Beware food poisoning could mess up your Xmas
Dec 21, 2004
IT is that time of the year when we are resting from school and work and partying and feasting. But just after a heavy meal with family and friends, then food poisoning messes up your day.
By Paul Semugoma
IT is that time of the year when we are resting from school and work and partying and feasting. But just after a heavy meal with family and friends, then food poisoning messes up your day.
What causes food poisoning?
This mainly happens when you eat a variety of dishes you rarely eat, and at different places like; at home, village, parties or restaurants. The food poison agents are germs, bacteria, viruses and plant poisons. They find their way into our food and water.
Symptoms
These may start immediately after a meal or hours later depending on how long the bacteria multiplies in our stomachs to produce their toxins.
The stomach will grumble repeatedly, forcing you to visit the toilet repeatedly.
Vomiting may also occur. This can be so intense that you may feel as though your intestines are coming out.
Stomach cramps, fever, severe pains, bloody stool and collapsing, dizziness are other symptoms, which may see you spending your Christmas evening in the loo or bedridden. The symptoms last for one to two days. In severe conditions, death may occur.
What to do
Do not eat solid food, till you have stopped vomiting.
Clear fluids are important, they keep your body hydrated.
A mild painkiller like paracetamol (panadol) can be great.
Do not stop the vomiting or diarrhoea with drugs. The body is trying to throw out a poison. The drugs trap the poison inside, prolonging the problem.
More severe symptoms need medical attention. Dehydration (the loss of fluid from the body) is the main problem. In this situation, you may be hospitalised and put on drip.
Prevention
Things to avoid
Raw foods. Cooking kills germs, making food safe. Raw eggs, uncooked milk, etc are a danger. It is safer to eat fruits after taking off the peal and for vegetables, by thoroughly washing them.
Undercooked food like meat and roasted pork because it contains germs.
Eating cold food. Cooling food in bad storage gives germs a chance to multiply .
Unboiled water. It can carry germs. Drinking water should always be boiled and cooled under good storage before drinking.
Canned foods: Be ware of the expiry date before opening.
‘Exotic’ foods like mushrooms and sea fish.
Have a great, (food poison-free) Christmas.
IT is that time of the year when we are resting from school and work and partying and feasting. But just after a heavy meal with family and friends, then food poisoning messes up your day.
What causes food poisoning?
This mainly happens when you eat a variety of dishes you rarely eat, and at different places like; at home, village, parties or restaurants. The food poison agents are germs, bacteria, viruses and plant poisons. They find their way into our food and water.
Symptoms
These may start immediately after a meal or hours later depending on how long the bacteria multiplies in our stomachs to produce their toxins.
The stomach will grumble repeatedly, forcing you to visit the toilet repeatedly.
Vomiting may also occur. This can be so intense that you may feel as though your intestines are coming out.
Stomach cramps, fever, severe pains, bloody stool and collapsing, dizziness are other symptoms, which may see you spending your Christmas evening in the loo or bedridden. The symptoms last for one to two days. In severe conditions, death may occur.
What to do
More severe symptoms need medical attention. Dehydration (the loss of fluid from the body) is the main problem. In this situation, you may be hospitalised and put on drip.
Prevention
Things to avoid
Have a great, (food poison-free) Christmas.