A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W

FOOD POISONING

What is Food Poisoning ?

This illness is caused by eating food which is infected or contaminated with harmful germs such as bacteria or viruses. Food poisoning has increased over the past few years in the UK. This increase may be due to several factors. More cases are being reported, and there are changes in our eating habits and food preparation and new types of bacteria. The illness usually starts within an hour or up to about 48 hours after eating infected food. This depends on the type of bacteria or bacterial toxin (or poison) swallowed with the food. The symptoms are diarrhoea (passing of liquid stools several times a day), abdominal pain and maybe vomiting. Fever may or may not occur. The illness usually lasts from 1 to 3 days with the patient recovering completely. In salmonella infections the illness may last for a week or more. Some people may have caught the disease abroad. The type of germ that caused the illness may be known by examining a stool sample in the laboratory. There are many sources of food poisoning. Poultry, for example, may already be contaminated with harmful bacteria when bought. If eaten without being thoroughly cooked, this may cause illness. The bacteria commonly found in infected poultry are Salmonella and Campylobacter . These two bacteria are the commonest causes of food-related illness in the UK. Food may also be contaminated with harmful bacteria by an infected person while preparing food (e.g. someone with an infected wound on his hand). Certain soft cheeses may be contaminated with a germ called listeria, but this is rare. Food poisoning may affect one person, a family or a large number of people. Most people don't even bother to tell the doctor about it. Investigating food poisoning outbreaks may lead to finding one common food source eaten in the same place by those affected. The time taken between eating the food and becoming ill, the symptoms suffered and the type of food eaten may give clues to help find the cause.

How does Food Poisoning occur ?

Cooked food which has been stored and even chilled allows bacteria to remain alive and multiply. Some germs are particularly found in certain foods (e.g. salmonella in chicken). If food is not properly cooled or reheated, the germs stay alive. Harmful bacteria in such infected food cause inflammation of the gut when swallowed. This will cause you to feel sick and have diarrhoea. How severe and how long the illness lasts depends on the amount and type of germ in the infected food.

Why does Food Poisoning occur ?

Anyone eating contaminated food may suffer from the illness. However, the very young and the elderly may be affected more severely.

Treatment Involved for Food Poisoning

The treatment which you will need depends on your age, the severity of the illness and any other medical conditions that may be present. Most people are only mildly affected and get better within a few days. It is best not to eat for 24 hours. Drinking plenty of fluids to replace the lost fluids caused by diarrhoea is important. Sometimes, it can be useful to use an oral re-hydration solution (dioralyte or rehidrat) available from chemists without a prescription. This helps to replace the minerals lost in diarrhoea. If the vomiting and diarrhoea are very severe, especially in babies or the elderly, the doctor may send you to hospital for treatment. Antibiotics are not normally used. Previously healthy people have good enough built-in defences against infections to deal with food poisoning. Anti-diarrhoea medicines are also not usually required: they can actually prolong the illness by stopping the germs from being washed away.

During Treatment for Food Poisoning

The condition should settle within a few days. Thorough handwashing and personal hygiene are important to prevent the spread of the infection to others. If the diarrhoea and vomiting does not stop, consult your doctor.

After Treatment for Food Poisoning

Once the condition has settled, it is sensible not to return immediately to a normal diet. It is best to avoid fried and fatty foods. Clear soups, boiled potatoes and rice or fish are safe. To reduce the risk of further food poisoning, precautions should be taken at home for the storage and preparation of food. For example, thorough cooking of food will usually kill all harmful bacteria. Keeping the time between cooking and eating to a minimum is good practice. Raw meat should not come into contact with cooked meat and vegetables. Checking that the refrigerator temperature is between 1 and 4 C is also important.

If Food Poisoning is Left Untreated

Many people with food poisoning get better without seeking help. Nevertheless, it is important that you seek help if the symptoms are severe. There is a risk of losing too much fluid (dehydration). This can have serious effects, particularly in babies or in the elderly, who may have other illnesses such as kidney or heart disease.

Effects on Family of Food Poisoning

Thorough hand washing and personal hygiene is important to prevent the spread of infection to others. Generally, once your bowel motions have returned to their normal pattern, you are unlikely to spread the illness to others.