Food poisoning Archives - Healthhype

Holiday Medical Hazards and Illnesses, Types and Causes

Dr. Chris — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 00:14:58 +0000

The holiday season may be a time of fun and festivity but there are several medical concerns for health authorities during this period. Some are obvious issues like injuries due to road traffic accidents but others may depend on factors that are not always under a person’s control. Understanding some of these medical hazards and illnesses can be helpful in preventing it. Ultimately it can make the difference between a fun-filled holiday or sitting in the emergency room while the festivities go on without you. Reasons for Holiday Medical Problems There are a number of reasons why the risk of certain medical conditions increases during the holidays. These include: Excessive alcohol consumption and illicit drug abuse Fatigue and insufficient sleep Psychological stress – financial, emotional and other Alterations in dietary habits Missing prescription medication Overexertion – physical strain Driving under the influence and holiday traffic issues Local or international travel While many of these factors can occur at any time of the year, it is more likely to occur during the holiday seasons irrespective of the time of the year. However, there are certain factors that are seasonally dependent such as: Outbreaks of infectious diseases Very high or low environmental [...]

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6 Signs of Food Poisoning, Onset and Duration

Dr. Chris — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 23:32:20 +0000

Food poisoning is an illness that we all experience several times in life, and sometimes a few times within a year. It causes about 8 million illnesses a year in the United States. For most of us, food poisoning is as an acute illness that is not serious and lasts for just a few days. It may not even require medical treatment. However, food poisoning may be responsible for about 9,000 American deaths annually. Contaminated food and water can introduce various infectious agents into the digestive system. Viruses, bacteria and protozoa are the infectious agents that can cause disease once in the digestve tract. Sometimes these agents are not present but the toxins its produced has contaminated the food and water. These toxins can also cause an illness and may even be deadly. Food Poisoning vs Chemical Poisoning The term food poisoning is usually reserved for foodborne illnesses caused by infectious agents (viruses, bacteria, protozoa) and/or their toxins. In strict terms it should include all foodborne illnesses including illnesses caused by food contaminated with toxins or poisons that were not produced by viruses, bacteria or protozoa. However, the latter is often referred to as chemical poisoning or simply poisoning if [...]

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Food Poisoning vs Stomach Flu – Differences, Symptoms, Treatment

Dr. Chris — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 21:07:00 +0000

Stomach and intestinal upsets are common throughout life. It may occur several times in a year and usually resolves on its own with little to no treatment. However, these disturbances can be serious at times. Most people refer to these upsets as food poisoning or the stomach flu with little understanding of these conditions. Being able to differentiate between these conditions can help prevent complications by early treatment where and when necessary. Meaning of Food Poisoning Food poisoning is an illness caused by infectious agents (viruses, bacteria or protozoa) or their toxins which enter the body through consuming contaminated food. Although it specifically refers to a foodborne illness, sometimes these same infections or toxins may enter through contaminated water. However, the term food poisoning is broadly used to refer these conditions that present with the same symptoms. Food poisoning is a form of gastroenteritis – it may be a viral gastroenteritis, bacterial gastroenteritis or protozoal gastroenteritis. While gastroenteritis means inflammation of the stomach and small intestine, the condition can also extend to the colon (colitis). Sometimes inflammation of the small and large intestines (enterocolitis) without significant stomach involvement may also be referred to as food poisoning if it occurs with [...]

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Stomach Turning – Meaning and Causes of Turning Stomach Feeling

Dr. Chris — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 23:21:57 +0000

The sensation of the stomach turning is a common way that many people describe nausea, indigestion or cramps. This may be an acute sensation, which arises suddenly and last only for a short while. However, in some instance a turning stomach sensation can be an ongoing problem for long periods and is associated with various stomach diseases. It is often accompanied by vomiting, changes in appetite, excessive belching or overactive stomach noises (borborygmi). Meaning of Turning Stomach The stomach is one only one part of the digestive tract, or more correctly the gastrointestinal tract (gut). When looking at a symptom like a turning stomach, the stomach should not be the only organ that is considered. The confusion arises with the incorrect reference to the abdomen as the stomach. In fact, nausea, indigestion and cramps may not always arise or even involve the stomach. A turning stomach sensation is not a typical symptom. As with many sensations, the experience is subjective. However, in most cases a stomach turning sensation is intended to describe a feeling in the stomach or abdomen that may occur with motion sickness. Nausea alone does not fully describe this sensation and indigestion can also be vague. Therefore [...]

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Food Poisoning – Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

Jan Modric — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:48:30 +0000

What is food poisoning? Food poisoning is a common acute condition where food or water contaminated with infectious agents causes inflammation of the gut. These infectious agents may be viruses, bacteria, protozoa or their toxins. Unlike with the ‘stomach flu’ (viral gastroenteritis) which is caused by viruses, food poisoning is more commonly caused by bacteria like E.coli, Salmonella and Shigella. Once the bacteria enter the gut it causes inflammation and damage to the wall of the gut. This causes symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or cramps and diarrhea. Food poisoning is acute. It arises suddenly, within minutes to hours after consuming contaminated food or water and resolves within a few days. Medication like antibiotics may be necessary but sometimes supportive measures like bed rest and rehydration will suffice. Causes of Food Poisoning Bacteria that can cause diarrhea in human live in the intestines of healthy or infected people, or animals, like cattle, poultry or pets. Their stool may contaminate drinking or recreational water, soil, vegetables on fields, milk during milking, meat during slaughter, or food prepared with the hands contaminated with stool. Beside that, bacteria arising from the air or food storing surfaces may quickly multiply in a non-cooled food. [...]

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Fish and Shellfish Poisoning – Types, Causes and Symptoms

Dr. Chris — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 22:52:27 +0000

What is fish poisoning? Fish poisoning is any illness caused by toxins consumed in seafood, either fish or shellfish. Some of these toxins may be found in just about any food, be it meat, fruit or vegetables. But seafood may also contain specific toxins that cause illnesses when consumed by humans. This is known as marine toxins. Many of these toxins are heat stable and cannot be destroyed during the cooking process. Therefore it can cause an illness whether the contaminated fish is eaten raw or well cooked. These toxins do not arise from the fish itself but rather from the micro-organisms that accumulate within it. The reason why fish poisoning is often considered separately from other types of food poisoning is that some cases are potentially life threatening. Death can result as quick as 24 hours after eating the contaminated seafood. Even if death does not occur, there are types of fish poisoning that can lead to permanent loss of short term memory and even brain damage. Therefore fish poisoning should not be taken lightly. Contrary to popular belief, fish poisoning does not only occur with poisonous species. Even widely available and commonly eaten fish can cause poisoning if [...]

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8 Food and Water Safety Tips for Home and Travel

Dr. Chris — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 00:28:02 +0000

Many infectious diseases are spread through contaminated food and water. But it is not only contracted in restaurants and from street food vendors. Transmission of viruses, bacteria and its toxins as well as other parasites through food and water can occur in the home just as much as in commercial kitchens. The risk is significantly greater when traveling to countries where the hygiene standards are not the same as most developed countries. However, even in the most developed nation the risk of foodborne and waterborne illnesses are always present although to a significantly lesser degree. So what can you do to ensure that you minimize the chances of feeding your family and yourself contaminated food and water? Just a few simple measures can make a big difference in the home and even prove to be lifesaving when traveling abroad. Always Ensure Clean Drinking Water It is important to ensure that your drinking water is clean. These days you cannot always trust the water from a faucet even if you live in a first world country. Check with your local water authority that the water quality is suitable for human consumption and keep a lookout for notices that the water supply [...]

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Sudden Onset Vomiting and Diarrhea Causes and Dangers

Dr. Chris — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 23:15:26 +0000

We have all experienced food poisoning or the stomach flu at some point in our lives. Symptoms can arise suddenly and be very severe. From nausea that intensifies within minutes to violent bouts of vomiting and explosive diarrhea, these symptoms are not uncommon with food poisoning or the stomach flu. However, not every instance of vomiting and diarrhea that arises suddenly is due to food poisoning of the stomach flu. There are many other possible causes and some of these conditions can be life threatening. It is therefore important that sudden onset vomiting and diarrhea is assessed by a doctor to identify the exact cause. How Vomiting and Diarrhea Start? Vomiting is a forceful mechanism to push out any toxins or irritants from the upper gut. The small muscles in the gut normally contract and relax in a coordinated manner to push food and fluid downwards from the mouth to the bowels. This movement is known as peristalsis and starts from the esophagus the moment we swallow. It is essential for food to be digested, nutrients absorbed and wastes expelled from the bowels. However, when the vomit reflex is trigger this pushing direction reverse. The reverse peristalsis along with increased [...]

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