When Should You Call A Doctor And Prevent Food Poisoning?
In most
cases, food poisoning doesn’t require medical attention. However some do. The
most common problem of food poisoning is dehydration. If you are healthy, you
are unlikely to remain dehydrated. As long as you drink enough fluids to make
up for what you have lost due to vomiting and diarrhea. Below are the symptoms
to know When Should You Call a Doctor and Prevent Food Poisoning?
Contact Your Doctor And Prevent Food Poisoning if You Have Any of the Following Symptoms:
- Vomiting that goes on for over
than 12 hours.
- Diarrhea with fever higher than
101°F (38.3°C).
- Severe belly pain that doesn't go
away after defecation.
- Bloody stool (diarrhea or normal
stool) or vomiting blood.
- Defecation that are black or
maroon.
- A racing or beating heart.
When
Should You Call A Doctor And Prevent Food Poisoning; It's important to
look out for signs of dehydration, which include:
- Extreme thirst
- Poor or absent urine (urination)
- Dizziness
- Sunken eyes
- Weakness or
lightheartedness.
Food
poisoning (especially dehydration) can be more severe for individual with
weakened immunity or health problems. If you have health problems (such as
kidney problems or sickle cell anemia), call the doctor immediately. Pregnant
women should also inform their doctor if they have food poisoning; As some
bacteria can affect the fetus.
How is
food poisoning diagnosed?
Your
doctor will ask you what ate and when the symptoms started. The doctor will
examine you. Collect sample of blood, feces and urine and send it to the
laboratory for analysis. This will enable the doctor identify the cause of the
disease.
How is
food poisoning treated?
Food
poisoning usually progresses and individuals get better on their own. However,
doctors can prescribe antibiotics to treat more severe case of bacterial food
poisoning. Individuals with severe dehydration may require hospital treatment
with intravenous (IV) fluids.
Home care
Food
poisoning usually disappears naturally within a few days. In the meantime, to
help you feel better:
- Get a lot of rest.
- Take liquids (water) to protect
against dehydration. Electrolyte works, but anything except milk or
caffeinated beverages will do.
- Takes little, and frequently sip
liquid (water).
- Avoid solid food and dairy
products until the diarrhea has stopped.
Try not
to take over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medicines. These can make the
symptoms of food poisoning last more. Once diarrhea and vomiting have stopped,
take a low-fat meal for a couple of days. To prevent further stomach upset.
Call your
doctor if the symptoms become severe or if you see signs of dehydration.
How Can You Prevent Food Poisoning?
Follow
these tips to protect you and your family from food poisoning:
- Teach everyone in your family to
wash their hands thoroughly and frequently. Especially after utilizing the
bathroom. Before touching food and after touching raw food. Use soap and
warm water for at least 15 seconds.
- Clean all utensils, cutting
sheets, and surfaces that you use to prepare food with hot, soapy
water.
- Do not serve unpasteurized milk or
foods containing unpasteurized milk.
- Wash all raw fruit and vegetables
that cannot be peeled.
- Keep raw foods (especially meat,
chicken, seafood) away from other foods until cooked.
- All foods of animal origin should
be cooked at safe temperatures. For minced and pork meat, this means a
minimum of 160 ° F (71 ° C). For firm cuts of meat, the safety temperature
is 63 ° C (145 ° F). For chicken and turkey (minced and whole) at least 74
° C (165 ° F). Cook the eggs until the yolk hardens. Fish are generally
safe to reach 63 ° C (145 ° F).
We Can
Also Prevent Food Poisoning Via
- Store leftovers in the
refrigerator, preferably in a closed container with a lid for rapid
cooling.
- Thaw food in the refrigerator,
microwave and cold water. Do not defrost food at room temperature.
- If the food has expired or has a
strange taste or smell, discard it.
- If you're pregnant, maintain a
distance from all raw or half-cooked meat or fish, smoked fish. Raw
eggs and items that may contain raw eggs. Soft cheeses, unpasteurized
milk.
- Do not drink water from streams or
untreated wells.
- If your family has food poisoning,
contact your local health department. Local authorities have been unable
to find the cause and stop the epidemic that could affect other people.
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