because it may be contaminated with organisms. When you are traveling to another country, ensure that you watch what you eat and only eat from trusted places.
Refrigerate foods properly within two hours after you buy them or within one hour if the temperature is above 32 degrees celsius. Avoid thawing food at room temperature, if you must thaw the food, ensure that you first defrost the food in the refrigerator. Discard any food that you do not know the expiry date or any food that you are not sure whether it has been prepared hygienically.
Food poisoning can cause severe symptoms in young children, old people, and people with compromised immune systems, and therefore these people should avoid eating raw meat, unpasteurized juices, and milk and foods that have not been prepared in hygienic conditions.
Conclusion
Food poisoning is a common medical condition that many times resolves itself. Some people especially those with weak immune systems, the elderly, and young children may experience severe symptoms and may require hospitalization. To avoid food poisoning, you should ensure that you prepare food in hygienic conditions and avoid eating raw or undercooked foods.
