Food poisoning results from ingestion of either food infected by microbes or the toxins present in eatables. With this article, explore the signs & symptoms of food poisoning.

Food Poisoning Symptoms

Food poisoning, as the name suggests, is an illness that results from the consumption of contaminated food. There are basically two types of food poisoning - the first is called food infection and the second one is known as food intoxication. In the former, a person eats food that has been contaminated by the presence of bacteria or other microbes in it and falls sick. The latter case, on the other hand, refers to the ingestion of toxins contained within the food, including the exotoxins produced by bacteria. Infants, children and elderly people are at high risk of food poisoning.
 
Food intoxication can take place irrespective of the fact whether the microbes that produce the toxin are present in the food or not and whether they are able to cause infection or not. Though any infection caused from food, whether due to microbes or toxins, is described singularly as food poisoning, majority of the cases are caused by a variety of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, prions or parasites that contaminate food, rather than chemical or natural toxins. Let us explore information on the signs and symptoms of food poisoning and some remedies for the same.
 
Signs & Symptoms of Food Poisoning 
  • Vomiting, nausea and headache are the initial symptoms of food poisoning.
  • When a person suffers from food poisoning, he/she experiences severe pain in the abdominal region.
  • Diarrhea could be triggered by food intoxication. As a result, the person’s thirst for water and fluids gets intensified.
  • Loss of water from the body is an after effect of food poisoning. This makes the tongue and lips become dry.
  • The person might suffer from chills and high fever due to food poisoning. The fever might last for as long as 24 hours, if left untreated.
  • Damage to the nervous system is a condition triggered due to acute food poisoning.
  • The person suffering from food intoxication might experience cramps.
  • General weakness is reported in every case of food poisoning, mainly because the person either throws up frequently or suffers from diarrhea, which leads to loss of water and cramps as well, making him/her fall sick. 
Remedies for Food Poisoning
  • Limit your diet to clear liquids such as apple juice and soups, when you are suffering from food poisoning.
  • Drink lot of water, as diarrhea causes the loss of water from the body.
  • Complete bed rest for a couple of days, until you feel better, is recommended.
  • Have a glass of lemon water before going to bed.
  • Take a small piece of ginger. Remove its skin, wash it thoroughly and add it to half a glass of fresh buttermilk. Whip the mixture well. Consume the decoction twice or thrice a day. This will provide great relief from stomach cramps and promote smooth bowel movement as well.
  • Grate fresh raw papaya and add it to two glasses of water. Boil the papaya-water mixture for 15-20 minutes. Drain the mixture and drink it two to three times a day.

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