Food Poisoning as a Modern Problem - Essay Example

Food Poisoning Out line Food Poisoning is very general problem now days.  Most of the People are not familiar with it until they actually experience it.  Food poisoning is occurred due to a bacterium.  It typically gets huge number of bacteria causing food poisoning, which results in sickness.  Food poisoning can also occur due to toxins and mushrooms. Treatments are a bit different in different types of food poisoning. Proposal Mostly the food poisoning is occurred due to bacterial infected food. . It is noteworthy that a single bacterium can increase to 2, 097, 1328 within 6 hours, under favorable conditions.  The perfect environment for bacteria is a temperature range 6 degrees C to 70 degrees C. Bacteria require their own chow to produce and increase. There are different kinds of bacteria, which contaminate the food. Each type of bacteria causing food poisoning would be studied along with the symptoms and treatment separately. Literature Review There are approximately 74 million cases of food poisoning out of which 323,000 hospitalized and nearly 4000 die yearly in the U. S. alone. According to CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) food poisoning is common in all groups of ages but particularly the children and aged people are most vulnerable to face serious penalties from food poisoning. During 1990 to 1994 numbers of children suffering from food poisoning were approximately 73 million but during the period from1985 to 1989 number of suffering children were 81 million. According to an estimate 400 to 500 children in the U.S die annually from food poisoning. The probability of having food poisoning is in fact very small when the number of food poisoning cases in the population of 21.4 million in Australia. Exact statistics of food poisoning cases are really very difficult to gather because a lot of cases are easygoing and not reported. In the year 2003, the FSIC (Food Safety Information Council) anticipated about more than 4 million Australians experience food poisoning each year. This is obviously a very huge number and this issue needs our deep focus, it also specifies that about 0.03% of meals are infected forms of food poisoning. The most worrying thing about food poisoning is that it can be deadly. Two aged people died by eating infected beef in Victoria in Feb. 2007; another died from food poisoning in hospital this year. These kinds of incidents speed up the need to develop food safety standards. A report published in 2005 reveals that nearly 130 people die from food poisoning every year in Australia. Mostly food poisoning symptoms on body vanished away in 2 to 6 days automatically. If you experience continued illness consult your doctor. Elders, children, pregnant women and those people who take antacids get food poisoning more likely. Symptoms also depend on the kind of contaminated food and the quantity of contaminated food eaten. It has been seen that the symptoms may build up swiftly even within thirty to forty minutes, or gradually, deterioration over days to couple of weeks. Typically food poisoning is not grave, and the sickness goes off in one to two days. Introduction  A person is said to be suffering from food poisoning when he eats such kind of food that is contaminated with bacteria and become sick.  Food poisoning is actually a very common term of health problems, which arises by eating contaminated foodstuff. Some mushrooms or specific kind of seafood also causes food poisoning. Food poisoning some times affects the nervous system also. Most common bacteria, which set the grounds of food poisoning, are named Salmonella.  These are normally present in eggs, poultry, egg products and meals.  Symptoms contain headache, fever, diarrhea, cramps in stomach and nausea.  It typically takes 5 to 72 hours after eating contaminated foodstuff.  Symptoms usually remain form 2 to 5 days.   The common symptoms of food poisoning are stomach upset, vomiting, dehydration and fever. Sometimes severe illness due to food poisoning causes meningitis and paralysis. Testing the stool does the diagnosis of food poisoning. Viruses are considered to be the main root responsible for most of food poisoning cases where a particular contaminated foodstuff is found. Nor viruses are a collection of viruses that produce a kind of mild illness, which is often known as stomach flu. Nor viruses are usually transmitted from shellfish, water vegetables, which are contaminated by feces. These viruses can also spread from on person to another. Outbreaks are more ordinary in compactly inhabited places like cruise ships, schools and nursing homes. That is why the sickness cause by these viruses is also called Cruise Ship Illness. The word norovirus has been accepted as the authorized name for this collection of viruses. A lot of other names have also been used for noroviruses, which include caliciviruses (as they resemble to the virus family o caliciviridae and have little round shaped viruses Norwalk like viruses. Another very brutal virus is the Rotavirus, which causes modest to harsh sickness with vomiting followed by dilute fever and diarrhea. It is considered to be the most widespread cause of food poisoning in children and infants. It is believed that it is transmitted from one person to another person by using shared play areas and fecal contamination of food. Hepatitis A another deadly disease, which causes sudden fever, tired feeling, loss of hunger and mild illness. It also causes jaundice that results in yellowing of the skin and eyes. It is spread from one person to another person by fecal contamination of food. Bacteria can cause food poisoning in two diverse ways. A number of bacteria contaminate the intestines, causing inflammation and intricacy gripping nutrients and water causing diarrhea. Other bacteria generate chemicals in foods generally termed as toxins, which are poisonous to the digestive system of human beings. When human ate such kinds of contaminated food affected by the toxin chemicals they suffer from vomiting, kidney failure, nausea and even death may occur. Salmonellae: Salmonellae are the group of bacteria, which may cause food poisoning; the sickness generally termed as salmonella or infection of Salmonella. Salmonellae are responsible for causing modest sickness with nausea, cramp diarrhea, headache and vomiting, which may appear as arthritis in a couple of week later. Arthritis causes severe pain in body joints. Persons who have weak immune systems in their bodies or people who are suffering from kidney disease or are HIV positive or those people who have received chemotherapy against cancer are very vulnerable to the sickness, which can proved life threatening sickness. The sickness is spread by undercooked foodstuff like dairy foods, poultry, seafoods and eggs. Campylobacter: It is responsible for causing gentle illness with fever; dilute diarrhea, pain in muscles and headache. Campylobacter is the most frequently recognized food-borne bacterial disease found in the world. Raw milk, raw poultry and infected water feces of animals transmit germs of this disease. Staphylococcus aurous is responsible for causing modest to harsh sickness with fast onset of nausea, ruthless vomiting, abdominal cramps and dizziness. These kinds of bacteria make poisonous chemical know as toxin in foodstuff like cream filled cakes salads and pies. Mostly potatoes, eggs, tuna salads and macaroni are most vulnerable to be contaminated. Infected salads at picnics or tours are widespread if the food is not cooled correctly. Bacillus cereus is found to be a cause of mild sickness with quick onset of vomiting, with or without abdominal cramps and diarrhea. It is linked with rice mostly the fried rice and other such kinds of starchy foodstuff like potatoes and pasta. It has been guesses that these bacteria may also be used as a possible radical weapon. Escherichia coli is mainly responsible for causing modest to harsh sickness that starts as great amounts of dilute diarrhea that changes into bloody diarrhea. It has been found that there are variety of different kinds of this bacteria. The nastiest strain can cause failure of kidney failure and even death. Eating raw mostly spreads it or undercooked un-pasteurized milk, juices, hamburgers or infected well water. Epidemics of food poisoning caused by E. coli have also take place number of ingestions from contaminated produce. Shigella or known as traveler’s diarrhea is found for causing mild to harsh illness with fever, diarrhea containing mucus or blood or sometimes both. It is a steady insist on to have movements of bow. Human wastes in water polluted spread it. Clostridium hotulinum is found to be the main cause of harsh illness that affects the central nervous system. Symptoms begin as blurred vision. The infected then builds up problems talking and general weakness. Symptoms then lead to difficulty in breathing and the incapability to move arms or legs. Young kids and Infants are specifically at risk. It is spread in foodstuff like honey, seafood, and sausages and home packed canned goods. As botulism can be unconfined in the air, it is found to be a possible biological weapon that can be used by terrorists. Vibrio cholerae causes modest sickness with chills, fever, nausea, headache, and cramps. It spreads typically in the warmer months of the year and is usually transmitted by undercooked seafood and by infants. It is found that parasites hardly ever cause food poisoning. When they do, they are typically swallowed in infected or raw water and cause long lasting but soft symptoms. Giardia often known as beaver fever can Cause soft illness with dilute diarrhea frequently lasting one to three weeks. Drinking contaminated water, often from lakes or streams in cooler mountainous climates, transmits it. The disease can also be spread from one person to another person by contaminated food or other such items infected with feces of contaminated person. Cryptosporidum usually causes mild sickness with huge amounts of dilute diarrhea lasting one to five days. It may turned into a long lasting trouble in persons who have weak immune systems like those who have kidney disease, HIV or people who have taken chemotherapy for cancer). It is spread infected drinking water. Toxi agents are considered to be least causes of food poisoning. Sickness is generally a lonely affair caused by bad food cooking and selection like wild mushrooms. Mushroom toxins can cause food poisoning, which can be to deadly depending on the kind of mushroom that has been eaten. Usually it causes diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. There are different types of mushrooms, which produce nerve toxin that can cause coma hallucinations, shaking and sweating. Cigutera poisoning is usually caused by consumption of fish, which holds poisonous toxins created by a kind of oceanic algae, which is called Gambierdiscus toxicus. It can be the basis of reasonable to severe sickness with deadness of the region around the mouth and lips that can extend to the legs and arms, increased heart beat, dizziness, muscle pain, vomiting and nausea. The poison may cause sensory troubles in which warm things sense cold and icy things sense hot. Consuming certain large game fish from stifling waters—most particularly jacks, snapper, grouper and barracuda spread this disease. There is no cure for Ciguatera. Symptoms may vanish in 5 days or weeks, but may continue for years. Scombroid is responsible for causing gentle to reasonable sickness with facial flush, burning of the lips and mouth, itchy skin, headache, dizziness, red rash on upper body, swelling of tongue mouth and tongue, distress of respiration and fuzzy vision. Normally the symptoms remain from 4 to 6 hours, and hardly ever more than 1 or 2 days. It is spread through seafood, mostly through tuna ad mahi-mahi and tuna, but it can also be found in Swiss cheese as well. Pesticides normally cause gentle to harsh illness with weakness, shaking of legs and arms, increased saliva, diarrhea, cramps, headache and blurred vision. Eating dirty fruits or vegetables infected with pesticides transmits toxins. When to consult you Doctor Call your physician if any of the subsequent situations take place: Diarrhea, vomiting or nausea remains for more than 2 days. The infected individual is younger than 3 years. The abdominal indications are linked with a low-grade agitation. Symptoms start after current fresh foreign travel. Other relatives or associates who ate the similar food are also ill. The sick individual cannot carry on any liquids down. The sick individual does not get better within 2 days even though he is consuming huge amounts of fluids. The sick individual has a ailment or sickness, which has weakened his immune system like HIV, chemotherapy, cancer and kidney disease. The sick individual cannot obtain their regular prescribed medicines due to vomiting. The sick individual has any kind of symptoms of nervous system like difficulty in swallowing, vision doubt, weakness in muscles and slurred speech. Go to the emergency room of nearest hospital if any of the next conditions takes place: The sick individual become dizzy, collapses or passes out, have vision problems or lightheaded. A agitation higher than 102°F happens with the abdominal symptoms. Spiky or cramping pains are not going away after ten to fifteen minutes. The sick individual’s abdomen and stomach swells. The eyes and skin become yellow. The sick individual is vomiting blood or having bloody bowel actions. The sick individual discontinues urinating, have urine, which is darker in color and decreased urination. The sick individual develops troubles in swallowing, speaking and breathing. Swelling in one or more joints or a skin complaint. The sick individual or warden considers the condition to be an emergency If the suffering persons consult a doctor or go to hospital emergency department because they believe they are suffering from food poisoning, a careful test will be performed, which includes examining the blood pressure, temperature, breathing rate and pulse. The physician will do a physical test, which checks for external symptoms and signs of sickness. They will review how dehydrated the serene is and look at the abdominal region to make sure the sickness is not grave. The physician may require doing a rectal test. The physician does this examination by inserting a gloved and lubricated finger softly into the rectum. Reason is to make certain there are no breaks in the rectal partition. A example of stool obtained and checked for mucus and blood. In a number of cases, a sample of vomit or stool is sent to the laboratory for further examination to check which toxin caused the sickness. In most of the cases, a particular cause is not found. A urine sample assists in finding how much the patient is dehydrated and it can also give out probable kidney harm. Blood tests can carry out to decide the significance of the sickness. An x-ray of the abdomen or a CT scan can be obtained if the physician thinks your symptoms may be caused by another sickness. Treatment of Food Poisoning Individual Care at Home Small episodes of sickness and little amounts of diarrhea remaining for less than twentyfour hours can typically be cared for at home. Do not consume hard food while queasy or vomiting but gulp plenty of fluids. Small, regular sips of apparent liquids are the finest way to remian hydrated. Try to avoid sugary drinks, caffeinated and alcoholic. Products made for kids like Rehydralyte and Pedialyte are posh but fine to use if obtainable. Sports drinks like Powerade and Gatorade are good for adults if they are mixed with water because at filled potency they have too much sugar, which can avoid diarrhea. After fruitfully tolerating fluids, eating should start gradually, when vomiting and nausea have stopped. Simple foods, which are trouble-free for the stomach, should be begun in small amounts. Do eat chicken, lean meals, cereals, potatoes, bread, wheat and rice. Milk can also be used safely, although a number of people may practice extra stomach disturbance due to lactose intolerance. The majority food poisonings do not need the use of over-the-counter medicines to discontinue diarrhea, but they are usually secure if used as directed. It is not optional that these medicines can be given to kids. If there is a query or worry, you should always make sure to contact your doctor Medical Treatment The major treatment for food poisoning is giving fluids back to the body, which is rehydration through by drinking. The patient may require to be admitted. It depends on the harshness of the dehydration, capability of drinking fluids and reaction to the therapy. Kids particularly require close inspection. Diarrhea and anti vomiting drugs can be given. The physician may also treat any illness to make the patient more relaxed. Antibiotics are hardly ever required for food poisoning. In some cases, antibiotics are seen to worsen the situation. Only a few specific causes of food poisoning are improved by using these medications. Using antibiotics can reduce the span of sickness with traveler’s diarrhea, but this particular sickness typically continues to improve without treatment. Eating foods infected with pesticides or mushroom poisoning, violent healing may comprise pumping of the stomach or taking antidotes medicines. These poisonings are very grave and may need rigorous care. After consulting your doctor pursue any particular directives and take any medicines prescribed precisely as bound for. Drink additional fluids until the diarrhea vanishes totally. You may require overlooking 1 to 2 days of employment or school to let your body get well. If any symptoms vary or get worse, get in touch with your doctor. Outlook A number of of the harshest food poisoning can consequence in lasting illness and death. However, nearly all food poisoning is not grave. The majority people start feeling improved within one to two days. Nausea, Queasiness and minor diarrhea may keep on for 1 to 2 days longer. Conclusion Food poisoning is a general problem now days. Mostly the food poisoning is caused by bacteria, which contaminate food like egg products, dairy products, small goods, poultry and meat, shellfish and fish and chicken. Food poisoning symptoms vanished away in a few days usually.  Bacteria like products such as egg products, dairy products, small goods, poultry and meat, shellfish and fish and chicken products. Bacteria also require water.  Most of the food poisoning cases are casual but some need emergency treatment. References Edwin Oakes Jordan. (2006). Food Poisoning University of Chicago Press Santosham, M, Keenan, EM, Tulloch, J, et al. Oral rehydration therapy for diarrhea: An example of reverse transfer of technology. Pediatrics 1997. Glass, RI, Lew, JF, Gangarosa, RE, et al. Estimates of morbidity and mortality rates for diarrheal diseases in American children. J Pediatr 1991 Read More