Food poisoning is a common problem for millions of people across the world. This distressing and at time’s life threatening problem is dangerous as some people sometimes infected experience no symptoms so they are unaware of the problem until the organisms have done its damages. And those who have symptoms may experience severe dehydration, intestinal discomfort and diarrhea. There are different types of food borne infection. Some infection can result in death because of food poisoning.
There are over 250 diseases that cause food poisoning. The most common diseases are bacteria related such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, Botulism, E.coli and Listeria. In 2011, Listeria outbreak in the United States claimed 30 lives and hospitalized 146 people. The outbreak is caused by contaminated cantaloupes. Listeria can contaminate not just fresh produce but also unpasteurized dairy, hot dogs and deli meats. As said awhile ago, bacteria are the most common cause of food poisoning so it is best that you are aware what these bacteria are and the food poisoning symptoms you will likely experience when infected.
Food Poisoning Symptoms
Listeria
This food borne bacteria is dangerous. Listeria can live in colder temperature so refrigerating the food won’t kill them. What kills listeria? Heat, the bacteria die when you properly cook your food. Unfortunately, you cannot cook fresh produce like fruits and some dairy products. So, you need to be aware of the food poisoning symptoms so you can get immediate help when infected.
Listeria food poisoning Symptoms include:
- Muscle aches
- Fever
- Upset Stomach
- Diarrhea
- To avoid listeria, always heat hot dogs and avoid eating ready to eat foods and pre-cooked meals past their date of use.
Salmonella
Salmonella is another bacterium that can be passed to humans from wild and domesticated animals, including pets, cattle and poultry. People often infected by salmonella after eating under cooked food or drinking unpasteurized milk. Food prepared with utensils or surfaces contaminated by turkey or chicken can also be tainted with the bacteria.
Salmonella Food Poisoning Symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite for several days
Salmonella hardly ever causes death, unlike listeria. People infected with this bacterial infection can recover completely. For your safety, avoid eating lightly cooked egg especially raw eggs. Separate your poultry food from other foods and make sure the utensils, cutting boards and countertops are clean. In 2009, a salmonella outbreak was linked to foods with peanuts including cookies, granola and peanut butter.
Campylobacter
Campylobacter infection causes acute diarrhea. It is an infection that usually transmitted through ingestion of unpasteurized milk, contaminated water or food or through contact with wild animals or pets with campylobacter. This bacterial infection is posed serious health threat to people with weakened immune system.
Campylobacter Food Poisoning Symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Malaise
- Abdominal cramp or pain
People infected with campylobacter bacteria usually recover without treatment in 2 -5 days. You just need to drink lots of water to keep hydrated. If the infection is severe, doctor usually recommends an antibiotic to shorten the length of the symptoms.
The above are just some of the food poisoning symptoms you need to be aware. On my next post, I’ll talk about some more food poisoning symptoms cause by other bacterial infection, including what you can do to protect yourself.
