During breastfeeding, if the mother ingests contaminated food. Signs of food poisoning: What are the first three symptoms?Food poisoning is usually accompanied by one of the following gastrointestinal symptoms:
Abdominal pain;
Diarrhea;
Nausea and vomiting.
Fever;
Headache;
Fatigue.
Beware: Food poisoning usually affects several people who have eaten the same meal. Symptoms are similar even in children and babies.
Prevention
To avoid food poisoning, health authorities advise:
Observe expiration dates and cold chains.
Do not refreeze thawed foods.
Observe and check storage temperature conditions according to your refrigerator area.
Discard cans that bulge or have an unusual appearance or smell when opened.
Pour the contents of open cans into a non-metallic container and store them.
Only collect mushrooms (and/or plants) that you are familiar with. Transport mushrooms in baskets to avoid mixing species (one poisonous mushroom can infect others). Eat mushrooms when young and well cooked. If you are in doubt about the species, show the mushroom or plant to a pharmacist and discard if you are still in doubt.
Do not leave children alone in gardens or outdoor areas with shrubs that have poisonous fruits or leaves (such as cotton aster, cherry laurel, sugar cane fungus) or that often have harmful lawn fungi.
Do not mix alcohol and medicines.
Causes: What types of food poisoning are there? Food is known to harbor a variety of pathogenic bacteria. Here are some examples of diseases that are difficult to digest.
Salmonella
They are caused by Salmonella bacteria (non-typhoid). They develop after an incubation period of 8 to 48 hours.
Salmonellosis symptoms: diarrhea, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever.
Meats, sausages, poultry, eggs and egg products, dairy products, fish and seafood are affected. These are foods that are generally consumed raw or undercooked.
Campylobacter
They are caused by the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni. Symptoms appear after an incubation period of 2-5 days.
Symptoms of Campylobacter infection include diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, and rare complications.
Causes: Contaminated meat (chicken, pork), especially if not thoroughly cooked, but also milk and water. Infection can also occur through contact with animals.
Listeriosis
This is a bacterial infection caused by the Listeria bacteria. Symptoms of listeriosis: meningitis and septicemia, miscarriage in pregnant women.
Causes: cheese made from raw milk, smoked fish, certain delicatessen products such as pâté, rillettes and jelly products.
Botulism
Botulism is a poisoning caused by toxins released by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The first symptoms usually appear 12-36 hours after infection.
Signs of botulism: impaired vision, dry mouth, paralysis, rejection of stomach contents, constipation or, conversely, diarrhea…
Causes: “homemade” canned foods, uncooked cold cuts and fish contaminated by soil.
Brucellosis
A zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. The incubation period varies from a few days to several months.
Signs of brucellosis: fever, headache, generalized aches, sweating, fatigue.
Causes: cream cheese, sheep or goat milk, or contact with animals.
Enterotoxin-producing E. coli
E. coli infections first became known in the United States in 1982, when people developed bloody diarrhea after eating contaminated hamburgers. The incubation period is 3 days.
Signs of E. coli infection. E. coli infection: Often diarrhea, or more commonly hemorrhagic colitis, which can be dangerous for children and the elderly (it can even lead to kidney damage and death).
Causes: Beef (especially ground), deer, sheep, goat, horse, unpasteurized milk, fruit juices, raw vegetables.
Poisoning with Staphylococcus aureus (gold staphylococcus)
Staphylococcus aureus is caused by ingesting staphylococcus toxins. It develops after a short incubation period of 2-4 hours.
Signs of Staphylococcus aureus infection: Nausea, severe vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea.
Causes: Food contamination occurs when food is cooked by a sick person (nasopharyngitis). In addition, contaminated food needs to be left at room temperature for several hours for the toxins to grow. This particularly affects sandwiches, salads, pastries, cold cuts, etc. Consuming certain raw dairy products (cheese, milk) may also be a cause.
Tapeworm or Taenia solium
A parasite that infects the digestive tract. Incubation period is 2-3 months.
Signs: Often no signs are present. Finally, indigestion may occur. Weight loss may also occur. Rings of worms in the stool.
Causes: Raw or undercooked beef.
Toxoplasmosis
Caused by a parasite that usually affects cats.
Signs of toxoplasmosis: Mild fever, neck pain, skin rash. Infection can be severe in immunocompromised people and pregnant women.
Causes: Infection occurs through ingestion of eggs after contact with litter, but can also occur through eating meat (especially lamb).
Note: Cholera, typhoid, Hepatitis A, etc. can also be transmitted through food.
What is the difference between food poisoning and gastroenteritis? Although most of the symptoms are similar, they are not the same disease. Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract, mainly caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites. Unlike food poisoning, it is contagious. Unlike food poisoning, gastroenteritis, if the cause is a virus, can cause cramps, muscle pain, and/or headaches.
How to protect yourself: treatment, nutritional recommendations, when to see a doctor? In general: Adequate fluid intake, duration
The illness is usually temporary and does not require special treatment. However, it is important to hydrate properly. If ingested fluids are systematically regurgitated, the patient should go to the hospital to receive intravenous hydration.
Food poisoning can last from a few hours to three days.
Should I eat if I have food poisoning? It is also important to adjust the diet until healing is possible.
It is also important to adjust your diet until healing is possible.
Eat mostly lean meats and fish, and starchy foods.
Avoid fruits and vegetables at first, prefer cooked vegetables as symptoms improve.
Gradually resume raw fruits and vegetables, then other foods, as directed by your doctor.
Eat small amounts of food.
In case of food poisoning, choose neutral foods such as rice, zucchini soup, rusks, and steamed potatoes.
Depending on the toxin causing the illness, your doctor may prescribe treatment with certain antibiotics.
To avoid
Do not take anti-diarrheal medications without your doctor’s advice, as they are not recommended for infectious diarrhea.
Vomiting: This will not speed up recovery.
In infants and children
Make sure your child is well hydrated and watch for signs of dehydration. Symptoms include difficulty waking up, frequent sleepiness, moaning, abnormal behavior, rapid breathing, and vomiting.
Doctors may also recommend that children use oral rehydration solutions (ORS) to prevent dehydration.