What should be done during food poisoning?

Medical Video: How to Eat After Food Poisoning

In developing countries like Indonesia, we often encounter food poisoning cases. Food poisoning is a condition of digestive disorders caused by consumption of food or water contaminated with pathogenic substances and / or chemicals. In addition, toxic substances can also enter our body through inhalation (inhaled) or through skin contact.

The emergence of poisoning depends on the amount of substance and the way it enters the body. Clinical symptoms that arise according to the influence of destructive toxins. Generally in diseases caused by food poisoning, the symptoms occur shortly after ingesting the poisonous material, even after swallowing the poisonous material and less than 24 hours after ingesting the poison.

Types of food poisoning

There are several terms that must be distinguished in cases of food poisoning. This helps us in determining the cause of poisoning so that it can be treated immediately. The term is:

1. Foodborne infections

Occurs when germs are consumed and then settled in the body. Usually, germs multiply inside the digestive tract while irritating the gastrointestinal wall, sometimes even damaging the tissue. Examples of these group germs are Listeria, Salmonella, and Campylobacter.

2. Foodborne toxicoinfections

Occurs if the germs consumed can produce toxins while reproducing in the digestive tract. That is, not only harmful germs, but the toxins they produce.

3. Foodborne intoxications

Occurs due to eating foods that contain toxins. This toxin is released during bacterial growth (enterotoxin). The disease against this toxin usually causes symptoms quickly. For example, consumption of raw seafood can be suspected of containing Norwalk-like virus, Vibrio sppor hepatitis A.

Symptoms of food poisoning

1. Stomach cramps

According to scientists from the University of Maryland Medical Center, these stomach cramps can be felt after eating food more or less within 12-72 hours. This symptom shows that there are enough electrolytes lost in large quantities. If the effects of these poisons are not too dangerous, usually these symptoms will disappear on their own within 4-7 days. However, if the symptoms become more severe, immediately take the patient to medical services, because losing electrolytes can be very dangerous.

2. Vomiting and diarrhea

Vomiting and diarrhea are the body's efforts to remove toxins from the body. Usually when diarrhea will be accompanied by discharge of mucus and blood together with discharge. Excessive diarrhea and vomiting can get rid of nutrients so that the body becomes weak. If this continues, the patient can fall into a state of dehydration.

3. Dehydration

Dehydration is caused by a lack of body fluids and electrolytes. Dehydration is a further symptom of vomiting and diarrhea. If it is too severe, it is necessary to give direct replacement fluids such as infusion. Signs of dehydration are a rapid pulse, decreased blood pressure, dry mouth, sunken eyes, and a reduced amount of urine. In addition, patients are also lazy to drink.

4. Other symptoms

Depending on the toxins that enter the body. Usually other symptoms include fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches, weakness and fatigue for no apparent reason, severe headache, until fainting and coma.

How to deal with food poisoning

How to overcome food poisoning must be adjusted by the cause of poisoning, because different germs, different ways of treatment. However, there are general principles that you can do at home before the patient gets medical help. The simple things you do will greatly help doctors to minimize the impact of food poisoning, and even save the lives of patients. Here's what you can do: