Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 26, 2017 Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists
By Dr Zulfikar Bux
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Food poisoning is a very common occurrence worldwide. Patients that have food poisoning will go
through the bout and most often recover. A small few can become significantly dehydrated or develop a systemic infection. Children and the elderly are most often susceptible to this. Today I will highlight some important facts about food poisoning so that we can all be more aware about this common condition.
WHAT IS FOOD POISONING?
Food poisoning is an illness that can cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Food poisoning is caused by eating food that contains germs, such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Viruses are the most common causes of food poisoning. The norovirus is the most common viral cause of food poisoning. Two examples of bacteria that are common causes of food poisoning are Salmonella and E. coli.
HOW CAN GERMS GET IN FOOD?
Germs can get in food in different ways:
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF FOOD POISONING?
Symptoms can happen right after a person eats the food, or not until days or weeks later. Common symptoms of food poisoning include:
Other symptoms can include problems with the nervous system, such as blurry vision or feeling dizzy. But these problems are not as common.
IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO ON MY OWN TO FEEL BETTER?
Yes. You can:
WHEN SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR?
See your doctor if you:
Young children and older adults with symptoms should make sure to see their doctor or nurse. That’s because these groups can get dehydrated more easily.
DO I NEED TO HAVE TESTS?
Many people do not need to have tests. But it’s possible that your doctor will do tests to check if you are dehydrated or to figure out which germ caused your food poisoning. Your doctor might do:
HOW IS FOOD POISONING TREATED?
Many people do not need any treatment, because their symptoms will get better on their own. But some people need:
Doctors do not usually recommend that people take anti-diarrhea medicines. That’s because these medicines can make the symptoms last longer.
CAN FOOD POISONING BE PREVENTED?
You can reduce your chance of getting food poisoning or spreading germs that can cause food poisoning by:
Pregnant women and people whose bodies have trouble fighting off infections can do more things to prevent getting food poisoning. If you are pregnant or have trouble fighting off infections, talk to your doctor about other ways to prevent getting food poisoning.
JAGDEO ADDING MORE DANGER TO GUYANA AND THE REGION
Apr 18, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has been named Wisden’s leading Twenty20 Cricketer for 2023, as she topped all and sundry, including her male counterparts. Alan Gardner looks...Kaieteur News – Compliments of the Ministry of Education, our secondary school children are being treated to a stage... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]