Food Poisoning

Food poisoning and foodborne illness are due to eating any contaminated or toxic food. Some common symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. It is an uncomfortable condition caused by an infectious organism such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites present in spoiled and contaminated foods. These contagious organisms or even their toxins can contaminate food at any time during production. Contamination can take place if you don’t cook food properly.

 Symptoms

One can detect food poisoning easily. Symptoms can alter depending upon the source of infection. The time during which symptoms become visible also relies on the source of infection, but it can fluctuate from one hour to even 28 days. Commonly, a person suffering from food poisoning shows any of the following three symptoms;

• Abdominal cramps
• Vomiting
• Mild fever
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Headaches
• Weakness
• Nausea

Symptoms of lethal kind of this condition are;

• Diarrhea that exists for more than three days
• Difficulty in seeing or even speaking
• Bloody urine

Symptoms of severe dehydration which includes;

• Dry mouth
• A fever more than 105^oF

Causes

1. Bacteria

some of the dangerous bacteria E.coli, salmonella, and listeria. Salmonella involves severe food poisoning cases. Campylobacter and C.botulinum can also cause this diseas

1. Viruses

The norovirus, also called the Norwalk virus, produces more than 19 million cases of food poisoning every year. However, rarely it is fatal. Sapovirus, Astrovirus, and Rotavirus also involved in creating food poisoning, but they are not much common. Hepatitis A virus can be transmitted through food.

1. Parasites

this diseas due to the parasite is less common as compared to food poisoning caused by bacteria. But these parasites that transmit through foods are very dangerous. Parasites can live in the gut of the human body undetected for years. However, people with less immunity and pregnant woman can suffer serious side effects if parasites get entry to their intestine.

Food 

 In dangerous cases, blood tests, stool tests, and tests on food the person has eaten may be performed to find out the real culprit of food poisoning. Your doctor may also use a urine test to check if dehydration has occurred due to food poisoning.

 Treatment

• You can readily treat this diseas at home. Most people can recover within 3 to 5 days. If you are suffering from it, you should drink plenty of water. Sports drinks contain a high level of electrolytes, so that it can be helpful.
• Fruit juice and coconut water provide the carbohydrates lost due to food poisoning. It would be best if you did not take caffeine, which can affect the digestive tract. Decaffeinated teas with herbs such as peppermint, dandelion, and chamomile may soothe an upset stomach.
• Medication like Imodium and Pepto-Bismol help control diarrhea and treat nausea. However, these medicines must be taken after consulting a physician because the body needs vomiting and diarrhea to remove the toxin.
• Also, taking these medicines can hide the severe nature of the disease and cause a delay in getting expert treatment. A person with food poisoning must get a lot of rest. In severe cases, when patients get badly dehydrated, they need hydration with intravenous (IV) fluids at a hospital.
• In worst circumstances, of food poisoning, the patient may require longer hospitalization until he recovers.

Prevention

 The perfect way to prevent this condition is to handle the food safely and avoid unsafe foods. Some foods may readily cause food poisoning due to the way we produce or prepare them like poultry, eggs, and meat may harbor disease-causing agents that you can kill during cooking. So, the proper cooking of these foods is a must to avoid this infection.

How You Can Contact Us

 Below are the details that you need to contact us;

Business Name: myDoc Urgent Care

Address: 116-20 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills, NY 11375

Contact No: (718) 401-1510

Email Address : mydoc@healthpronyc.com

Visit us at one of our convenient locations in forest hills, East meadow, Bronx, Brooklyn, Jackson height and little neck.