5 common food poisonings

Specialists of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) point out that the food poisoning occurs when what is swallowed (food or liquid) is contaminated with a certain type of bacteria , parasites , virus or toxins . When they come into contact with the organism, they cause poisoning .

The Institute recommends going immediately to the doctor if presenting, sickness , abdominal pain , vomiting , diarrhea , fever , headache Y fatigue to receive the appropriate treatment for the amount and type of harmful substances ingested. What we should not do is resort to self-medication , to home remedies or to "he'll get over it".

In many cases, we are responsible for suffering poisoning and we can prevent it by not eating in the street stalls of doubtful hygiene , nor ingesting elaborated liquids without the minimum measures of cleaning , among other actions. Between the food poisoning Most common stand out:

1. Botulism (Clostridium botulinum)

A can of food hit, punctured or swollen can be the difference between life and death. The botulism is a disease rare and severe, caused by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, that can enter the body through wounds or live in badly canned or poorly preserved foods.

If a can of food is hit, the coating is exposed to the rust of the can and, depending on the time it is consumed after the blow, there is a risk of acquiring botulism, if not treated in time it can be fatal. It is characterized by the presence of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, difficulty breathing and double vision.

The infant botulism occurs when bacteria live or their spores are ingested and grow inside the baby's gastrointestinal tract. Its most common cause is the ingestion of honey or corn syrup, and timely treatment significantly reduces the risks of death.

2. Bacterial gastroenteritis

In the heat season, food and beverages decompose faster, which can cause bacterial gastroenteritis . This and the diarrheic pictures are the second cause of emergency consultation in the IMSS.

It is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by different types of bacteria as salmonella , shigella , E. coli or staphylococcus , among other.

The bacterial gastroenteritis It can affect an individual or a group of people who consumed the same infected food, especially in outdoor meetings, self-service restaurants, in schools, or large social events. The poisoning It often happens by eating or drinking:

  1. Dairy products or foods containing mayonnaise that have been left out of the refrigerator for a long time.
  2. Frozen or refrigerated foods that are not stored at the proper temperature or that do not adequately reheat.
  3. Fish or raw oysters; raw fruits or vegetables that have not been washed well, raw vegetable or fruit juices and dairy products; poorly cooked meats or eggs and water from a well that has not been treated.

The symptoms depend on the type of bacterium what caused the disease and they consist of diarrhea , pain Y abdominal cramps , stool with blood , lack of appetite , sickness Y vomiting .

3. Fish poisoning

Shellfish poisoning is caused by toxins of organisms similar to seaweed called dinoflagellates , which accumulate in some types of seafood.

The Ciguatera poisoning occurs normally with large fish from warm tropical waters, such as sea perch, grouper and red bucket.

Also the conditions of many means of transport that carry fish to different markets can contribute to anyone eating fish from contaminated waters.

The scombroid poisoning it usually occurs in dark meat fish such as tuna, mackerel, mahi mahi and bonito. Since this toxin develops after the fish is caught and dies, the place where it was actually caught does not matter. The main factor is how long the fish stayed outdoors without being refrigerated or frozen.

4. Seafood poisoning : Among the most common are the paralytic intoxication , the neurotoxic intoxication and the amnesic poisoning .

The main factor is how long the fish stayed outdoors without being refrigerated or frozen. Remember that of "Never eat seafood in the months that do not have the letter R", because they are closed months in many places, as well as an increase in the temperature that affects the species.

Paralytic intoxication for seafood: Appears approximately 30 minutes after consuming contaminated seafood; There may be numbness or tingling in the mouth, a sensation that can spread to the arms and legs.

Neurotoxic poisoning for seafood: After eating clams or mussels, they can be presented sickness , vomiting Y diarrhea . These symptoms are quickly followed by strange sensations, such as numbness or tingle in the mouth, headache , dizziness , as well as variability of hot and cold temperatures.

Amnestic poisoning for seafood: It is a strange and unusual form of poisoning that begins with sickness , vomiting Y diarrhea , followed by a loss of memory for a short period, like other less frequent neurological symptoms.

5. Salmonella

Eating on the street is the main cause of salmonellosis , a infection caused by the salmonella bacteria . Even though some people do not show symptoms of salmonellosis , most experience diarrhea , abdominal pain Y fever between 8 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated food. Additional symptoms may include chills, headache, nausea and vomiting.

The bacterium can be introduced into the food in different ways, for example, if the meat or poultry comes into contact with the bacteria of the intestines of an animal that is being processed, or if the water used during cultivation or shipment may contain fecal matter or human waste, as well as improper handling or preparation of food.

Be careful with what you eat and where you eat it!


Video Medicine: 5 Common Food That Can Cause Sudden Death (March 2024).