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Food poisoning treatment: which bacteria causes food poisoning?

What is food poisoning?


Food poisoning (also known as food-borne illness) occurs when you eat or drink something that contains harmful germs (bacteria, viruses, or parasites). Bacteria produce a toxin in food. It’s this toxin that causes the problem.

Bacteria which causes food poisoning


Bacteria is one of the most prevalent causes of food poisonings such as E.coli, Listeria and Salmonella. The most dangerous and common food poisoning culprits is caused by Salmonella. Campylobacter and C.botulinum are other lethal bacteria can also be a source of food poisoning.

When food is cooked and left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature, bacteria can multiply quickly. Most bacteria grow undetected because they do not produce an “off” odour or change the color or texture of the food. Freezing food slows or stops bacteria’s growth but does not destroy the bacteria. The microbes activate when the food thaws. While refrigeration may slow the growth of some bacteria, it does not destroy them. You must thoroughly cook your food to ensure that no bacteria continues to thrive.

Viruses which causes food poisoning


Viruses such as norovirus, sapovirus, astrovirus, and Hepatitis A can also cause food poisoning. The norovirus is the most common virus that causes food poisoning.

Causes of Food Poisoning


Here are some of the most common causes:

✓Consuming undercooked or raw food (especially sausages, kebabs, pork, poultry and burgers)

✓Food products that has crossed the expiry date or has not been refrigerated properly.

✓Consumption of food handled by someone suffering from diarrhea or vomiting.

✓Cross contamination (where germs from a contaminated food is spread to other foods)

Symptoms of food poisoning


Symptoms of food poisoning vary depending on the nature of the infection. Generally, the time is taken for the symptoms to develop also depends on the source of infection and range from 1 hour to as long as 28 days. Some of the common symptoms of food poisoning include

✓Abdominal pain
✓Diarrhoea
✓Vomiting
✓Poor appetite
✓Mild fever
✓Fatigue
✓Nausea
✓Headaches

Home Remedies for food poisoning


Treatment of food poisoning is mainly done with fluids to avoid dehydration, especially in children and the elderly.

Some patients may benefit from medication to reduce nausea and vomiting.

There are some Home remedies to treat food poisoning:

1.lemon
Antibacterial properties in lemons can give you much relief. The acid in lemons helps kill bacteria that cause food poisoning. Just add a pinch of sugar to one teaspoon of lemon juice and drink it two to three times a day. You can also sip on warm water with lemon juice to clean out your system.

2.Garli
Garlic is known for its antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. To cleanse your system, eat one fresh garlic clove by swallowing it with water. 

3.Basil seed
Crush some basil leaves and extract the juice. Once that is done, you can consume it with a teaspoon of honey or with a teaspoon of cardamom powder. Basil is yet another herb known to kill foodborne pathogens thanks to its antimicrobial properties.

4.Apple Cider Vinegar
The antibacterial properties of apple cider vinegar are very effective against foodborne pathogenic bacteria like Escherichia coli.

5.Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Test-tube studies show that it can help eliminate bacteria and toxins from your body. Hence, its intake can help you manage the symptoms of food poisoning. If you do not want to take additional supplements, you can increase your consumption of vitamin C-rich foods.

Images source: gettyimages

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