Food poisoning occurs when food spoiled by microbes or viral toxins is consumed. Typical symptoms of food poisoning are stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting. Simple poisoning generally heals on its own in a few days. In severe cases, patients should definitely be hospitalized.
Food poisoning is defined as toxic poisoning caused by the consumption of structurally altered foods due to microbes, bacteria and microorganisms. Symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting occur a few hours after consuming poisoned food. Symptoms may be mild at times and in such cases, the person may not realize that they have food poisoning and the symptoms will go away on their own within a few days. However, when the symptoms are extremely severe, a specialist should be consulted.
What Causes Food Poisoning?
Food poisoning is caused by the consumption of food contaminated with viruses or their toxins. The most important reason for food contamination is inadequate hygiene when it is produced, transported, stored or processed. Food poisoning is classified into 3 categories;
Bacterial food poisoning: Bacterial biotoxins are the causative agents that frequently cause food poisoning. Bacterial food poisoning occurs in two types. We can list them as follows;
- When foods contaminated with bacterial biotoxins are consumed, these toxins can cause food poisoning.
- After consumption of foods containing bacteria, these viruses can release toxins in the body and cause poisoning.
Microbes that usually cause bacterial food poisoning include Salmonella, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli and Listeria. These microorganisms are passed on through animal food.
Non-bacterial food poisoning: The most common causes of non-bacterial food poisoning are as follows;
- Poisonous mushrooms
- Parasite
- Heavy metals
- Animal biotoxins
Digestive tract infections due to viruses: Digestive tract infection due to viruses and bacteria is also food poisoning. These infections are usually caused by norovirus, rotavirus, hepatitis A and hepatitis E virus.
What are the Symptoms of Food Poisoning?
Symptoms of food poisoning can vary depending on the cause. The first symptoms of food poisoning are generally nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. These symptoms usually start to appear quickly after some time after the virus biotoxin enters the body. However, these symptoms of poisoning usually disappear within a few days.
Symptoms of food poisoning are usually not very severe and go away on their own after a few days, even without treatment. Sometimes, however, there is a serious poisoning with severe and prominent symptoms such as severe vomiting and intense diarrhea. In the presence of severe symptoms, it is urgent to go to a health facility.
How is Food Poisoning Diagnosed?
When diagnosing food poisoning , the history of the sick person should be known. The specialist will want to know the signs and symptoms that occur in the patient and how long these conditions have been going on. If the person is at risk of food poisoning, he or she will want to know exactly what foods were consumed in the hours before the onset of symptoms. He or she will then check the sick person and obtain information about body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate and general condition.
Some tests are performed in case of food poisoning. With these tests, it becomes easier to diagnose poisoning. However, laboratory tests are not used intensively to diagnose food poisoning and this condition.
How is food poisoning treated?
In food poisoning, symptoms generally disappear spontaneously after a period of 1 to 3 days. During this time, the body reacts with diarrhea and vomiting and ensures the removal of biotoxins. Sick people should therefore drink plenty of fluids. A special powder mixture containing the electrolytes required by the body can be given to the person by adding it to water. However, if the person cannot consume fluids by mouth, liquid electrolytes can be added intravenously.
What can be done to prevent food poisoning?
The causes of food poisoning are various. In a hot environment, food can be a home for microorganisms. Foods kept in a hot environment can thus deteriorate quickly. Therefore, food poisoning can be prevented as follows;
- Animal foods such as meat, fish and chicken should be taken from safe places.
- Foods with expired expiration dates should not be consumed.
- Vegetables and fruits should be thoroughly cleaned.
- Liquids such as milk and fruit juice should be consumed within the required time from the moment they are opened.
- Foods that should be kept in the refrigerator and freezer should not be stored in different areas.
- Foods that should be stored in dry and cool places should not be stored in different areas.
- Foods sold in the open should not be consumed.
- Make sure that the materials used in cooking foods are hygienic.
- Foods that have been in the refrigerator for a long time should not be consumed.
- It is important to pay attention to how fastfood-style foods are prepared.
