Food Poisoning
What Causes Food Poisoning?
Many different disease-causing germs can contaminate foods, so there are many different
foodborne infections. Most infections are caused by a variety of bacteria, viruses,
and parasites. Harmful toxins and chemicals also can contaminate foods and cause foodborne
illness.
Symptoms of Food Poisoning:
Food poisoning symptoms may range from mild to severe and may differ depending on
the germ you swallowed. The most common symptoms of food poisoning include:
- Upset stomach
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
After you consume a contaminated food or drink, it may take hours or days before you develop symptoms. Most people have only mild illnesses, lasting a few hours to several days. However, some develop severe illness requiring hospitalization, and some illnesses result in long-term health problems or even death. Infections transmitted by food can result in chronic arthritis, brain and nerve damage, and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which causes kidney failure.
Symptoms may differ among the different types of foodborne diseases. Symptoms can sometimes be severe and some foodborne illnesses can even be life-threatening. Although anyone can get a foodborne illness, some people are more likely to develop one. Those groups include:
- Young Children
- Older adults
- Pregnant women
- People with immune systems weakened from medical conditions, such as diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, organ transplants, HIV/AIDS, or from receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
Most people with a foodborne illness get better without medical treatment, but people with severe symptoms should see their doctor.
Prevention:
