What to take in case of food poisoning at home. Treatment with folk remedies. In what cases is it necessary to immediately call an ambulance?

Food poisoning is a condition that requires urgent medical treatment. The sooner the victim receives help, the greater the chance of avoiding the absorption of toxic substances into the blood and, as a result, their negative impact on the body.

Treatment food poisoning can be done at home, but only in its early stages, when the first symptoms appear. If the condition rapidly worsens and therapeutic measures do not bring positive result, the patient must be urgently taken to the nearest hospital or called an emergency team.

Food poisoning results from eating foods that have been contaminated in some way with pathogenic microorganisms. For example, when consuming stale, spoiled or dirty products, they most often become the cause of the development of pathology. In addition, poisoning can be caused by non-compliance with sanitary and/or hygienic standards.

Symptoms

Symptoms of food poisoning can appear within 25-35 minutes after they enter the body, but it happens that about a day passes before symptoms appear. As a rule, without treatment, the symptoms of poisoning rapidly progress, and the patient’s condition worsens significantly. Typical food poisoning symptoms are:

painful feeling of nausea; abundant, frequent vomiting, which contains particles of eaten food, gastric juice; increased salivation; diarrhea, characterized by a watery consistency, fetidity, and the content of undigested food particles; promotion low-grade fever; chills, fever; feeling of weakness, dizziness; functional disorders of the central nervous system.

Symptoms of food poisoning can persist for up to 3 days, with gradual subsidence.

After the patient has eaten a low-quality product, he may suffer for another 7-10 days. painful sensations in the abdomen, severe gas formation, weakness.

First aid

Mild food poisoning can last from several hours to 2-3 days, but it happens that pathogenic microflora that enters the body along with poor-quality food leads to the development of more complex forms of pathology. Whatever form of poisoning a person has, treatment at home should be organized as follows:

removal from the body of food that caused the recovery and removal of toxins, gastric lavage; prevention of dehydration; restoration of normal intestinal microflora; following diets to restore the functioning of the digestive system.

What to do if children are poisoned?

If a child has food poisoning, it is very important to take therapeutic measures as soon as possible. The main thing to do is to induce vomiting in the baby by pressing your index finger on the root of his tongue. Next, the child needs to drink plenty of warm water. saline solution, which is prepared by diluting 2-3 teaspoons table salt in 200 ml of warm water (boiled!). Alternate the procedure of inducing vomiting and drinking salt water until the baby’s vomit consists only of clear water.

The volume of liquid used for gastric lavage should not exceed 3 liters!

After gastric lavage has been performed, enterosorbents must be introduced into the body. In the case of young patients, it is necessary to take into account that not all drugs are effective in treating food poisoning. For example, traditional activated carbon considered ineffective for children. Besides, this medicine can harm the delicate mucous membrane of the baby's stomach. Coal also has the property of turning stool black, which can become a significant obstacle to further diagnosis.

In pediatrics, sorbents containing silicon, such as Enterosgel, are most often used.

If food poisoning occurs in a child under 3 years of age, urgent hospitalization is required, regardless of how severe the symptoms are. The body of such young children is susceptible to more rapid development of dehydration, which poses a huge threat to life. In addition, at home it is very difficult to force the baby to drink large amounts of water to avoid dehydration. In a hospital setting, such procedures are carried out by intravenous administration of special solutions.

When to see a doctor?

Most often, poisoning from poor-quality food can be dealt with without medical intervention. However, hospitalization is mandatory in the following cases:

poisoning in a child under 3 years of age; poisoning in a woman expecting the birth of a baby; poisoning in the elderly; Very frequent diarrhea(more than 10 times); bloody diarrhea; an increase in temperature that does not decrease within 48 hours after eating low-quality food; vomiting that cannot be stopped even with medication medicines; increasing feeling of weakness, drowsiness; symptoms of food poisoning persist for more than 3 days.

First aid for poisoning at home

If the patient is conscious, he should be given a lot of clean water to drink, and then press on the root of the tongue (only for victims over 6 years old!), inducing vomiting. Alternation of actions is carried out until clean wash water appears.

After the patient has had his stomach washed, it is very important to give him some kind of sorbent. As a rule, in emergency cases, activated carbon is on hand, which must be given at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of the patient’s weight. White clay is often used, which must first be diluted in water.

If a person’s condition begins to deteriorate, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance.

Treatment at home

Step 1. Gastric lavage

The very first thing to do in case of food poisoning is to rinse the stomach. This process helps remove the remnants of low-quality products, toxins and their waste products from the body.

For rinsing the best remedy is a solution of potassium permanganate. The solution should be very weak, you can navigate by the color of the liquid - it should be slightly pink. You need to prepare at least 2 liters of solution and try to drink it, thereby inducing vomiting.

If potassium permanganate is not on hand, you can use water with salt diluted in it.

It is important to remember that the vomiting that accompanies food poisoning is not enough to cleanse the body as much as possible, so artificially inducing vomiting is a vital part of treating poisoning at home.

If there is no nausea and vomiting during poisoning, then this phenomenon may indicate that the poisoned product has left the stomach and is now in the intestines. To quickly remove toxins from the body, in this case it is necessary to induce diarrhea. To do this, you can do either a cleansing enema or use any laxatives.

Step 2. Take the sorbent

Sorbents are medicines, which help remove toxic microparticles from the body. The most popular among this group of drugs is activated carbon. Coal helps prevent the absorption of toxins, metal salts, alkaloids, etc. into the gastrointestinal tract, and also promotes their natural elimination from the body.

For food poisoning, activated carbon is taken 1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight. In other words, if the victim’s weight is 6 kg, then he needs to take at least 6 tablets of the drug. Experts advise taking charcoal in the form of an aqueous suspension. It's very easy to make - just crush it required quantity tablets and dilute them in 100 ml boiled water.

Step 3: Drink as much water as possible


Vomiting and diarrhea, which are common symptoms of food poisoning, lead to dehydration. In order to avoid possible negative consequences Rehydration requires replenishing fluid reserves. Experts recommend drinking at least 2.5 liters per day. It is best to salt the water a little or take solutions of special medicines, such as Regidron, Oralit, etc.

Step 5. Start restoring the intestinal microflora.

After vomiting completely stops, it is very important to start taking medications that restore intestinal microflora.

Step 6. Follow your diet and diet.

In the first day after poisoning, when the symptoms are pronounced, the patient is advised to stay in bed and refuse to eat any food except water.

The next day you can eat a little jelly, crackers made from wheat bread without any additives. Liquid mashed potatoes or oatmeal, prepared in water, are also allowed.

Medicines

Antidiarrheal drug based on herbal ingredients. Available in the form of syrup and capsules, it has anti-inflammatory, adsorbent, antimicrobial effect, and is also a moderate antispasmodic.

intolerance to the components of the drug; insufficiency of kidney/liver function; inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract; intestinal obstruction; diarrhea caused by infections; period of pregnancy and lactation; children under 12 years of age; severe dehydration.

The price of the drug is 120-190 rubles.

An antidiarrheal drug that has antiprotozoal, antimicrobial, antifungal effects.

hypersensitivity to components; insufficiency of kidney function; children up to 6 years of age.

The price of the medicine varies between 420-460 rubles.

Enterosorbent prescribed for various intoxications, intestinal infections, hyperbilirubinemia, hyperazotemia. Available in the form of a powder intended for the preparation of a suspension.

stomach and/or duodenal ulcer; intestinal atony; bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract; intolerance to the components of the drug.

The price of enterosorbent is 115-130 rubles.

Enterosorbent, produced in the form of a paste.

drug intolerance; intestinal atony.

The price of the drug is 320-400 rubles.

A drug that regulates the balance of intestinal microflora.

intolerance to the components of the drug; intolerance to dairy products.

The price is 240-260 rubles.

A drug used to rehydrate the body. It is also used to remove toxins.

functional kidney disorders; diabetes mellitus; unconscious state; intestinal obstruction; hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.

The price varies between 32-40 rubles for 1 sachet package.

An antiemetic drug produced in the form of tablets, solution for intravenous and intramuscular administration.

stomach, intestinal bleeding; intestinal obstruction; perforation of gastric and/or intestinal walls; pheochromocytoma; epilepsy; glaucoma; Parkinson's disease; bronchial asthma; pregnancy for early stages, breastfeeding period; children under 2 years of age; increased sensitivity to the components of the drug.

Traditional treatment

Cinnamon infusion

15 g ground cinnamon pour 1 liter of boiling water, stir and let steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain, take orally in small sips throughout the day. The infusion combats attacks of nausea.

Ginger tea

1 tsp grated ginger root, pour 250 ml of hot (not boiling water) water and leave for 5 minutes. Add sugar or honey to taste, drink after meals at lunch, in the evening, at night. The product helps fight nausea.

Dill decoction + honey

Dill seeds in the amount of 1 tsp. pour 350 ml of boiling water and leave for 5 minutes. Pour the infusion into a deep bowl, put on fire and boil for 2-30 minutes. Strain, dilute 1 tsp. honey Take 1 liter of this product in small sips for 24 hours.

Lemon juice

The acid contained in lemon promotes the death of bacteria that led to poisoning. Mix freshly squeezed juice of 1/2 lemon with 1 tsp. honey and consume internally. Take every 8-12 hours. You can also dilute lemon juice without a large number water.

Important: this recipe is contraindicated in patients with any gastrointestinal diseases and increased acidity stomach.

Yarrow + wormwood

Pour 1 teaspoon of a dry mixture of yarrow and wormwood (1:1) into 500 liters of boiling water and leave for 15-25 minutes. Strain the infusion, squeeze it out and take it orally for 24 hours, 100 ml at a time.

Caraway

Cumin seeds cope very effectively with the inflammatory process in the stomach, which develops after the symptoms of food poisoning appear. For treatment you need 1 tbsp. l. crush the seeds and swallow with 250 ml of warm water.

Althea

Grind the roots of the plant and 1 tsp. Pour 100 ml of boiling water over the resulting slurry. Leave for 25-30 minutes, strain, add honey and take 1 tbsp. l. 3-4 times a day.

20 tbsp. l. dry marshmallow leaves and flowers, pour 400 ml of boiling water, leave for 4 hours. Take 100-120 ml orally 3 times a day.

Even more folk recipes in the video below

What should you not do if you are poisoned?

induce vomiting in an unconscious person; induce vomiting in a woman expecting the birth of a child; induce vomiting in a person with heart disease; treat a patient with carbonated water.

Diet after food poisoning

During the first few days after poisoning, it is not recommended to eat fatty and fried foods. It is important to refuse during the period of treatment and recovery.

milk; flour and flour products; alcohol.

During the treatment period, steamed or boiled meat products are allowed. You can also eat rice and potatoes.

Among liquids, it is allowed to drink rosehip decoction, green tea, and chamomile infusion.

Prevention

Compliance with temperature standards when storing food. Eating only familiar plants and mushrooms. Preliminary heat treatment homemade dairy products. Boiling tap water for drinking. Compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards when preparing food. Eating only fresh foods. Eating prepared foods that have been stored no longer than 3 days (even in the refrigerator).

Food poisoning is a condition that poses a threat not only to health, but also to human life. It can be treated at home, but you should listen to your body and, if your health worsens, seek the advice of an experienced doctor.

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Food poisoning is a condition that requires the earliest possible approach to starting treatment: after all, it will depend on whether the toxins have time to be absorbed into the blood and begin their negative impact on the body.

That is why it is so important to react to the disease in time and recognize it as food poisoning. Treatment at home is possible when the first symptoms appear, but if it has already gotten out of control and threatens a person’s life, you need to urgently go to the hospital or call an ambulance.

With the health of young children who are not yet three years old, as well as women during pregnancy, it is especially important to take time. After all, some still cannot clearly tell what worries them, while others risk infecting the fetus developing in their womb with toxins. Both of them are quite weak in terms of immunity, antibiotics are not recommended for them, and the development of stages of intoxication in both the child and the expectant mother can happen extremely quickly.

Typically this diagnosis is characterized by the following symptoms:

nausea, abdominal cramps and intestinal colic, stool disorder in the form of diarrhea, vomiting, fever, dehydration, drop in blood pressure, central nervous system dysfunction, fainting, and in the most severe cases, coma.

General principles of treatment of food poisoning

In case of mild food poisoning illness lasts from two hours to two days, however, there are more severe forms. If you are in doubt about what to do in case of food poisoning, remember: treatment of any form of poisoning at home should be based on certain areas:

Elimination of intoxication and the process of removing toxins from the body. Preventing dehydration (if symptoms include vomiting or diarrhea). Restoration of intestinal microflora. Restoration of activity digestive system through diet.

Cleansing the stomach by eliminating intoxication and removing toxins

Gastric lavage

The first step and, accordingly, the first aid in the treatment of any poisoning is gastric lavage. This will remove harmful toxins from the body that have entered the stomach with poor-quality food.

How to rinse the stomach? Best suited for this potassium permanganate (aka potassium permanganate). We make a weak solution of potassium permanganate (we focus on the color - it should be pale pink). You should get 1.5-2 liters of liquid. Next we try to drink it, thereby provoking vomiting. If you don’t have potassium permanganate on hand, diluted water will do just fine. sea ​​salt or baking soda.

Even if poisoning is already accompanied by vomiting, this is not enough to fully cleanse the body, so you will have to induce vomiting artificially, by inserting two fingers into the mouth and pressing them firmly on the root of the tongue. For the best effect, this procedure is carried out two or three times until the stomach begins to excrete clean water(solution).

If you do not feel sick or have the urge to vomit, most likely the spoiled product has already left the stomach and moved into the intestines. There is no point in artificial vomiting in this case.

Often, the body, for the purpose of self-defense, causes diarrhea as the fastest and most effective means of eliminating harmful toxins that enter the gastrointestinal tract. If there is no diarrhea, then it needs to be provoked. They'll handle it enema or laxatives(if you have them in your first aid kit). In this case, it is better not to use folk laxatives: they can worsen a person’s health in case of food poisoning.

Use of sorbents

Sorbents are medicines that also remove toxins from the stomach. Potassium permanganate and an enema may not cope with all bacteria, but after sorbents you can be sure of a high-quality cleansing of the stomach.

The simplest and most famous of them is activated carbon. We take it according to the following instructions: 1 tablet of coal for every 10 kg of a person’s weight. Those. if a poisoned man weighs 105 kg, he will need 10-11 tablets per dose. They can be chewed or diluted in a small amount of water and drunk.

Other sorbent drugs: smecta, enterosgel, polysorb, sorbogel etc.

Prevention of dehydration (replacement of lost fluid)

With diarrhea and vomiting, the body not only removes toxins, but also loses a lot of fluid, the volume of which must be replenished. It is from dehydration that a person can die if vomiting and diarrhea continues for more than 24 hours (3-6 hours may be enough for a child).

Therefore, even if you have information about what exactly to drink if you have food poisoning, remember: After each visit to the toilet or vomiting, you must take 100-200 grams of liquid. And in order not to provoke a new attack of vomiting, you need to drink in small sips. The following drinks are suitable:

still mineral water, boiled water, glucose-saline solution (we use the powdered preparation Regidron or prepare it ourselves: add 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt to 1 liter of boiled water).

Restoration of intestinal microflora

This is exactly the stage that is often neglected at home. We felt better after poisoning, got rid of unpleasant symptoms, and that’s it - we forgot about our health. However, not everyone knows that after food poisoning, a disruption of the normal intestinal biocenosis (microflora) almost always occurs.

Therefore, during the recovery stage in hospitals, patients are prescribed medications containing probiotics or prebiotics (beneficial bacteria or their constituent components). Among them, the most famous drugs are: bifidumbacterin, bifiform, linex, enterozermina, yogulakt, bionorm etc. This useful drugs, sold in any pharmacy for free access, i.e. without a doctor's prescription.

Maintaining hunger and diet

Of course, at the peak of symptoms you need to completely abstain from eating food. This is not difficult to do: after all, most often there is no appetite with food poisoning. Because the gastrointestinal tract does not function fully, the first day of illness you should fast(don't forget to drink!).

The next few days after poisoning need to follow a diet, which is in mandatory excludes acute, heavy and fatty foods, dairy products, alcohol. What can you eat if you have food poisoning? Perfect fit

boiled rice, buckwheat, potatoes; biscuits, crackers; bananas and baked apples; lean boiled or steamed meat in minced form.

In this case, the patient’s nutrition should be fractional, in small portions.

Special cases of food poisoning

There are situations when food poisoning cannot be treated at home due to the risk to life. Here they are:

poisoning in a child under 3 years of age; poisoning in pregnant women and the elderly; poisoning by mushrooms or poisonous plants; poisoning accompanied by: diarrhea more than 9-12 times a day; diarrhea mixed with blood; high (above 38 degrees) temperature that persists for more than a day of illness; non-stop vomiting; severe increasing weakness or fainting; poisoning, in which the symptoms only worsen on the 2-3rd day of the disease.

What to do in case of food poisoning with fever? If its indicator does not reach high numbers, but the person does not tolerate any elevated temperature well, you can take one tablet of ibuprofen or paracetamol.

Folk remedies for food poisoning

As already mentioned, treatment of food poisoning traditional methods This is possible only if it is mild and, if possible, after consultation with a doctor.

1. Cinnamon infusion.

Cinnamon is quite good natural antispasmodic and sorbent. Take 0.5 teaspoon. spoons of ground cinnamon, pour it with 1 glass of boiling water and mix. After 15 minutes, strain.

We take a liter of infusion in small sips in a warm state throughout the day.

2. Ginger tea.

1 cup can relieve nausea ginger tea after eating for lunch or dinner. To prepare it, take 1 teaspoon. spoon of grated ginger, pour it into 1 glass hot water(but not boiling water), let it brew for 3-5 minutes, then add sugar to your taste.

3. Dill infusion with honey.

Dill itself quickly removes toxins from the body and facilitates vomiting. Honey retains potassium, which is abundantly lost during vomiting and diarrhea.

Take 1 teaspoon. spoon of dill seeds, fill it with 1.5 cups of boiling water and leave for 2-3 minutes.

Then boil this infusion over heat for 2 minutes, strain and dissolve 1 teaspoon in it. a spoonful of honey. We take a liter of decoction during the day.

4. Lemon juice.

This fruit has anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial properties. Its natural acidity helps kill bacteria that cause food poisoning.

Squeeze the juice of half a lemon, add 1 teaspoon to it. spoon of sugar and drink this drink 2-3 times a day. Can also be mixed warm water with freshly squeezed lemon juice in a ratio of 1:5.

Attention: this method is contraindicated in patients with gastritis of the stomach, high acidity and other gastrointestinal diseases.

5. Decoction of wormwood and yarrow.

These herbs help cleansing the body of toxins. Burm 1 tsp. spoon of wormwood and 1 teaspoon. a spoonful of dried yarrow, mix them with 0.5 l. boiling water, leave for 15 minutes.

We filter the broth and consume the resulting volume internally in 5 doses during the day.

6. Banana.

Bananas are ideal source potassium, which helps reduce symptoms of food poisoning. In addition, they are very soft and easily tolerated by the stomach. One banana eaten per day is enough to restore the energy level of an adult. However, you need to eat only ripe bananas.

7. Cumin seeds.

They relieve inflammation of the stomach after all manifestations of food poisoning. We take 1 table. spoon of crushed or ground cumin seeds, swallow them with 1 glass of water.

8. Honey

It has antibacterial and antifungal effects, in a natural wayrelieves indigestion. It can be used in pure form, sucking, or adding to water or tea. 1 teaspoon is enough. spoons three times a day.

So, depending on how long the symptoms of food poisoning last, how severe the patient’s condition is, what his age is, it is necessary to determine whether there is a need for treatment in a hospital setting or whether home care can be done.

Cure food lung poisoning degree at home is absolutely not difficult - it is enough to follow the basic directions of treating the patient. However, it is best to avoid even the possibility of food poisoning by adhering to preventive measures.

And here are the main ones:

proper heat treatment of food (especially meat and fish); compliance with storage standards and expiration dates of products, as well as checking the integrity of their packaging; separate storage (ideally on different shelves) in the refrigerator of raw and prepared meat or fish products; refusal to eat untested mushrooms and plants; boiling homemade milk or water from non-centralized sources; thorough and high-quality washing of dishes, fruits, vegetables, etc.; Insects and animals (flies, cockroaches, etc.) are not allowed in the kitchen; maintaining personal hygiene.

Video: Elena Malysheva about food poisoning

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In case of intoxication, it is important to begin taking measures aimed at eliminating it as early as possible. harmful substances from the body, so the question of what drugs can be taken in case of poisoning at home is very relevant.

Why you can get food poisoning

Under food intoxication It is generally accepted to understand the dysfunction of organs and systems caused by the ingestion of toxins or poisons. By severity There are three types of poisoning: severe, moderate severity and lung.

The most common pathogens include:

Clostridium perfringens, enters the body as a result of poor-quality processing of meat, poultry, and fish; Stophylococcus aureus actively reproduces at room temperature. The most likely habitats are salads, fermented milk products, cakes, pates, sauces; Bacillus cereus, all perishable products that have not been stored at temperatures up to 6 ° C are susceptible.

Particularly dangerous natural and chemical toxins that can cause food poisoning in living conditions, are contained in poisonous mushrooms and berries, low-quality, expired food products. Poisoning can also be caused by carelessly washed fruits and vegetables that have previously been treated with pesticides used to fertilize plants. Alcohol and surrogates can also be included in this category. Yes, there are known cases deaths from poisoning methyl alcohol. Food chemical intoxication occurs when vinegar enters the stomach.

Symptoms of food poisoning:

Bacterial: vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and colic, diarrhea. Viral: fever, chills, trembling, stomach pain, vomiting, fever. Chemical: increased sweating, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, pain in the eye area. Botulism: the central nervous system is affected, vomiting, dry mouth, and weakness appear.

If you suspect food poisoning, you should immediately consult a doctor, especially if it concerns children. However, the opportunity to receive medical care is not always available.

At acute pathology it is necessary to take emergency measures, including gastric lavage, taking sorbent drugs and restoring the water-salt balance. Huge value has the organization of proper dietary nutrition. The final stage of treatment is restorative procedures, which include taking multivitamin complexes. As a rule, recovery occurs within 3-5 days.

Cleansing the body

These procedures are necessary, and it is with them that treatment for food poisoning should begin. The purpose of the manipulation is to help the stomach get rid of food debris that has caused intoxication and harmful toxins.

Even if poisoning is accompanied severe vomiting, this is not enough to completely cleanse the body. It will have to be induced naturally using a special solution.

Washing should take place in the following order:

Prepare a solution of potassium permanganate (the water should be pale pink). In the absence of potassium permanganate, you can use regular baking soda(1 tablespoon per 2 liters of boiled water at room temperature). Drink 300-400 ml of solution. Induce vomiting artificially by pressing your fingers on the root of the tongue. Repeat the procedure several more times. The number of doses of the solution drunk at one time should be at least 500 ml.

During the first vomiting, the bulk of the food will be released, but gastric lavage can be stopped only when the liquid ejected from the stomach becomes absolutely clean and transparent.

The absence of the urge to vomit means that the product that caused the poisoning has moved from the stomach to the intestines. In this case, the washing procedure is no longer effective and pointless.

Diarrhea, like vomiting, is nothing more than defensive reaction the body to toxins entering the gastrointestinal tract. Some patients make a common mistake - they try to stop this phenomenon with the help of medications, for example, Imodium and its analogues. It should be understood that diarrhea is the fastest and most effective way get rid of harmful substances. Delay feces will lead to the fact that absorption processes toxic poisons and their decay will continue, therefore, the patient’s condition will worsen. The question of taking antidiarrheal medications can only be decided by the attending physician.

If the patient does not have diarrhea, it must be induced with laxatives or an enema. But it is better not to use folk remedies that can provoke diarrhea, so as not to aggravate the course of the disease.

Reception of sorbents

The next step in the treatment of food poisoning is the introduction of sorbent drugs into the body. The action of these products is aimed at absorbing harmful elements., contained in the stomach, and their rapid elimination.

The most common sorbent used for intoxication is activated carbon. This medicine in the form of standard black tablets can be found in any home medicine cabinet and is an excellent remedy for poisoning. Coal should be used at the rate of one tablet per 10 kilograms of weight. The medicine can be taken in two ways: chewed and washed down with plenty of liquid or diluted in boiled water.

In case of poisoning, you can also take white activated carbon, available in tablets or powder. It is believed that, unlike black, it removes toxins, but does not affect useful elements, located in the body.

Another advantage of the white sorbent is the dosage: 2-3 tablets are enough (depending on age and individual characteristics patient, degree of poisoning).

smecta; enterosgel; lactofiltrum; attapulgite; polysorb; polyphepan.

These medications promote rapid elimination toxic substances by adsorption. They should be used in the interval between doses of other drugs, during the absence of vomiting. Contraindications to taking such drugs include high temperature, stomach ulcer. Elderly people and young children should use it with caution, after consulting a doctor.

Restoring water-salt balance

Vomiting and diarrhea, being natural reaction body to toxins, nevertheless contribute to the elimination useful substances and liquids. Its volume should be replenished. During illness the patient should drink a lot to maintain fluid balance. Mineral water without gas is best suited for this purpose.

To maintain electrolyte balance, it is recommended to drink water with a small addition of table salt (not sea salt). The solution is prepared from 1 liter of water and 1 tsp. salt. You should drink at least 2-2.5 liters of salted water per day. In this case, it is necessary to comply certain rule: a glass of water an hour before meals, after eating you should not drink for an hour. This way the stomach will be prepared for next appointment food and will begin to secrete gastric juice correctly.

To restore the mineral balance, the use of the drugs rehydron and oralite is indicated(contain microelements, glucose and salts).

In case of poisoning, you can also drink weak sweet black or green tea, a decoction of chamomile or rose hips.

Drug treatment for poisoning

After cleansing the body, restorative therapy with probiotics is indicated to restore the intestinal microflora. The normal intestinal biocenosis after intoxication is almost always disrupted, therefore After recovery, it is recommended to take medications containing beneficial bacteria. These include “Hilak Forte”, “Linex”, “Bionorm”, “Bioflor”.

If food poisoning is accompanied by fever, you should take antipyretic drugs (ibuprofen, paracetamol).

Self-medication is dangerous! Antibiotics, painkillers, as well as specific drugs (antiemetics and antidiarrheals, etc.) are prescribed by a doctor!

Therapeutic diet

During acute intoxication the patient, as a rule, does not feel the desire to eat. However, this does not mean that he should refuse to eat. A weakened body needs strength to fight the disease. Besides the stomach and intestines cannot fully restore the epithelium, without food it is problematic. Of course, neither an adult nor a child who does not want to eat should be forced, but hunger is not practiced specifically for medicinal purposes.

During poisoning, you should adhere to a strict diet, since the gastrointestinal tract does not work properly and cannot cope with large volumes of food.

During the period of poisoning, the following are prohibited:

fatty, salty, heavy foods; fermented milk products, including milk; products instant cooking, semi-finished products; alcohol; sauces, ketchup, mayonnaise; raw fruits, vegetables, berries; sweet.


You need to eat 5 times a day, in small portions
. Food must be boiled or steamed. Fried foods are excluded.

The patient's diet should consist of:

mashed potatoes with water, without oil; boiled rice; oatmeal, semolina porridge (with water); chicken meat; crackers, biscuits; low-fat broths.

It is allowed to eat bananas, as fruits enriched with nutrients, and watermelons, which have a diuretic effect.

In what cases is hospitalization necessary?

Food poisoning can be successfully treated at home, but in some cases a qualified professional is needed medical care. Hospitalization is indicated for children under three years of age. In children, treatment of intoxication should be carried out only under the supervision of medical personnel, since diarrhea and vomiting will very quickly lead to dehydration. small child It is almost impossible to force him to drink, and in the hospital he will be given intravenous rehydration solutions. Pregnant women and elderly people are also hospitalized.

Treatment in a hospital setting is indicated for:

intoxication caused by poisonous plants and mushrooms; severe form of poisoning; diarrhea (more than 10-12 times a day); high temperature; diarrhea with blood; persistent vomiting; increasing symptoms of the disease; bloating; loss of consciousness; excessive weakness.

If any of these signs occur, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Traditional methods of treating food poisoning

Folk methods of combating intoxication have not been canceled, however You should resort to them after consulting a doctor and only in cases of mild poisoning..

Cinnamon infusion

Cinnamon is a natural antispasmodic and natural absorbent. Cinnamon infusion is prepared as follows: pour a pinch of dried and crushed bark into 250 ml of hot water, let it brew for 15-20 minutes. Drink the strained broth in small doses throughout the day. Recommended volume is 1.5 liters.

Decoction of yarrow and wormwood

Brew 1 tablespoon of medicinal plants that effectively cleanse the stomach of toxins and pour a liter of boiling water. Let it brew for 15 minutes, strain. Divide the decoction into 5 equal parts and drink throughout the day.

Marshmallow infusion

You can use all types of plants - roots, flowers, leaves, as they contribute to speedy recovery. Marshmallow (1 teaspoon of roots or 2 tablespoons of flowers and leaves) pour a glass of boiling water and leave for 4 hours. Drink 3 times a day. You can add half a teaspoon of honey.

Dill decoction with honey

Honey helps retain potassium, which is excreted during diarrhea and vomiting.. Dill reduces abdominal pain, facilitates vomiting, and promotes the rapid elimination of toxins. Brew a teaspoon of dill seeds with 1.5 cups of boiling water, boil for 3 minutes. Cool, strain, add a teaspoon of beekeeping product to the warm broth. In case of food poisoning at home, the infusion should be taken at least 1 liter per day.

How to Avoid Food Poisoning

Preventive measures to prevent intoxication come down to observing the necessary hygienic procedures, eating only high-quality products, and their correct shelf life.

Maintain personal hygiene. Process vegetables and fruits thoroughly. Do not buy products with damaged sealed packaging. Do not eat expired food. Do not hesitate to throw away cloudy drinks with sediment, food with unpleasant smell and taste, as well as ready-made dishes that have been in the refrigerator for more than three days. Eat only those mushrooms and berries that you are confident in. When preparing food, follow the rules of heat treatment. Boil homemade milk first. Drink boiled water. Eliminate cockroaches, flies, and rodents in your home - they are carriers of bacteria. Store raw and cooked meats on separate shelves in the refrigerator.

Follow these simple precautions and you will never experience food poisoning.

Food poisoning is a condition that requires the earliest possible approach to starting treatment: after all, it will depend on whether the toxins have time to be absorbed into the blood and begin their negative impact on the body.

That is why it is so important to react to the disease in time and recognize it as food poisoning. Treatment at home is possible when the first symptoms appear, but if it has already gotten out of control and threatens a person’s life, you need to urgently go to the hospital or call an ambulance.

With the health of young children who are not yet three years old, as well as women during pregnancy, it is especially important to take time. After all, some still cannot clearly tell what worries them, while others risk infecting the fetus developing in their womb with toxins. Both of them are quite weak in terms of immunity, antibiotics are not recommended for them, and the development of stages of intoxication in both the child and the expectant mother can pass extremely quickly.

Typically this diagnosis is characterized by the following symptoms:

  • nausea,
  • abdominal cramps and intestinal colic,
  • stool disorder in the form of diarrhea,
  • vomiting,
  • increased body temperature,
  • dehydration of the body,
  • drop in blood pressure,
  • dysfunction of the central nervous system, fainting, and in the most severe cases, coma.

General principles of treatment of food poisoning

In case of mild food poisoning illness lasts from two hours to two days, however, more severe forms also exist. If you are in doubt about what to do in case of food poisoning, remember: treatment of any form of poisoning at home should be based on certain areas:

  1. Elimination of intoxication and the process of removing toxins from the body.
  2. Preventing dehydration (if symptoms include vomiting or diarrhea).
  3. Restoration of intestinal microflora.
  4. Restoring the digestive system through diet.

Cleansing the stomach by eliminating intoxication and removing toxins

Gastric lavage

The first step and, accordingly, the first aid in the treatment of any poisoning is gastric lavage. This will remove harmful toxins from the body that have entered the stomach with poor-quality food.

How to rinse the stomach? Best suited for this potassium permanganate (aka potassium permanganate). We make a weak solution of potassium permanganate (we focus on the color - it should be pale pink). You should get 1.5-2 liters of liquid. Next we try to drink it, thereby provoking vomiting. If potassium permanganate is not on hand, water diluted with sea salt or baking soda is quite suitable.

Even if poisoning is already accompanied by vomiting, this is not enough to fully cleanse the body, so you will have to induce vomiting artificially, by inserting two fingers into the mouth and pressing them firmly on the root of the tongue. For the best effect, this procedure is carried out two or three times until the stomach begins to excrete clean water (solution).

If you do not feel sick or have the urge to vomit, most likely the spoiled product has already left the stomach and moved into the intestines. There is no point in artificial vomiting in this case.

Often, the body, for the purpose of self-defense, causes diarrhea as the fastest and most effective means of eliminating harmful toxins that enter the gastrointestinal tract. If there is no diarrhea, then it needs to be provoked. They'll handle it enema or laxatives(if you have them in your first aid kit). In this case, it is better not to use folk laxatives: they can worsen a person’s health in case of food poisoning.

Use of sorbents

Sorbents are medicines that also remove toxins from the stomach. Potassium permanganate and an enema may not cope with all bacteria, but after sorbents you can be sure of a high-quality cleansing of the stomach.

The simplest and most famous of them is . We take it according to the following instructions: 1 tablet of coal for every 10 kg of a person’s weight. Those. if a poisoned man weighs 105 kg, he will need 10-11 tablets per dose. They can be chewed or diluted in a small amount of water and drunk.

Other sorbent drugs: smecta, enterosgel, polysorb, sorbogel etc.

Prevention of dehydration (replacement of lost fluid)

With diarrhea and vomiting, the body not only removes toxins, but also loses a lot of fluid, the volume of which must be replenished. It is from dehydration that a person can die if vomiting and diarrhea continues for more than 24 hours (3-6 hours may be enough for a child).

Therefore, even if you have information about what exactly to drink if you have food poisoning, remember: After each visit to the toilet or vomiting, you must take 100-200 grams of liquid. And in order not to provoke a new attack of vomiting, you need to drink in small sips. The following drinks are suitable:

  • still mineral water,
  • boiled water,
  • glucose-salt solution (we use the powdered preparation Regidron or prepare it yourself: add 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt to 1 liter of boiled water).

Restoration of intestinal microflora

This is exactly the stage that is often neglected at home. We felt better after poisoning, got rid of unpleasant symptoms, and that’s it - we forgot about our health. However, not everyone knows that after food poisoning, a disruption of the normal intestinal biocenosis (microflora) almost always occurs.

Therefore, during the recovery stage in hospitals, patients are prescribed medications containing probiotics or prebiotics (beneficial bacteria or their components). Among them, the most famous drugs are: bifidumbacterin, bifiform, linex, enterozermina, yogulakt, bionorm etc. These are useful drugs that are sold in any pharmacy for free access, i.e. without a doctor's prescription.

Maintaining hunger and diet

Of course, at the peak of symptoms you need to completely abstain from eating food. This is not difficult to do: after all, most often there is no appetite with food poisoning. Because the gastrointestinal tract does not function fully, the first day of illness you should fast(don't forget to drink!).

The next few days after poisoning need to follow a diet, which necessarily excludes spicy, heavy and fatty foods, dairy products, and alcohol from the diet. What can you eat if you have food poisoning? Perfect fit

  • boiled rice, buckwheat, potatoes;
  • biscuits, crackers;
  • bananas and baked apples;
  • lean boiled or steamed meat in minced form.

In this case, the patient’s nutrition should be fractional, in small portions.

Special cases of food poisoning

There are situations when food poisoning cannot be treated at home due to the risk to life. Here they are:

  • poisoning in a child under 3 years of age;
  • poisoning in pregnant women and the elderly;
  • poisoning by mushrooms or poisonous plants;
  • poisoning accompanied by:
    • diarrhea more than 9-12 times a day;
    • diarrhea mixed with blood;
    • high (above 38 degrees) temperature that persists for more than a day of illness;
    • non-stop vomiting;
    • severe increasing weakness or fainting;
  • poisoning, in which the symptoms only worsen on the 2-3rd day of the disease.

What to do in case of food poisoning with fever? If its indicator does not reach high numbers, but the person does not tolerate any elevated temperature, you can take one tablet of ibuprofen or paracetamol.

Folk remedies for food poisoning

As already mentioned, treatment of food poisoning with traditional methods is possible only if it is mild and, if possible, after consultation with a doctor.

1. Cinnamon infusion.

Cinnamon is quite good natural antispasmodic and sorbent. Take 0.5 teaspoon. spoons of ground cinnamon, pour it with 1 glass of boiling water and mix. After 15 minutes, strain.

We take a liter of infusion in small sips in a warm state throughout the day.

2. Ginger tea.

Drinking 1 cup of ginger tea after eating lunch or dinner can relieve nausea. To prepare it, take 1 teaspoon. spoon of grated ginger, pour it with 1 glass of hot water (but not boiling water), let it brew for 3-5 minutes, then add sugar to your taste.

3. Dill infusion with honey.

Dill itself quickly removes toxins from the body and facilitates vomiting. Honey retains potassium, which is abundantly lost during vomiting and diarrhea.

Take 1 teaspoon. spoon of dill seeds, fill it with 1.5 cups of boiling water and leave for 2-3 minutes.

Then boil this infusion over heat for 2 minutes, strain and dissolve 1 teaspoon in it. a spoonful of honey. We take a liter of decoction during the day.

4. Lemon juice.

This fruit has anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial properties. Its natural acidity helps kill bacteria that cause food poisoning.

Squeeze the juice of half a lemon, add 1 teaspoon to it. spoon of sugar and drink this drink 2-3 times a day. You can also mix warm water with freshly squeezed lemon juice in a ratio of 1:5.

Attention: this method is contraindicated in patients with gastritis of the stomach, high acidity and other gastrointestinal diseases.

5. Decoction of wormwood and yarrow.

These herbs help cleansing the body of toxins. Burm 1 tsp. spoon of wormwood and 1 teaspoon. a spoonful of dried yarrow, mix them with 0.5 l. boiling water, leave for 15 minutes.

We filter the broth and consume the resulting volume internally in 5 doses during the day.

6. Banana.

Bananas are an ideal source of potassium to help reduce the symptoms of food poisoning. In addition, they are very soft and easily tolerated by the stomach. One banana eaten per day is enough to restore the energy level of an adult. However, you need to eat only ripe bananas.

7. Cumin seeds.

They relieve inflammation of the stomach after all manifestations of food poisoning. We take 1 table. spoon of crushed or ground cumin seeds, swallow them with 1 glass of water.

8. Honey

It has antibacterial and antifungal effects in a natural way relieves indigestion. It can be consumed in its pure form, sucked, or added to water or tea. 1 teaspoon is enough. spoons three times a day.

So, depending on how long the symptoms of food poisoning last, how severe the patient’s condition is, what his age is, it is necessary to determine whether there is a need for treatment in a hospital setting or whether home care can be done.

It is absolutely not difficult to cure mild food poisoning at home - it is enough to follow the basic directions of treating the patient. However, it is best to avoid even the possibility of food poisoning by adhering to preventive measures.

And here are the main ones:

  • proper heat treatment of food (especially meat and fish);
  • compliance with storage standards and expiration dates of products, as well as checking the integrity of their packaging;
  • separate storage (ideally on different shelves) in the refrigerator of raw and prepared meat or fish products;
  • refusal to eat untested mushrooms and plants;
  • boiling homemade milk or water from non-centralized sources;
  • thorough and high-quality washing of dishes, fruits, vegetables, etc.;
  • Insects and animals (flies, cockroaches, etc.) are not allowed in the kitchen;
  • maintaining personal hygiene.

What to do in case of poisoning? This question confuses many people, despite the prevalence of the phenomenon. Food poisoning can affect anyone, both at home and in establishments catering. Any person should know what to do in case of food poisoning. The ability to promptly provide help in case of food poisoning to yourself or another person at home can save lives.

You can get poisoned from ignorance of plants, especially mushrooms, and poor quality nutrition. To prevent pathology, it is important to be able to recognize a spoiled product and get rid of it in time. Poisoning is especially dangerous for children, who can eat anything. Any parent should know what to take and what to do if their child is poisoned.

1 Essence of the problem

IN general case poisoning represents a dysfunction internal organ person as a result of exposure to poison or toxin. It is expressed in the form of varying degrees of intoxication of the body. Taking into account the toxic component, the following are distinguished: the following types lesions: carbon monoxide poisoning, toxic chemicals, acids and alkalis, medications, as well as food poisoning. Toxic substances can enter the body through respiratory tract(inhalation route), through the skin (percutaneous type), by injection (parenteral type) and through the mouth ( oral route) together with food or drink.

According to the severity of the lesion, they are distinguished the following degrees poisoning: mild, moderate, severe and extremely severe. As a result of pathology, intoxication of the body occurs, which is divided into the following types:

  1. Acute intoxication - a sharp manifestation characteristic features after a single short-term exposure to toxic substances.
  2. Subacute form - poisoning with a lesser manifestation, but caused by several cases of exposure to poisons.
  3. Hyperacute intoxication is an acute form with damage to the central nervous system and manifestation in the form of convulsions and loss of coordination (in the absence of help, death is possible).
  4. The chronic variety is a slow course of pathology with prolonged or repeated exposure to toxins.

The most typical groups of substances capable of toxic effects in domestic conditions are alcohol and its surrogates, cauterizing and rinsing liquids, carbon monoxide, some medicines, mushrooms and berries, and low-quality products.

2 Features of food poisoning

Food poisoning is acute disorder digestive function when consuming spoiled or poisonous foods and drinks. The following types of such pathology are distinguished: toxicoinfectious and toxic (non-infectious) food poisoning. Toxic infections enter the stomach along with food contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms. The most common pathogens are:

  1. Clostridium perfringens. Appear in the body as a result of poor processing of meat products, legumes or poultry. The duration of the disease in adults and children is no more than 24 hours. Dangerous variety is clostridium botulism.
  2. Staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcus aureus). It develops into various products. Home custard or sauce for a long time time outside the refrigerator becomes favorable for its reproduction. Staphylococcus actively multiplies at room temperature in products such as pates, smoked meats, vinaigrettes, and dairy products.
  3. Bacillus cereus. It is often associated with eating rice that was previously contaminated with this bacterium. Any perishable products that are not stored at temperatures up to 6 ° C are dangerous. The microorganism is dangerous due to its thermal resistance.

Non-infectious poisoning occurs when natural and chemical poisons and toxins. Most characteristic the most dangerous poisonings poisonous mushrooms and berries. When consuming poorly washed and unprocessed foods, a variety of toxic chemicals used for pollination or feeding plants can enter the body. Common cause becomes the presence of nitrates. This category also includes alcohol poisoning. They can arise from both excessive quantities and the use of surrogates. Taking, for example, methyl alcohol can result in death or very serious damage to the central nervous system. Direct chemical poisoning can occur from drinking vinegar.

3 Signs

In case of food poisoning, symptoms appear depending on the degree of damage and etiological causes. It can be noted general signs pathologies: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, bloating, discomfort and heaviness in the stomach, chills, weakness, headache, excessive salivation, tachycardia.

Different types of poisoning have characteristic signs:

  1. Bacterial damage - vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and they appear within 1 hour after eating low-quality food.
  2. Viral infection - febrile state, chills, vomiting due to poisoning, pain in the head and stomach, elevated temperature, appear 10-45 hours after eating, depending on the type of infection.
  3. Chemical poisoning - diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, increased sweating and salivation, abdominal pain, pressure in the eyeball, can appear as early as 0.5 hours after the toxin enters the body.
  4. Botulism - signs of central nervous system damage (problems with speech and vision), dry mouth, vomiting, muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing. The time until the first signs appear is 10-20 hours.

4 Principles of treatment

What to do in case of acute food poisoning at home? The most important thing is that in case of acute pathology, first aid for poisoning is necessary. Such emergency measures include gastric lavage, administration of sorbent substances, providing drinking regime, restoration of water and salt balance. The final stage of treatment should be restorative and preventive procedures.

5 Carrying out the washing procedure

Solving the question of what to do in case of stomach poisoning at home begins with urgent lavage of the gastrointestinal tract. This is the very first aid for poisoning. The purpose of this procedure is to urgently remove toxins and food debris. In this case, cleaning with artificial vomiting helps. This event is carried out in the following order:

  1. A weak (pink) aqueous solution of potassium permanganate is prepared (you can use a solution of baking soda - 30 g per 2 liters of water at normal temperature).
  2. The first portion of the solution is drunk (you can drink 300-400 ml).
  3. Vomiting is induced using two fingers.
  4. The procedure is repeated 3-4 times, while you need to drink 400-500 ml of liquid (usually they drink only 3-3.5 liters).

6 Introduction of sorbents

At the next stage, it is necessary to take a sorbent for food poisoning, i.e. a substance that absorbs harmful elements of gastric contents. This product helps to quickly remove toxins remaining after washing. Activated carbon is most widely used as a sorbent preparation. It is sold in pharmacies in the form of standard tablets. The dose of administered sorbent is calculated from next condition: 1 tablet for every 10 kg of human body weight.

Activated carbon is more convenient to take in case of poisoning in the form aqueous solution: The entire dose is mixed in boiled water (100 ml) at normal temperature. Instead of regular coal, you can buy a white variety at the pharmacy. This substance absorbs toxins, but does not affect beneficial components.

As effective sorbents you can drink in case of poisoning ready-made drugs- Smecta, Lactofiltrum, Enterosgel.

7 Compliance with drinking regime

The acute course of the pathology leads to rapid dehydration of the body as a result of vomiting and profuse diarrhea. Under these conditions, it is important to remember that you need to drink a lot to compensate for fluid losses. This is the only way to maintain water balance, and to restore electrolytic balance, table salt should be added to the water (at the rate of 10-15 g per 1 liter of water). For effective treatment You need to drink at least 2.5-3 liters of water per day.

It is recommended to alternate drinking salted water with drinking sweet, weak tea. In addition, to maintain the necessary mineral balance and complete rehydration of the body, it is recommended to take Regidron and Oralit, which include essential microelements, salt and glucose.

8 Drug treatment

If the poisoning is caused by toxic infections, then you cannot do without drug therapy for destruction pathogenic microorganisms. After preliminary cleansing of the stomach and stopping severe vomiting, medications are prescribed to restore the intestinal microflora: Hilak Forte, Linex, Mezim. If a temperature above 37.8 °C appears, you should take antipyretic medications: Paracetamol, Ibuprofen. If necessary, specific antibiotics are taken as prescribed by a doctor. The use of painkillers is not recommended.

9 Preventive measures

An important condition for the treatment of acute poisoning is to ensure therapeutic fasting. During the first day it is necessary to ensure bed rest and completely stop eating (drinks only). In the next 2 days, you can introduce jelly, crackers without additives, liquid mashed potatoes, oatmeal with water. Improvement general condition of the injured person occurs quickly after necessary procedures, But full recovery occurs in 3-5 days. During this period there may be small residual symptoms in the form of flatulence, weakness, mild pain.

Prevention of poisoning consists of observing all hygiene measures, proper storage products and their quality control. When using products, you need to ensure compliance with the following standards: do not consume products that have expired; food should not have an unnatural color and taste, gas emissions, or smell; Cloudiness and sediment are not allowed in drinks. Do not buy products with damaged packaging. You need to be especially careful when consuming mushrooms and berries: you can only eat plants that there is no doubt about. When preparing lunch, you must strictly follow the rules of heat treatment.

Anyone should know what to do in case of poisoning. Unfortunately, no one is immune from such trouble, and it is important to accept everything necessary measures timely and in full. Sometimes it happens that delay in providing first aid ends very badly.

In case of intoxication, it is important to begin taking measures aimed at removing harmful substances from the body as early as possible, so the question of what drugs can be taken in case of poisoning at home is very relevant.

Why you can get food poisoning

Food intoxication is generally understood as a dysfunction of organs and systems caused by the ingestion of toxins or poisons. By severity There are three types of poisoning: severe, moderate and mild.

The most common pathogens include:

  • Clostridium perfringens, enters the body as a result of poor-quality processing of meat, poultry, and fish;
  • Stophylococcus aureus actively reproduces at room temperature. The most likely habitats are salads, fermented milk products, cakes, pates, sauces;
  • Bacillus cereus, all perishable products that have not been stored at temperatures up to 6 ° C are susceptible.

Particularly dangerous natural and chemical toxins that can cause food poisoning at home are found in poisonous mushrooms and berries, low-quality, expired food products. Poisoning can also be caused by carelessly washed fruits and vegetables that have previously been treated with pesticides used to fertilize plants. Alcohol and surrogates can also be included in this category. Thus, there are known cases of death from methyl alcohol poisoning. Food chemical intoxication occurs when vinegar enters the stomach.

Symptoms of food poisoning:

  1. Bacterial: vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and colic, diarrhea.
  2. Viral: fever, chills, trembling, stomach pain, vomiting, fever.
  3. Chemical: increased sweating, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, pain in the eye area.
  4. Botulism: the central nervous system is affected, vomiting, dry mouth, and weakness appear.

If you suspect food poisoning, you should immediately consult a doctor, especially if it concerns children. However, the opportunity to receive medical care is not always available.

In case of acute pathology, it is necessary to take emergency measures, including gastric lavage, taking sorbent drugs and restoring the water-salt balance. Organizing proper dietary nutrition is of great importance. The final stage of treatment is restorative procedures, which include taking multivitamin complexes. As a rule, recovery occurs within 3-5 days.

Clinical picture of food poisoning

The first symptoms of the disease appear during the first 2-6 hours after eating contaminated or low-quality food. At severe poisoning food clinical signs may develop in the first hours.

Please note that in the case of botulism, the first signs of the disease may develop within 1-2 days.

In case of food poisoning, the following symptoms develop:

  • nausea followed by vomiting. Vomit may consist of food debris, bile, gastric juice. Vomiting brings temporary relief, but then nausea returns;
  • abdominal pain can be localized in the stomach or be like intestinal colic;
  • an increase in body temperature is possible with intestinal infection or during development inflammatory complications such as gastritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis. With salmonellosis it can rise to 39.5 degrees;
  • diarrhea develops in the first hours of the disease. With salmonellosis, the stool is foamy and greenish, and with dysentery it is watery, streaked with blood. Diarrhea may be accompanied by abdominal cramps. profuse diarrhea leads to a rapid increase in dehydration;
  • flatulence and increased discharge of gases are accompanied by pain in the intestinal area;
  • general weakness and dizziness accompany intoxication syndrome. The patient becomes lethargic and drowsy;
  • tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), hypotension (decreased blood pressure) – signs of toxic effects on the body of food and fluid loss. Poisoning with certain types of mushrooms may cause an increase in blood pressure. With severe dehydration, the pulse becomes weak and arrhythmic;
  • breathing problems develop when the body is intoxicated. The person breathes quickly, shallowly, complains of shortness of breath;
  • cramps throughout the body, similar to epileptic seizure, characteristic of the lesion nervous system toxins. This is possible due to intoxication with mushrooms, fish, alcohol;
  • impaired consciousness, deep coma - signs serious condition sick. They develop when acute poisoning, infectious-toxic shock.

Please note that in small children the condition worsens faster than in adults. It is very difficult for their body to cope with toxins and loss of fluid and electrolytes.

Why is food poisoning dangerous?

Many people are accustomed to considering food poisoning as a non-dangerous and trivial condition for which there is no need to seek medical help. Indeed, mild poisoning in most cases does not pose a danger to human life, but only a doctor, after examining the patient, can specifically assess the severity of the disease and the patient's condition.

The following are conditions that often develop against the background of severe food poisoning:

  • Infectious-toxic shock is a condition caused by severe intoxication and excessive fluid loss. Shock is accompanied by disruption cardiovascular system, breathing, brain and kidneys.
  • Acute gastritis develops with severe stomach poisoning by toxins. The mucous membrane of this organ becomes inflamed. The patient's temperature rises and his condition worsens.
  • Acute pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The patient feels unbearable girdle pain in the abdomen, he experiences uncontrollable vomiting, the level of glucose in the blood may decrease and bruises may appear on the skin near the navel. The temperature rises above 38 degrees. This condition requires urgent surgical intervention.
  • Acute renal dysfunction is accompanied by a decrease in the amount of urine, swelling, and lower back pain.
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding is a complication of food poisoning that often occurs in patients chronic gastritis And peptic ulcer. Black vomiting and stool develop, severe weakness, pale skin, tachycardia.

Cleansing the body

These procedures are necessary, and it is with them that treatment for food poisoning should begin. The purpose of the manipulation is to help the stomach get rid of food debris that has caused intoxication and harmful toxins.

Even if poisoning is accompanied by severe vomiting, this is not enough to completely cleanse the body. It will have to be induced naturally using a special solution.

Washing should take place in the following order:

  1. Prepare a solution of potassium permanganate (the water should be pale pink). If potassium permanganate is not available, you can use regular baking soda (1 tablespoon per 2 liters of boiled water at room temperature).
  2. Drink 300-400 ml of solution.
  3. Induce vomiting artificially by pressing your fingers on the root of the tongue.
  4. Repeat the procedure several more times. The number of doses of the solution drunk at one time should be at least 500 ml.

During the first vomiting, the bulk of the food will be released, but gastric lavage can be stopped only when the liquid ejected from the stomach becomes absolutely clean and transparent.

The absence of the urge to vomit means that the product that caused the poisoning has moved from the stomach to the intestines. In this case, the washing procedure is no longer effective and pointless.

Diarrhea, like vomiting, is nothing more than the body’s protective reaction to toxins entering the gastrointestinal tract. Some patients make a common mistake - they try to stop this phenomenon with the help of medications, for example, Imodium and its analogues. It should be understood that diarrhea is the fastest and most effective way to get rid of harmful substances. Retention of feces will lead to the fact that the processes of absorption of toxic poisons and their decay will continue, therefore, the patient’s condition will worsen. The question of taking antidiarrheal medications can only be decided by the attending physician.

If the patient does not have diarrhea, it must be induced with laxatives or an enema. But it is better not to use folk remedies that can provoke diarrhea, so as not to aggravate the course of the disease.

Reception of sorbents

The next step in the treatment of food poisoning is the introduction of sorbent drugs into the body. The action of these products is aimed at absorbing harmful elements., contained in the stomach, and their rapid elimination.

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The most common sorbent used for intoxication is activated carbon. This medicine in the form of standard black tablets can be found in any home medicine cabinet and is an excellent remedy for poisoning. Coal should be used at the rate of one tablet per 10 kilograms of weight. The medicine can be taken in two ways: chewed and washed down with plenty of liquid or diluted in boiled water.

In case of poisoning, you can also take white activated carbon, available in tablets or powder. It is believed that, unlike black, it removes toxins, but does not affect the beneficial elements found in the body.

Another advantage of the white sorbent is the dosage: 2-3 tablets are enough (depending on the age and individual characteristics of the patient, the degree of poisoning).

  • smecta;
  • enterosgel;
  • lactofiltrum;
  • attapulgite;
  • polysorb;
  • polyphepan.

These drugs promote the rapid elimination of toxic substances through adsorption. They should be used in the interval between doses of other drugs, during the absence of vomiting. Contraindications to taking such drugs include high fever and stomach ulcers. Elderly people and young children should use it with caution, after consulting a doctor.

Restoring water-salt balance

Vomiting and diarrhea, being a natural reaction of the body to toxins, nevertheless contribute to the excretion of beneficial substances and fluids. Its volume should be replenished. During illness the patient should drink a lot to maintain fluid balance. Mineral water without gas is best suited for this purpose.

To maintain electrolyte balance, it is recommended to drink water with a small addition of table salt (not sea salt). The solution is prepared from 1 liter of water and 1 tsp. salt. You should drink at least 2-2.5 liters of salted water per day. In this case, you need to follow a certain rule: a glass of water an hour before a meal, and after a meal you cannot drink for an hour. In this way, the stomach will be prepared for the next meal and will begin to secrete gastric juice correctly.

To restore the mineral balance, the use of the drugs rehydron and oralite is indicated(contain microelements, glucose and salts).

In case of poisoning, you can also drink weak, sweet black or green tea, a decoction of chamomile or rose hips.

Drug treatment for poisoning

After cleansing the body, restorative therapy with probiotics is indicated to restore the intestinal microflora. The normal intestinal biocenosis after intoxication is almost always disrupted, therefore After recovery, it is recommended to take medications containing beneficial bacteria. These include “Hilak Forte”, “Linex”, “Bionorm”, “Bioflor”.

If food poisoning is accompanied by fever, you should take antipyretic drugs (ibuprofen, paracetamol).

Self-medication is dangerous! Antibiotics, painkillers, as well as specific drugs (antiemetics and antidiarrheals, etc.) are prescribed by a doctor!

Therapeutic diet

During the period of acute intoxication, the patient, as a rule, does not feel the desire to eat. However, this does not mean that he should refuse to eat. A weakened body needs strength to fight the disease. Besides the stomach and intestines cannot fully restore the epithelium, without food it is problematic. Of course, neither an adult nor a child who does not want to eat should be forced, but hunger is not practiced specifically for medicinal purposes.

During poisoning, you should adhere to a strict diet, since the gastrointestinal tract does not work properly and cannot cope with large volumes of food.

During the period of poisoning, the following are prohibited:

  • fatty, salty, heavy foods;
  • fermented milk products, including milk;
  • instant products, semi-finished products;
  • alcohol;
  • sauces, ketchup, mayonnaise;
  • raw fruits, vegetables, berries;
  • sweet.


You need to eat 5 times a day, in small portions
. Food must be boiled or steamed. Fried foods are excluded.

The patient's diet should consist of:

  • mashed potatoes with water, without oil;
  • boiled rice;
  • oatmeal, semolina porridge (with water);
  • chicken meat;
  • crackers, biscuits;
  • low-fat broths.

It is allowed to eat bananas, as fruits enriched with nutrients, and watermelons, which have a diuretic effect.

In what cases is hospitalization necessary?

Food poisoning can be successfully treated at home, but in some cases qualified medical assistance is necessary. Hospitalization is indicated for children under three years of age. In children, treatment of intoxication should be carried out only under the supervision of medical personnel, since diarrhea and vomiting will very quickly lead to dehydration. It is almost impossible to force a small child to drink, and in the hospital he will be given intravenous rehydration solutions. Pregnant women and elderly people are also hospitalized.

Treatment in a hospital setting is indicated for:

  • intoxication caused by poisonous plants and mushrooms;
  • severe form of poisoning;
  • diarrhea (more than 10-12 times a day);
  • high temperature;
  • diarrhea with blood;
  • persistent vomiting;
  • increasing symptoms of the disease;
  • bloating;
  • loss of consciousness;
  • excessive weakness.

If any of these signs occur, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Rehabilitation period after poisoning

Any poisoning is stressful for all organs and systems. It is important to know what to do after poisoning. When discharged from the hospital, the doctor will give you recommendations on proper nutrition and outpatient treatment.


In the first 2 weeks, the patient should adhere to a diet
, stop smoking, drinking alcohol, fried, smoked, fatty and spicy foods.

To restore the intestinal microflora, probiotics are prescribed - preparations that contain beneficial bacteria. If complications develop (gastritis, cholecystitis), they are treated.

Traditional methods of treating food poisoning

Folk methods of combating intoxication have not been canceled, however You should resort to them after consulting a doctor and only in cases of mild poisoning..

Cinnamon infusion

Cinnamon is a natural antispasmodic and natural absorbent. Cinnamon infusion is prepared as follows: pour a pinch of dried and crushed bark into 250 ml of hot water, let it brew for 15-20 minutes. Drink the strained broth in small doses throughout the day. Recommended volume is 1.5 liters.

Decoction of yarrow and wormwood

Brew 1 tablespoon of medicinal plants that effectively cleanse the stomach of toxins and pour a liter of boiling water. Let it brew for 15 minutes, strain. Divide the decoction into 5 equal parts and drink throughout the day.


You can use all types of plants - roots, flowers, leaves, as they contribute to a speedy recovery. Marshmallow (1 teaspoon of roots or 2 tablespoons of flowers and leaves) pour a glass of boiling water and leave for 4 hours. Drink 3 times a day. You can add half a teaspoon of honey.

Dill decoction with honey

Honey helps retain potassium, which is excreted during diarrhea and vomiting.. Dill reduces abdominal pain, facilitates vomiting, and promotes the rapid elimination of toxins. Brew a teaspoon of dill seeds with 1.5 cups of boiling water, boil for 3 minutes. Cool, strain, add a teaspoon of beekeeping product to the warm broth. In case of food poisoning at home, the infusion should be taken at least 1 liter per day.

How to Avoid Food Poisoning

Preventive measures to prevent intoxication come down to observing the necessary hygienic procedures, eating only high-quality products, and their correct shelf life.

  1. Maintain personal hygiene.
  2. Process vegetables and fruits thoroughly.
  3. Do not buy products with damaged sealed packaging.
  4. Do not eat expired food.
  5. Do not hesitate to throw away cloudy drinks with sediment, foods with an unpleasant odor or taste, or ready-made meals that have been sitting in the refrigerator for more than three days.
  6. Eat only those mushrooms and berries that you are confident in.
  7. When preparing food, follow the rules of heat treatment.
  8. Boil homemade milk first.
  9. Drink boiled water.
  10. Eliminate cockroaches, flies, and rodents in your home - they are carriers of bacteria.
  11. Store raw and cooked meats on separate shelves in the refrigerator.

Follow these simple precautions and you will never experience food poisoning.