Food poisoning symptoms and signs. Food poisoning in an adult: symptoms and treatment. Symptoms and signs of poisoning

Such a disorder can occur in absolutely any person, since food poisoning is the most common disease. There are several specific symptoms of this disease. They manifest themselves in the form of diarrhea, vomiting, fever, dehydration. An important role in the course of such a violation is played by the level of immunity. So, in some it can manifest itself to a slight extent, while in others it can be acute.

Symptoms of poisoning can appear both a few hours after eating stale food, and occur the next day. Eating disorders are divided into several types, the most common among them is bacterial, a little less common is non-bacterial. For diagnosis, it is necessary to find out what caused the appearance of such a disorder, and the type of microorganism that affected it (through the study of vomit and feces, urine and blood). Treatment consists of immediate gastric lavage and a cleansing enema. Treatment and prevention of food poisoning can be carried out at home, but only after the patient has been examined by a specialist.

Etiology

There are quite a few factors for the occurrence of poisoning, but the most common among them is eating low-quality foods that are enriched with toxic substances or bacteria that negatively affect the digestive tract. The main causative agents of this disorder are:

inedible types of mushrooms and berries, or those that were collected in an unintended place, for example, near factories that make chemical emissions or not far from highways;
microbes found in food. Poisoning can be caused by salmonella, and various viruses.

In addition, the highest risk group, where microorganisms can appear and multiply, are the following products:

dairy and sour milk - their expiration date is the fastest compared to other food products. This is the main factor causing food poisoning in a child;
eggs, especially in raw form;
various types of meat;
unripe fruits and vegetables;
fish, in particular those dishes that include it without prior heat treatment;
sweet bakery or confectionery products containing cream;
home-made canned food and pickles;
products whose vacuum packaging has been violated, as well as the shelf life has expired;
perishable food stored without a refrigerator;
improper storage and use of products in educational institutions, as well as in canteens in production.

Varieties

Classification of food poisoning according to the factor of their occurrence:

microbial - caused by various microorganisms that multiply in food, and the toxins they release;
non-microbial - manifested through human contact with products that are inedible by nature, among them - plants, berries or mushrooms, animal tissues or animal products, for example, milk or fish caviar, which can be poisonous under certain conditions;
mixed;
unidentified in origin - often these include poisoning with metals or chemical elements.

Classification of food poisoning depending on the degree of leakage this disorder and intensity of expression of symptoms:

asymptomatic- this stage lasts from the initial entry of the toxin into the body until the first signs appear. This period may vary from person to person, as it depends on the amount of stale food ingested, general immune status, and age group. It is important to start treatment, especially in a child, precisely at this stage, when the toxic substance has not spread throughout the body along with the bloodstream. First aid at home consists of gastric lavage and taking sorbent medications;
toxigenic- characterized by the appearance of acute symptoms in a child, since in a small organism the pathogenic process proceeds much faster. In adults, they appear with less intensity. Signs include bouts of vomiting, fever, and aversion to food. At this stage, it is necessary to rinse the stomach, make a cleansing enema, and then produce forced diuresis - in which a lot of fluid is introduced into the body and diuretics are given;
convalescence- during which the disturbed functions of the body are restored. During this period, it is necessary to adhere to a diet at home and correct mode nutrition.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of food poisoning in children appear after a few hours, and in an adult this period of time can be from ten to twenty-four hours. Symptoms of this eating disorder include:

headaches, gradually increasing;
increased salivation;
severe sweating;
weakness and malaise;
severe dizziness;
dry mouth;
bloating;
urination disorders;
an increase in body temperature, in rare cases it rises to 39 degrees. Fever and hallucinations can only occur with mushroom poisoning;
muscle pain and weakness;
lowering blood pressure;
decreased or complete lack of appetite;
soreness in the lower abdomen (can manifest itself in the form of contractions);
sudden diarrhea;
change in skin tone from pale to cyanotic;
a decrease in the work of the heart and kidneys is expressed with food poisoning in a child.

The above signs of poisoning are most dangerous for a child, especially for infants under one year old, since some of them can become a significant threat to his life. It is recommended that when the first symptoms appear, immediately call an ambulance, since at home it is impossible to provide first aid to babies due to the fact that the child cannot take a lot of liquid and activated charcoal tablets.

Food poisoning during pregnancy is practically no different from the manifestation of this disorder in other female representatives. The only difference is that a more intense manifestation of signs of food poisoning is possible, which is caused by the presence, which brings more discomfort to the woman carrying the child. If timely treatment is started during such a period, it is possible to avoid the appearance of blood clots (may be caused by blood clotting), as well as a strong uterine contraction caused by dehydration. But in most cases, such an ailment does not harm the health of the pregnant woman and the fetus. During pregnancy, you can not carry out self-treatment at home with the help of folk remedies. Be sure to follow a sparing diet.

If the following symptoms of food poisoning appear in an adult or child, you should immediately contact a specialist:

admixture of blood in vomit and feces;
an increase in body temperature up to forty degrees;
convulsions;
disorders of the central nervous system;
slow heart rate;
labored breathing;
swelling of the face or limbs;
severe weakness of the muscles, in which the patient cannot hold any object, and the child - the head in an upright position.

These signs can lead to a coma.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of food poisoning is to determine the factors of its occurrence. To do this, you need to:

a blood test to detect bacteria;
the study of feces, urine and vomit - is carried out to isolate the pathogen;
examination of contaminated food.

After that, additional consultations with such specialists as a neurologist, gastroenterologist, surgeon will be needed. If the patient is a child, similar specialists in the pediatric field. Such doctors can make a differential diagnosis of this disorder with diseases such as:

spicy ;
- acute or chronic form;
– inflammatory process in gallbladder;
- inflammation of the pancreas;
- an infection affecting the lining of the brain.

After the attending physician receives all the test results, he will determine what to do with food poisoning and prescribe the most effective treatment tactics.

Treatment

Before the arrival of the ambulance, it is necessary to provide the patient with first aid for food poisoning, which consists of:

gastric lavage with a saline or weak solution of potassium permanganate. This should be carried out until the water becomes clean, without food impurities;
taking activated charcoal or other absorbent medications;
drinking cool purified water or warm sweet tea - in order to prevent dehydration;
providing rest to the patient;
refusal of any food.

Such methods can be applied during food poisoning during pregnancy and other adults. If such a disorder has appeared in a child, especially in babies less than a year old, it is necessary to wait for the arrival of doctors. After arriving at a medical facility, the patient is given additional treatment measures to eliminate toxic substances, infections and disorders of the nervous system. With timely treatment of this disease, it passes without consequences for the body for seven days.

In addition, an important role in the treatment of food poisoning is played by a specially formulated sparing diet, which provides for the rejection of dishes high in fat and carbohydrates, hot spices and sauces, as well as foods that have a chemical effect on the digestive tract. During the diet, you can eat in any quantities:

first courses cooked in low-fat broths;
boiled meat and fish, but not fatty varieties;
buckwheat, rice and oatmeal;
mashed potatoes;
kissels, compotes and weak teas;
cottage cheese;
eggs - can only be eaten boiled or as an omelette;
white bread crumbs.

The diet provides for the rejection of:

bakery and confectionery;
milk and hard cheeses;
legumes;
sweets;
fatty meats and fish;
dishes prepared with a high content of table salt and vegetable oil;
smoked meats;
sweet carbonated drinks and concentrated juices;
homemade pickles and canned food.

During the diet, you need to follow the rules of eating:

monitor the calorie content of meals. You can eat no more than two thousand kilocalories per day;
the diet should consist of six meals throughout the day;
food can only be steamed or in the oven, without adding oil;
drink at least two liters of fluid per day.

It is important to remember that without dieting drug treatment will have less effect.

In addition, at home, you can use folk remedies treatment, consisting of decoctions and infusions based on:

honey and dill;
roots of marshmallow and mountain ash;
wild rose;
lemon juice;
rice and flax seeds.

But you can use such therapies at home only after a doctor's prescription.

Prevention

To prevent food poisoning, you must:

before eating, do not forget to wash your hands, vegetables and fruits;
adhere to the rules of processing and storage of products. Always, with the help of their receptors, check their freshness;
drink only purified water;
do not eat dishes consisting of products of unknown origin;
clean food in the refrigerator in a timely manner;
at the first manifestation of symptoms of food poisoning, consult a doctor, and the child - call an ambulance.

Poisoning low-quality is quite simple. The streets of big cities are full of enticing fast food cafeterias, stalls with pies, grilled chicken, shawarma. Bulletin boards in the elevators of some buildings are decorated with leaflets with bright photos of fast food and phone numbers where you can order all this. It's hard not to be tempted to buy something ready-made instead of standing by the stove all evening. Meanwhile, it is easiest to get poisoned by such food.

Food poisoning is most often caused by microorganisms found in food. That is, food can be contaminated with bacteria (for example, streptococci, staphylococci, E. coli, botulism bacteria, etc.), viruses (enteroviruses), fungi. In the course of their life activity, pathogenic microorganisms secrete toxins, which poison our body.

The rate of onset of symptoms and their severity depends on which microorganism caused the intoxication. In some cases, a person becomes unwell after 2-5 hours, in others, signs of poisoning appear after 12 hours.

Symptoms:

Nausea and vomiting;
Diarrhea (with frequent urging);
Stomach ache;
Fever (37-38 °C);
Weakness, low blood pressure, rapid pulse.

With intoxication caused by botulism bacteria, weakness is observed in all muscles, speech, vision and swallowing are disturbed, dry mouth and vomiting appear. A feature of botulism is muscle paralysis (starts from above).

In especially severe cases, there is loss of consciousness.

What to do:

Call an ambulance if:
1. A child, a pregnant woman, an elderly person, or a patient with a chronic illness has been poisoned ( diabetes, hepatitis, cirrhosis, oncology, AIDS, etc.).
2. Stool with blood in it.
3. Gastric lavage and other measures did not improve the condition.
4. Diarrhea and vomiting do not stop for 2 days.
5. Severe symptoms with loss of consciousness and signs of botulism, suspected mushroom poisoning.
Find out what poisoned the person: chemical(medicine), mushrooms or poor quality product. Botulism bacteria are most commonly found in home canned foods. Sometimes it helps to find out the cause of the poisoning by remembering the victim of the product that he consumed (the mere presentation of this product causes nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or diarrhea)
Carry out gastric lavage. It is necessary to give the patient at least 1 liter of water, preferably 1.5. Induce vomiting in a "restaurant way" (press on the root of the tongue). Do not delay in inducing vomiting between drinking water, because. if it is absorbed, the patient will become worse. It is necessary to wash the stomach until the vomit becomes absolutely clean (with one water).
If the victim is unconscious, gastric lavage cannot be performed independently, this will be done by an ambulance worker using a probe. Before the arrival of the brigade, it is necessary to turn the patient on one side so that he does not choke on vomiting.
Instead of water, you can use a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate. This substance has an antiseptic effect. Preparation rules: monitor the color of the solution - it should be strictly slightly pink. With insufficient dissolution or excessive concentration of the solution, a severe burn of the gastric mucosa can occur. It is safer to dilute potassium permanganate well in a glass, then pour 3/4 into a 2 liter jar of water (watch out for color!).
Give the patient an adsorbent. Most often, coal is taken for this (up to 20 g, washed down with half a glass of water).
Restore the water-salt balance. To do this, you need to give the patient to drink a little, but often: non-carbonated mineral water or a special drug from a pharmacy (for example, rehydron). You need to drink at least 2 liters of fluid per day.
In case of food poisoning, in no case should you use the anti-diarrheal drug imodium (loperamide). It can lead to the absorption of toxins into the blood and serious consequences.

To avoid the consequences of eating poor-quality food, you must:

Avoid ready-to-eat foods (especially for suspicious individuals in unverified places), do not look at tempting fast food signs. Memories of time spent in the bathroom after being poisoned helps build an "immunity" against buying prepared foods from such places.
Check expiration dates appearance and smell of the product before consumption.
Meat, fish, eggs and other products must be subjected to prolonged heat treatment.
Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.

food poisoning- one of the most common types of intoxication of the body. Every year, about two million deaths are recorded in the world for this reason. Therefore, everyone needs to know what signs are observed when food is poisoned, and how to provide first aid.

Food poisoning refers to conditions resulting from the consumption of spoiled or toxic food. Intoxication is caused by pathogenic microorganisms or the action of a toxic compound that enters the body with food.

Features of food poisoning

Food poisoning always manifests itself quickly, the symptoms are growing rapidly. Depending on the type of toxin and its volume depends on the intensity and speed of symptoms. It also matters whether an adult or a child has been poisoned.

On average, such intoxications appear in the period from half an hour to three or four hours.

A feature of food poisoning is always a clearly identified relationship between the use of any product and the development of a disease state. If the whole family is poisoned by soup, then signs of poisoning by this food will appear in everyone without exception. In addition, food intoxications are characterized by the fact that they are not contagious, even if they are caused by infectious agents.

Types of food poisoning

Depending on the type of toxin, poisoning is divided into infectious and non-infectious. Toxic infections are caused by various types of pathogenic microflora, the most dangerous of which are botulism and staphylococcus aureus.

Quite often there are intoxications provoked by mold fungi. Toxoinfection is the result of the action not only of the microorganisms themselves, but also of their waste products.

Non-infectious poisonings occur as a result of eating naturally poisonous species plants, fish and animals (such as fugu or fly agaric) or spoiled products that become toxic if stored improperly or expired.

In addition, the cause of intoxication can be food that has been contaminated with poisons due to a violation of the cultivation, production or packaging technology. Poisoning with fatty foods is also possible, observed with excessive consumption of fats, especially animals, and simple carbohydrates.

First manifestations

Symptoms of any food poisoning appear fairly quickly. Since the penetration of the poisoned product occurs through the organs of the digestive tract, it is the first to react to intoxication. The first manifestations of food intoxication are vomiting, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea.

If poisoning with fatty foods has occurred, then there will be symptoms such as increased gas formation, a feeling of severe heaviness in the abdomen.

When toxic substances begin to penetrate into the bloodstream through the walls of the stomach, general malaise, lethargy, and fever appear. There may be pain and aches in the muscles and joints, fever. In acute intoxications, accompanied by profuse vomiting, large losses of water are always noted.

If they are not replenished, the body is threatened with dehydration, which is the main cause of death. If a small child has been poisoned, who cannot communicate in words about his condition, then it is necessary to carefully monitor him. Dehydration is manifested by excessive dryness of the mucous membranes, intense thirst, lack of urination, shortness of breath, and rapid heartbeat.

Most cases of food intoxication can be cured on their own, without the involvement of doctors, and pass within a few days.

If profuse vomiting and diarrhea do not stop for a day or more, a high temperature resistant to medicines persists, it is necessary to seek qualified medical help.

Signs of severe poisoning

With severe intoxication, all the same manifestations are observed, but they are of greater intensity, appear sharply and very quickly. If a strong toxic compound has entered the body or a person has consumed a large amount of toxin, there are signs of damage to the nervous system.

These are various disorders of the visual apparatus, muscle spasms, the inability to control the muscles, and impaired coordination of movements. In severe cases, there may be incoherent speech, a meaningless look, hallucinations, loss of consciousness.

Such manifestations are characteristic of intoxication with plant or animal natural toxins that have a pronounced neurological effect.

Some severe food poisonings present with symptoms allergic reactions: skin irritation, severe itching, excessive swelling. Serious intoxications affect the functioning of the liver.

Sufficiently strong toxins that it cannot neutralize can lead to a decrease or complete loss of liver function. This threatens the patient with death. When the first "liver" symptoms appear, you should seek medical help.

First aid

In any food poisoning situation, immediate care is often crucial. The earlier measures are taken to eliminate intoxication, the more effective the treatment will be. If you become infected with toxoinfection through the use of low-quality food, you should definitely consult a doctor. Most often this occurs as a result of the use of canned food prepared at home.

At the first manifestations of food intoxication, residual toxins that have not been absorbed into the blood should be eliminated from the digestive tract.

To do this, you need to do a gastric lavage. For this purpose, the poisoned person is given a drink. a large number of salted water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Vomiting should occur until clear water is expelled from the stomach.

To prevent dehydration, it is necessary to maintain water balance. After each vomiting and diarrhea, it is necessary to replenish the losses by drinking a glass of water. It is also recommended to take special products, for example, Regidron powder, water-salt solutions prepared independently. This helps not only prevent dehydration, but also restore electrolyte balance.

After the poisoned person stops vomiting, it is necessary to take measures to eliminate the poisons that have passed through gastrointestinal tract Further.

For this, sorbents are used, the most commonly used of which is Activated carbon. Sorbent substances act like a sponge, collecting poisons on their way and removing them naturally. Doctors recommend drinking in this capacity drugs such as Polysorb, Smecta, Enterosgel.

If the symptoms of intoxication do not go away for a long time or the person is in a serious condition, you should immediately consult a doctor. It is best to do this even with mild poisoning, as even these can have serious consequences.

If among the poisoned there are children, elderly people or pregnant women, then a visit to the doctor is mandatory. It is also necessary when blood impurities are observed in vomiting or the contents of the toilet, a person has a critical temperature for a long time, there is fever, confusion, signs of brain damage.

Prevention

Food poisoning prevention measures include:

buying products only at trusted outlets, refusing to purchase goods "from hand", especially home preservation;
careful choice of products: checking expiration dates, integrity, tightness of packaging, organoleptic properties (color, smell, consistency);
thorough washing of vegetables, herbs, fruits before use;
sufficient heat treatment, especially meat and fish products;
defrosting food only in the refrigerator (not with room temperature) and immediately before cooking;
compliance with the conditions for storing cooked food at home;
compliance with sanitary standards: thorough washing of cutting boards, knives, dishes using disinfectants;
control of pathogens and pests infectious diseases, persecution of rats, cockroaches, ants, keeping the house clean.

20.10.2018

Food poisoning can occur if you eat low-quality foods or liquids in which microbes or toxins have multiplied. After a while, vomiting, nausea and liquid stool. The patient's condition depends on the amount of the product used, and its suitability.

Types of food poisoning are divided into: toxic and infectious. In case of toxic poisoning, infection occurs when chemicals, heavy metals, poisonous fungi and plants enter the human body. Infectious poisoning is very common, it is caused by various viruses and microbes, infection occurs through food: water, eggs, meat, poorly washed vegetables and fruits, dairy products, preservatives.

Indigestion can occur even through dirty hands.

At home, it is impossible to determine the exact outbreak of the disease, the patient only assumes why the poisoning occurred. People are prone to food poisoning weak immunity and small children, therefore, with great responsibility they monitor the food for the child and try to give only fresh food, thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits.

Causes of poisoning

Food poisoning can occur:

Often there is food poisoning from confectionery, especially spoiled cream; dairy products; long-stored salads with mayonnaise or sour cream; canned food home cooking; mushrooms; seafood; fruits and vegetables treated with pesticides.

Signs of food poisoning

In case of poisoning, the symptoms begin within half an hour and continue to be expressed in an enhanced mode in the first two days. The phenomenon is dangerous for others, a group outbreak of the disease may occur in a team or family. If the symptoms of poisoning do not go away after a day, you need to seek help.

Symptoms of food poisoning include:

the temperature rises sharply;
lethargy and poor appetite;
dizziness, flies before the eyes;
bloating and pain in the abdomen;
nausea and vomiting;
fever or chills;
low pressure;
frequent loose stools;
in severe cases - coma.

It should be noted that with mild poisoning, diarrhea may not be. But if loose stools appear on the first day, then this is food poisoning, and if after a few days - a bacterial intestinal infection. Usually such symptoms accompany diseases such as: dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever.

With severe poisoning, dehydration of the body occurs, symptoms such as lethargy and weakness, dry mouth, dizziness and loose stools appear, sometimes the temperature may rise. Do not let the disease take its course, complications may occur due to improper assistance. With timely and proper treatment, improvement may occur on the second day, the main thing is to take appropriate measures in a timely manner.

Symptoms of severe poisoning

In confectionery products, staphylococcus is most often present, the infection does not affect the taste and color of food in any way, but after an hour the following signs of poisoning may occur: nausea, vomiting, headache, loose stools, loss of consciousness. In case of fish poisoning, the following symptoms occur within half an hour: abdominal pain, gag reflex, impaired movement, shortness of breath.

In case of poisoning with dairy products, especially in summer, intoxication occurs within 30 minutes. Its first signs: colic, cramps and pain in the stomach, loose stools.

The most dangerous disease, meat poisoning, if medical assistance is not provided in a timely manner, a person can die. Symptoms: fever, chills, gag reflex, loose stools, respiratory failure, tachycardia. A high temperature may appear, in which case it is necessary to give antipyretic drugs.

Mushroom poisoning is the most common and severe, intoxication occurs from 20 minutes to 2 hours. Signs: muscle pain, vomiting, loose stools with blood, worsening breathing, lethargy, lowering blood pressure, delusional state.

Alcohol poisoning occurs immediately, and have the following symptoms: vomiting, incoherent speech, weakness, cold sweat, fever or chills, loss of consciousness.

Poisoning with food additives is very common, symptoms may appear immediately or after a while - a rash, itching, swelling of the face or hands, feet; abdominal pain, diarrhea.

Canned food poisoning has severe consequences and symptoms include: headache, pain, dry mouth, thirst, fever, vomiting, and loose stools.

When to see a doctor immediately:

Mushroom poisoning;
If, after eating, weakness occurs, the temperature rises, speech is disturbed, shortness of breath appears, the absence of a long time of urine;
Bloody diarrhea for more than a day;
A child under 3 years old or a baby has been poisoned;
Signs of poisoning appeared in a pregnant woman;
Poisoned by a person with cancer or HIV;
Symptoms have occurred in several adults or children;
There were signs of dehydration: dry lips, no urine, crying without tears;
Sharply turned yellow eyes and skin;
Swelling of the joints and rash all over the body.

First aid for intoxication

For minor poisoning, help can be provided at home, and for severe symptoms in without fail an ambulance should be called. Particular attention should be paid to pregnant women and young children in case of intoxication, you should not self-medicate, it is better to show the doctor so as not to harm even more.

First of all, you need to rinse the stomach, that is, remove toxins and microbes. To do this, give water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate to drink, so that repeated vomiting occurs. Do a cleansing enema. This technique is suitable for an adult, and children should be given water, mineral water without gas, juice can be given after diluting it with water. To prevent rapid dehydration of the body, rehydron or saline should be given to drink from a spoon.

Adults after a gag reflex are given activated charcoal by diluting it with water. Drink in small sips to cleanse the body. The dose is calculated as follows: 1 tablet per 10 kilograms. To prevent dehydration, try to drink a lot of boiled water in small sips so as not to provoke vomiting.

In case of fainting or worsening of the patient's condition, immediately call an ambulance. Severe poisoning can affect internal organs such as the liver. The first symptoms are yellowness in the eyes, the presence of blood in vomit or loose stools. Do not self-medicate, do not take folk remedies, tinctures, pills, only a specialist in this field can determine the exact diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment.

In the hospital, with the help of tests, they will be able to find out the cause of the poisoning: they will examine the blood, vomit and loose stools to find the causative agent of the disease. The products that the patient has eaten are identified and sent to special authorities for their verification. At the first sign of poisoning, you should seek medical help, as serious consequences can occur. What type of intoxication can only be determined by a doctor, based on questions and a study of the symptoms of the disease. Such dangerous diseases, like botulism and listeriosis, can lead to the death of the patient. When poisoning with home canned food, there can be serious consequences.

diet after illness

After the patient's condition improves, it is not recommended to immediately lean on the usual food. You need to start drinking different compotes, weak black tea and water, eat cereals cooked in water, vegetable soups, boiled meat, fish and poultry, crackers. Doctors recommend cooking raisin compote, which contains a lot of potassium, so that the body will recover faster.

Fresh fruits and vegetables should not be consumed at first, it is better to boil or bake them in the oven. Such a diet should be followed within a week, after recovery, gradually returning to the previous diet. Eat food in moderation, in no case, do not overload the exhausted stomach in order to restore its microflora.

Prevention of poisoning

Always wash your hands with soap and water before eating and when preparing food. Especially in contact with meat and fish products. Do not eat raw eggs, fish, meat, cook until tender. Use for meat products individual cutting boards. Store dairy products in the refrigerator. Be sure to wash fruits and vegetables before eating in running water, and then pour over with boiled water. Use foods with a fresh expiration date and store them properly.

Most cases of poisoning are caused by rapid reproduction in food products Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Poisoning is most often provoked by poor-quality expired products or those that were stored in inappropriate conditions or prepared in violation of sanitary standards.

Also, poisoning is often caused by plants collected and eaten out of ignorance or negligence.

Test yourself

The first signs of poisoning may appear half an hour after eating low-quality foods, but most often - after 4-6 hours, and sometimes - after a day.

Typical symptoms of poisoning: diarrhea (watery, fetid stools, with undigested food residues), severe nausea, repeated vomiting.

Also characterized by weakness, dizziness, fever, chills, heaviness or painful spasms in the stomach, flatulence, profuse salivation.

Keep in mind

Most often, poisoning is caused by dairy and sour-milk products, cakes and pastries with cream, glazed curds, soft cheese, boiled sausage, pates, eggs, homemade mayonnaise, salads dressed with mayonnaise or sour cream, tomatoes and tomato juice, soy sprouts.

First aid

At the first sign of food poisoning, it is necessary to wash the sick stomach to empty it. For washing, you can use a weak (pale pink) solution of potassium permanganate, filtered through a paper filter or four-layer gauze.

Also suitable solution baking soda(1 teaspoon per 1 liter of boiled water) or table salt (2 tablespoons without a "slide" per 5 liters of water).

The solution for washing must be prepared in advance in the amount of 8-10 liters. It must be warm (temperature - 35-37 ° C) in order to prevent hypothermia of the body, and also slow down intestinal motility, which will slow down the progress of toxic substances through the gastrointestinal tract.

At the first dose, you need to drink from 2-3 to 5-6 glasses, then induce vomiting by irritating the root of the tongue with two fingers.

The washing procedure must be repeated until the flowing water is clean.

We must try to provide the patient with complete rest, if he is shivering, wrap him up warmer.

The first day it is better to refrain from eating, on the second day you can enter the broth, mashed vegetable soups with rice, mucous decoctions, gradually expanding the menu. Until complete recovery, pickled, spicy, salty and smoked foods that irritate the gastric mucosa should be avoided. The patient is advised to drink boiled water, weak sweet tea, berry fruit drinks, jelly. Carbonated drinks are prohibited.

On a note

In case of poisoning, enterosorbents are taken. These drugs bind and remove toxins, poisons, microbes and bacteria from the body, preventing the entry of toxic substances into the blood. They help relieve the symptoms of poisoning and normalize the human condition.

To prevent dehydration of the body caused by vomiting and diarrhea, special saline solutions are used to replenish fluid loss and restore the acid-base balance disturbed due to the loss of electrolytes. Usually they are produced in the form of powders, which must be diluted in a liter of hot boiled water. The resulting solution in an amount of 10 ml / kg of body weight should be drunk after each liquid stool in small sips, stretching the portion for an hour.

If diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting, then after each attack of vomiting, an additional solution of 10 ml / kg of body weight should be taken.

By the way

In case of poisoning (including food, but especially with drugs or alcohol), the liver suffers, because it is this organ that has to neutralize toxins and remove them from the body. Hepatoprotective drugs - herbal or containing essential phospholipids - help restore normal liver function.

Also, biologically active additives containing lecithin, amino acids, antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, selenium and chromium, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are used to improve liver function.

To the doctor!

Most often, the symptoms of poisoning disappear on their own within a week, only symptomatic treatment is sufficient. However, in some cases, poisoning is dangerous. Be sure to seek medical attention if:

against the background of intestinal and gastric disorders, the patient has a severe headache, pain in the kidneys, liver or other internal organs;
the patient has a high temperature, severe sweating, a feeling of suffocation;
poisoned a small child or an elderly person;
there is a suspicion that you were poisoned by mushrooms;
severe vomiting, diarrhea persist for two days;
symptoms of poisoning persist for more than a week.

SOS!

Especially dangerous are poisonings with home canned food, in which, due to a violation of cooking technologies, botulinum toxin was formed, which causes serious disease- botulism.

Symptoms: increasing muscle weakness, frequent shallow breathing, dilated pupils, muscle paresis or paralysis, dry mouth, vomiting, loose stools, visual impairment, speech impairment, lack of facial expressions, pallor of the skin.

First of all, the muscles of the eyes, larynx, then the respiratory muscles suffer. Botulism can be fatal, so if you suspect it, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Prevention

The best food poisoning prevention is good food preparation hygiene, proper food storage, and basic vigilance.

Pay attention to the color, smell and taste of food. An unpleasant putrefactive smell, sour taste, tingling on the tongue should alert. A sign that the product is spoiled may be a change in its consistency, the appearance of mucus on its surface.

Feel free to throw away moldy foods, spoiled vegetables and fruits, even if only a tiny barrel has rotted, swollen cans and bags of juices or sour-milk products.

The jar, “rolled up” with an iron lid, should open with a characteristic pop, indicating that it has been hermetically sealed. If there was no cotton, canned food should not be eaten.

When buying, be sure to check the production dates and shelf life of products, the integrity of the packaging.

Check your refrigerator regularly.

Do not buy ready-made salads dressed with mayonnaise: they spoil very quickly.

Observe the thermal regime of food preparation.

Thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits, dishes and cutlery, hands before eating and preparing food.

Before cracking an egg, wash it with soap and water.

Change kitchen towels, washcloths for washing dishes more often, because pathogenic bacteria accumulate in them.

Get some cutting boards. Greens, vegetables and fruits, cheeses and sausages should not be cut on a board on which raw meat and fish were butchered.

Do not store raw meat and fish and prepared foods in the same compartment of the refrigerator.

Don't overcook a lot of food. Cooked meals in the refrigerator should not be stored for more than three days.

Be selective in your choice of food outlets.

Preparations

Remember, self-medication is life-threatening, consult a doctor for advice on the use of any medications.