Food poisoning symptoms first aid. Period of manifestation of symptoms of poisoning

Food poisoning is a common problem that occurs when consuming low-quality foods. Poisoning has its own specific symptoms and requires provision medical care.

The hidden danger of poisoning

Any poisoning, including food poisoning, should not be underestimated. The causes of food poisoning are the consumption of inedible foods (poisonous mushrooms); low-quality, expired food; food that contains a large number of dangerous bacteria that poison the body. Food poisoning can occur as a result of non-compliance with hygiene rules, and in case of violation of the storage and preparation of food.

To people not involved in medicine, it may seem that when the first signs appear food poisoning, such as nausea, weakness, disorders in the gastrointestinal tract, do not worry.

Many people know that if such symptoms appear, you need to drink Activated carbon or any other sorbent available at home. But this is not always enough. In severe cases of poisoning, first aid may be required.

Food intoxication is not the only problem that can arise in a person who has food poisoning. Eating poor quality food can result in an intestinal infection.

Diagnoses that may result from poisoning

If the food contains certain harmful bacteria, they can trigger the development of unpleasant and long-term problems. drug treatment diseases.

The most common diseases resulting from poisoning include:

  1. Dysentery – acute infection, the development of which is provoked by the bacterium Shigella. It is characterized by severe intoxication of the whole body and inflammation of the intestines. The disease is popularly known as “bloody diarrhea.” In cases of complications, dysentery is dangerous due to possible intestinal rupture. Requires drug treatment.
  2. Botulism is a complex infectious disease that is accompanied by severe intoxication. Botulism rods most often reproduce in the wrong way canned food, fish, sausages. At the slightest suspicion of the possibility of infection with botulism, you should consult a doctor. In cases of untimely treatment, the disease is dangerous due to irreversible damage to the nervous system and can lead to death.
  3. Escherichosis – infectious disease, which affects the gastrointestinal tract. Poisoning due to escherichiasis is accompanied by the development of acute enterocolitis and enteritis. Infection can occur in the absence of hygiene, through water and food, and is often observed in young children. Definitely requires medical intervention and drug treatment.
  4. Salmonellosis is a type of intestinal infection that is accompanied by severe intoxication and affects the gastrointestinal tract. If not treated promptly, it can cause the development of renal failure. Requires mandatory contact with a medical institution.

First symptoms and signs

The first symptoms of food poisoning in adults and children can appear 2-4 hours after eating or a day later. Food intoxication activates defensive reactions organism, which begins to reject the substances that have entered it harmful substances. Often one of the first symptoms indicating food poisoning in a person is nausea and vomiting. A person who has been poisoned may feel sudden lethargy, weakness, and unprovoked extreme fatigue.

In addition, food poisoning, which requires help and treatment, can manifest itself with the following symptoms:

  • diarrhea;
  • slight increase in temperature;
  • abdominal pain;
  • strong thirst;
  • increased sweating, chills, pale lips and facial skin.

If a person suspects that he has recently eaten food of questionable quality and exhibits similar symptoms of food poisoning, they should not be ignored. Provided that vomiting and the urge to go to the toilet are infrequent, and abdominal pain is moderate, you can treat and provide first aid for food poisoning at home yourself.

How to deal with poisoning at home

After the first symptoms of food poisoning appear, the question arises of how to help the body cope with intoxication. This process at home can be divided into several main stages:

  1. Cleansing the stomach - if you have recently consumed low-quality food that could cause poisoning, first of all you need to cleanse the stomach of its remnants. To do this, you need to drink about 2 liters of a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a 2% soda solution. Vomiting is induced until all food remains are expelled from the stomach along with the solution.
  2. Taking a sorbent is to cleanse the body of harmful substances that have already been absorbed. For these purposes, it is recommended to use Smecta, activated carbon or white coal. If necessary, first aid can be provided with any other sorbent that is available. home medicine cabinet(Enterosgel, Laktofiltrum).
  3. Restoring water balance – important stage, without which first aid for food poisoning cannot be done. At severe diarrhea and vomiting, a person loses a lot of fluid, which must be replenished by drinking plenty of fluids. In addition to water and tea, you can use a medicine such as Regidron. It is recommended to drink at least 3 liters of liquid during the day.

In what cases should you be seriously concerned and contact a doctor?

If first aid for food poisoning has been provided, but severe vomiting and diarrhea do not go away within the next two to three hours, you should call ambulance. Treating food poisoning at home may have Negative consequences in cases where the patient requires more serious qualified assistance than just taking a sorbent. In case of poisoning poisonous mushrooms You need to call an ambulance immediately.

For example, the poison of the toadstool in short time capable of destroying liver cells. Exotoxic botulism bacilli that entered the body with food products, if first aid is not provided, not only cause poisoning, but also infect nervous system person.

You should not hesitate to call an ambulance so that the person can receive qualified first aid if the symptoms of food poisoning intensify.

  • body temperature increased to 39°C and above;
  • the poisoned person complains of very strong pains or constant cramps in the abdomen;
  • the stomach has become hard or very swollen;
  • a skin rash appeared on the body;
  • the main signs of food poisoning were supplemented by inflammation and pain in the joints;
  • breathing problems have become noticeable, difficulty swallowing is observed;
  • There is blood in the patient's stool or vomit.

Treatment in hospital

If the consumption of poor-quality food occurred relatively recently, and the patient has all the first signs of food poisoning, except for vomiting, gastric lavage with a probe is used in a hospital setting. In the absence of diarrhea, a siphon enema can be used. The main goal of these procedures is to rid the body of the remnants of toxic substances as soon as possible.

The decision on how to treat food poisoning rests with your doctor. Therapy will depend on the severity of the patient’s condition and the type of poisoning.

The most commonly used groups of drugs are:

  1. Painkillers (Spazgan, No-Shpa) – relieve sharp pains and spasms.
  2. Antipyretics (Paracetamol, Analgin + Diphenhydramine) - are used at temperatures exceeding 39°C, and at lower temperatures in cases where patients cannot easily tolerate it.
  3. Sorption preparations – various enterosorbents are most often used. They are prescribed in between doses of other medications (the difference should be at least 2 hours) and only after the patient’s high fever has subsided.
  4. Drugs that stop vomiting and diarrhea are prescribed if the symptoms of food poisoning (vomiting and diarrhea) do not go away for too long or are long-lasting and debilitating for the patient.
  5. Rehydrating drugs (Chlorazol, Oralit) - used to restore electrolytes and fight dehydration. In mild cases they are taken orally. Severe poisoning can be treated with parenteral rehydration. For these purposes, drugs such as Chlosol, Trisol, etc. can be used.
  6. Antibiotics, antibacterial and antimicrobial agents– are used extremely rarely. Treatment with them begins in cases where there is a suspicion of mixed poisoning, or when food poisoning in an adult and a child is accompanied by an intestinal infection.
  7. Probiotics are drugs that must be present in the treatment of food poisoning in both children and adult patients, even after all the first symptoms have passed. They help restore intestinal microflora, reduce irritation of the intestinal mucosa and provide general support to the gastrointestinal tract.

How to speed up recovery

Regardless of where treatment and first aid for food poisoning took place (at home or in the hospital), for a faster recovery of the body you need to take some preventive measures. First of all, this long-term use probiotics that will restore damaged flora and help cope with dysbiosis (often appears after prolonged diarrhea). Even after complete recovery, you should stick to a diet for some time - do not eat fatty, spicy, fried foods or alcohol. After suffering intoxication, the body is always weakened, and it should not be loaded with foods that are difficult for the gastrointestinal tract.

Foods that cause food poisoning

Prevention of food poisoning first of all requires knowledge of the foods that most often cause poisoning.

These include:


How to protect yourself from poisoning

The causes of food poisoning are varied, but quite effective prevention food poisoning exists. It is always much easier to prevent any disease, even the simplest one, than to treat it later. There are developed recommendations on how to avoid food poisoning and protect yourself as much as possible from its unpleasant consequences. If you choose foods and places to eat responsibly and consciously, you can prevent many unpleasant problems.

Expiration date must be checked

Taking special care when shopping will help you avoid the problems that come with food poisoning. The habit of checking expiration dates on labels should become an unshakable rule. If possible, you should not even eat food that is nearing its expiration date.

When it comes to choosing products, you should be realistic and understand that modern stores have long learned, if necessary, to interrupt the final permitted date of consumption of a product. Even if the product has a normal expiration date, but it emits an unpleasant odor, and in a glass container you can see that the sauce or mayonnaise has separated; the curd has flowed - you should immediately refuse to purchase such goods in order to prevent possible food poisoning.

What foods should you avoid?

When shopping, it is recommended to avoid products with damaged packaging. Canned food with bulging lids; fish whose hermetic packaging has been broken; dented packs of juice - everything should be prohibited for consumption.

Prevention of food poisoning also involves completely avoiding foods that pose a potential threat. Never eat at a party Forest mushrooms and dishes made from them. During the hot season, completely avoid salads with mayonnaise and do not buy confectionery products with creams. These products spoil very quickly and often cause poisoning.

Proper processing of products at home

Compliance with the rules of heat treatment of products and their storage at home is also very important. Meat and fish should always be well cooked. Their consumption in raw form should be completely abandoned. Eggs should not be consumed raw (they can be carriers of salmonellosis). Food should be defrosted immediately before cooking. Before eating, fruits and vegetables should not be rinsed in running water, but washed very thoroughly.

If there is meat in the refrigerator with unpleasant smell, it must be thrown away immediately. You shouldn’t hope that by thoroughly frying it, you can protect yourself from intoxication.

Where should you not buy food?

Another answer to the question of how to avoid poisoning is the habit of eating only in well-known and trusted places. Shawarma stalls, hot dog and hamburger vans that are cooked on the fly, even if theoretically they comply with all sanitary and epidemiological standards, should not inspire confidence.

The prospect of stopping at a roadside cafe while traveling and ordering there juicy kebab, can also result in poisoning from stale food. It is almost impossible to check the origin of meat and compliance with its storage conditions in such places.

Food products are very demanding temperature conditions. If you accidentally leave sausage in the heat for 3-4 hours and then eat it, the risk of food poisoning increases significantly.

Of course, not all food is heat sensitive. For example, nothing will happen to cookies and bread, but meat, fish and dairy products spoil very quickly.

Intoxication of the body also develops in a number of other cases, so it is useful for each person to know the causes of food poisoning, symptoms and treatment at home, as well as first aid rules that will ease the suffering of the patient and even save his life.

Symptoms of poisoning

It’s a rare person who has never been poisoned by anything, but if such an event has happened, it will be remembered forever. First of all, the patient suffers from acute pain and a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, at the location of which the doctor usually determines the site of the pathological process.

But such a diagnosis is necessary only to establish the fact of poisoning, which is usually accompanied by other symptoms:

  • nausea and vomiting;
  • diarrhea;
  • flatulence;
  • general fatigue, drowsiness;
  • headache and dizziness;
  • fever up to 38 °C combined with chills;
  • increase in heart rate;
  • breathing disorder;
  • fainting and loss of consciousness;
  • sweating

As can be seen from this list, intoxication of the body is a serious thing. But few people realize that in some cases a person is even threatened with death, because the causes of the illness are not always known. In this regard, the first first aid in case of food poisoning, it is important for life.

First aid

The effect of toxic substances on the body does not go unnoticed. And if you feel sick to your stomach, vomiting and diarrhea begin, then you need to take measures to prevent complications. By her own the pain will go away only in case strong immunity, which neutralizes pathogenic microbes and normalizes the human condition.

But toxicosis is caused not only by bacteria and viruses, so first aid for food poisoning is aimed at cleaning digestive tract and removal of harmful substances:

Gastric lavage:

  • dilute 2 teaspoons of soda or a pinch of potassium permanganate in 2 liters warm water;
  • drink in one gulp;
  • induce vomiting.

Colon rinsing with enema:

  • prescribed only by a doctor;
  • warm boiled water poured through the anus;
  • wait until the fluid leaves the body completely;
  • repeat if necessary.

Drink plenty of fluids:

  • warm boiled water;
  • saline solution(1 tsp rock salt per 1 liter of water);
  • sweet solution (2 tbsp sugar per 1 liter of water);
  • drink 3-3.5 liters per day.

Castor oil:

  • dilute 2 tbsp. oil in 1 tbsp. boiled water;
  • add lemon juice(from 1 slice);
  • take a sip every 5 minutes.

If there are no symptoms of a nervous system disorder, then after washing take sorbents :

  • activated carbon (4 tablets every 4 hours);
  • enterosgel and other medications (prohibited for gastrointestinal ulcers).

First aid methods cannot be called pleasant, but does anyone want to endure pain and twist from abdominal cramps? In addition, timely cleansing of the body will prevent long-term exposure toxins on internal organs and fabrics, so you should always have activated carbon, castor oil and potassium permanganate in your first aid kit.

However, if the temperature rises to 38-39 ° C, loss of consciousness and bloating, you should immediately call an ambulance, because similar signs indicate serious toxicosis.

Treatment of poisoning with folk remedies

Some patients believe that first aid will solve the problem of poisoning. Of course, acute symptoms will go away, but harmful substances are still in the body and negatively affect metabolic processes. To finally deal with the disease, additional efforts will be required, and for this it is not at all necessary to take medications: traditional treatment food poisoning offers a lot of simple recipes.

However, the patient will have to think carefully and find out the cause of the disease, because in each case different remedies are used.

Fish poisoning

Doctors distinguish 2 types of fish poisoning: cholera-like and paralytic. If in the first case the symptoms are general character, then in the second there is an effect on the nervous system up to paralysis and convulsions.

This form of the disease should be dealt with in this way:

  1. Rinse the stomach and induce vomiting.
  2. Brew chamomile (1 tsp per 1 tbsp boiling water), cool and give an enema.
  3. Drink hot liquid in large quantities (tea, coffee, and even warmed wine is allowed).
  4. Dilute 1 tbsp. anise vodka in a glass of water and drink in one gulp.
  5. Warm your stomach first, and then your whole body (climb under a warm blanket with clothes on).

Poisoning with meat products

Unscrupulous sellers often wipe out expired sausage special solution. But such a move does not add quality to the product! After a visual assessment, many buyers happily take the “updated” sausage, without even suspecting the danger.

And although other meat products (for example, lard) are difficult to lead to presentation in this way, however, numerous frosts and violations of storage conditions contribute to the development pathogenic bacteria in the product.

Usually the smell warns of poor condition meat, lard and sausage, but special chemical sprayers deceive the buyer's receptors. Having tasted a couple of pieces of the missing food, after 1-2 hours a person begins to experience pain in the stomach, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.

Sometimes patients complain of difficulty breathing and cardiac dysfunction, but such symptoms are not observed often. Gastric lavage with soda solution and artificially induced vomiting are the first measures, and additionally folk remedies in case of food poisoning, it is recommended to warm the abdomen and the whole body, use castor oil and herbal decoctions.

Chicory

If the roots of this plant are used as an additive to coffee, then the aerial part is used for poisoning:

  1. Grind the flowers and chicory herb, but do not mix them right away;
  2. 4 tbsp. each part is poured into a thermos;
  3. Pour 1 liter of boiling water;
  4. Leave for 7-8 hours;
  5. Drink 2-3 sips every hour for 1 day.

Wormwood and yarrow

For any activity disorder gastrointestinal tract healers recommend wormwood collected in May. Although the taste of the broth may even seem disgusting to some, the result is worth the effort.

  1. Wormwood and yarrow are dried and crushed.
  2. 1 tsp. raw materials are poured into a 0.5 jar.
  3. Pour boiling water over and cover with a lid.
  4. Leave for 1 hour.
  5. Strain and drink 5 times during the day.

Mushroom poisoning

Every person has known about edible and inedible mushrooms since childhood, but people often make mistakes when collecting them! A similar mistake cost the lives of many mushroom pickers, and doctors call this type of poisoning the most dangerous. What should you do if symptoms of toxicosis suddenly appear after eating a treat?

  1. Be sure to induce vomiting.
  2. Take a laxative if you don't have diarrhea.

Make a chamomile enema:

  • 1 tbsp. herbs and flowers pour 1 tbsp. boiling water (cook according to the volume of the enema, but in a given proportion);
  • leave for 1 hour;
  • strain and fill the enema;
  • perform the procedure once, and if necessary, twice.
  • Rub the body and place a heating pad on the stomach.

Experts say the best way to prevent such poisoning is to use only familiar mushrooms. In addition, when boiling the product, it is worth adding an onion to the saucepan; if it turns black, it is recommended not to eat this portion.

Dill

Traditional healers recommend brewing regular dill as a means of rehabilitation after mushroom poisoning. Finding a plant on the market will not be difficult, and rural residents do not even have to go to the market.

The drug is prepared according to this recipe:

  1. Grind dry herbs and seeds into powder.
  2. 30 g of raw material is poured into 0.5 l cold water.
  3. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
  4. Leave for 1 hour.
  5. After straining, drink 100 g three times a day.

Alcohol poisoning

Those who drink alcohol know that exceeding the limit is fraught with nausea and vomiting. A person accustomed to frequent drinking of alcoholic beverages can more easily endure a long holiday, but stores sometimes sell “scorched” products, which can cause symptoms such as disruption of the nervous system, increased blood pressure, and even alcoholic coma.

  1. Induce vomiting.
  2. Drink 2-3 cups of strong and hot tea with lemon.
  3. Dilute 15 drops of ammonia in 50 g of water and drink in one gulp.
  4. Accept cold shower.
  5. Use activated carbon (1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight).

IN clinical practice there are cases of poisoning and methyl alcohol, the long-term impact of which on the body will, at best, result in decreased or loss of vision, and at worst, death.

If a person accidentally mixes up the drinks (the smells are similar), then a glass of regular vodka will act as an antidote. But most the right option V similar situation will become immediate appeal see a doctor, because you can’t joke with methanol.

Chemical poisoning

Providing first aid for chemical poisoning depends on the toxic substance that affected the person. Gardening poisons require urgent gastric lavage, but with gasoline everything is more complicated: vomiting will only cause additional burns of the esophagus, so experts recommend taking Vaseline or vegetable oil to neutralize the hydrocarbon mixture and go to the hospital.

The situation with poisoning by acids and alkalis is difficult. In most cases, gastric lavage will help, but if the toxic solution is very concentrated, then vomiting will only do harm. So what should we do?

There are no hopeless situations! Such liquids are simply chemical reagents, and their action will extinguish the starch, a raw egg and the same vegetable oil. However, this method can only achieve temporary improvement, so you should not hesitate to call an ambulance.

Diet for poisoning

A weakened body does not accept food well. Regular urge to vomit loose stool and abdominal pain require following a food poisoning diet.

In addition, the patient himself does not really want to eat everything in a row during this period due to an aversion to food, but there is no way to do without the supply of nutrients. How to create a diet?

Prohibited Products

First of all, it is worth eliminating harmful and difficult to digest foods, because gastrointestinal tract and so is under the influence of toxic substances:

  • meat products;
  • fatty, fried and smoked;
  • spicy and salty;
  • various semi-finished products and products instant cooking;
  • canned food;
  • flour products and sweets;
  • alcohol (except alcohol tinctures prescribed by a doctor);
  • sparkling water;
  • ketchup and mayonnaise.

What can you eat if you are poisoned?

Giving up your favorite foods doesn't mean eliminating delicious treats entirely. Doctors not only allow, but also recommend drinking various compotes and teas, eating porridge cooked in water and low-fat broths.

In case of poisoning, the digestive system will need dishes that do not require a lot of energy to digest:

Melissa

The components of lemon balm effectively destroy pathogenic microbes and activate the synthesis of protective cells of the human body.

The drug is prepared according to the following recipe:

  1. Take 40 g of dried herb.
  2. Pour 0.5 liters of boiling water.
  3. Leave for 30 minutes.
  4. Drink in 1 day (4 times half a glass).

Mint

Increased gas production (flatulence), pain and heartburn are eliminated by peppermint tea, which is sold in almost every pharmacy. But the plant also has a diuretic effect, so during the period of taking the medicine, drink a lot of additional liquid, otherwise dehydration cannot be avoided.

  1. 1 tbsp. herbs pour 1 tbsp. boiling water
  2. Leave for 15-20 minutes.
  3. Drink 3 times a day instead of tea.

Ginger

The rich composition of ginger root is successfully used in medicine for various purposes, but in the case of poisoning, the plant normalizes intestinal activity, increases appetite and improves digestion in general.

  1. Take 10 g of crushed root.
  2. Pour 1 tbsp. boiling water
  3. Leave for 30 minutes
  4. Drink 1 tbsp. each hour.

Prevention

Toxicosis from poor-quality products incapacitates a person for 2-3 days, and in severe cases the patient will spend a week in the hospital. To avoid such unpleasant disorder, you should follow the rules for the prevention of food poisoning and intestinal infections. And, above all, doctors recommend washing your hands before eating and preparing dishes, and also keeping kitchen utensils clean.

According to the law of nature, toxic substances They usually smell bad, so you should always sniff the products. Expired canned food or sour soup have a certain stench, which signals the growth of bacteria on the food substrate.

In addition, when buying packaged products in a store, you need to pay attention to the expiration date and storage conditions. If the jar or box is slightly damaged, then it is better to set it aside, because breaking the seal significantly increases the rate of food oxidation.

Some cooks prepare food a week in advance without even thinking about the danger of poisoning. Of course, storing in the refrigerator at a temperature of 3-5 ° C will prolong the shelf life of the food and save time, but doctors advise refraining from eating food that was three days old.

In addition, you should strictly follow recipes, boil and fry meat and fish well, because bacteria cannot survive during long-term heat treatment. Laboratory studies prove that the quality of the product is negatively affected by freezing, and although it cannot be avoided, repeated repetition of this procedure will only do harm.

Specialty: general practitioner

Food poisoning is the most common of all types of household poisoning. If in mild cases household poisoning passes on its own, then severe intoxication requires immediate hospitalization. In any case, you need to know what to do in case of food poisoning and how to provide first aid to yourself or to a loved one before the doctors arrive.

From general list The most common symptoms of poisoning are nausea and vomiting - these are the body’s first reactions to toxins entering the blood from the intestines. Through vomiting, the body tries to remove harmful substances, so vomiting during intoxication cannot be stopped, with the exception of cases when vomiting interferes with basic life processes, in these cases medical attention is necessary.

Note! It is important to distinguish attacks of vomiting due to food poisoning from the occurrence of the same symptom due to other reasons.

Vomiting in case of poisoning rarely begins suddenly; most often it occurs gradually, starting with discomfort in the stomach, pain and bloating, then attacks of nausea develop, which end in vomiting.

In addition to vomiting, other signs of food poisoning appear:

  • general malaise;
  • bloating and increased gas formation;
  • diarrhea;
  • drowsiness;
  • headache;
  • muscle weakness;
  • increased sweating and chills;
  • lowering blood pressure;
  • tachycardia.

An alarming symptom for food poisoning is visual or auditory hallucinations. Such conditions indicate that the intoxication process has affected the nervous system, its damage may be irreversible.

Another sign that a person has been poisoned is elevated temperature . In case of food poisoning with fever, you should not immediately sound the alarm; if the increase is insignificant and short-lived, then this sign indicates activation immune defense body.

First aid for food poisoning

What to do in case of food poisoning? At severe intoxication You must first call an ambulance. During the time that doctors will travel, it is important to help the poisoned person relieve symptoms and avoid worsening the condition. First aid must also be provided for minor poisonings, when there is no need to call doctors.

The patient needs to be provided bed rest and complete peace. It is better to lie on your side, since if nausea and vomiting develop, you can choke on the vomit. Next, you should do this; for this, the patient needs to drink a lot of liquid (water or soda solution) until there is only water in the vomit - this is a mandatory step in eliminating severe intoxication syndrome.

To lavage the stomach, a solution of potassium permanganate is prepared as follows - into warm boiled water, heated to room temperature and slightly above -25-40 degrees, add a solution of potassium permanganate until the solution turns dark pink - for adults, for children use a pale pink solution colors. Drink 2-3 liters of solution, then induce vomiting by pressing on the root of the tongue.

After each attack of vomiting, you should drink water or decoctions, this will help avoid dehydration. It is prohibited to give food to the patient for 24 hours. If you need to eat, you should not eat proteins and fats, preference should be given to complex carbohydrates, you can eat oatmeal with water.

Medications

What should be done in case of poisoning and how to treat it? Medications In case of intoxication, you can drink only as prescribed by a doctor; in no case should you self-medicate. Without medical supervision, only sorbents are allowed to be taken in case of food poisoning.

Comparison table for the effectiveness of sorbents:

The patient at home can take the following drugs– sorbents:

Sorbents envelop the intestinal and stomach mucosa and are not absorbed into the blood. The drugs collect toxins and remove them from the body along with feces, which helps reduce the symptoms of poisoning. Anti-poisoning medications are taken strictly according to the instructions or as prescribed by a doctor.

What to take when severe vomiting? If vomiting does not stop and interferes with vital processes, you must call a doctor; before the doctor arrives, you should take an antiemetic.

Since vomiting causes dehydration of the body, it is necessary to take medicine to restore the water-salt balance. What can be taken for these purposes - drugs, Alvogen.

What to do after intoxication

What to do after poisoning? When the symptoms of intoxication have already passed, it is important to restore the health of the body. First of all, it is necessary to restore the intestinal microflora, which can be done with Linex and Bifidumbacterin.

Nutrition and a properly composed diet are important. Fatty and fried foods, spicy foods, canned food, marinades, fast food, coffee, carbonated drinks and alcohol should be excluded from the menu. Preference should be given to low-fat broths, porridges and cereals, vegetables and fruits; vegetables can be stewed or baked. Allowed to eat meat and fish low-fat varieties. Fermented milk products will help restore intestinal microflora.

Must be observed drinking regime, drink enough clean water, you can also use decoctions, jelly, fruit drinks.

The next stage of recovery is improving the condition of the whole body; during this period it is recommended to increase immunity, consume a lot of vitamins, and perform physical exercise. Sport improves blood circulation throughout the body, including the gastrointestinal tract, which improves the quality of digestive function.

Now you know what to do if you are poisoned by food, and what helpful treatment method will reduce the toxic effect on the body. In mild cases, the symptoms of intoxication disappear after 1-3 days; if the manifestations do not end, it is necessary to call a doctor. Calling a specialist is also necessary when the patient develops a fever, a rise in temperature, hallucinations, a rash on the face, blood in the vomit and diarrhea.

Infectious disease physician, private clinic"Medcenterservice", Moscow. Senior editor of the website "Poisoning Stop".

Almost every person at least once in his life has encountered such an acute and unpleasant illness like food poisoning. It is caused by the consumption of expired, insufficiently processed during the preparation process, poorly washed or low-quality food products.

As a rule, nausea, constipation and acute pain in the stomach are sure companions of food poisoning.

But it's worth remembering sudden loss loss of appetite, accompanied by an increase in body temperature, is the first sign that something is wrong with your digestive system.

Common signs of food poisoning include:

Symptoms may persist for several days; with proper treatment, the symptoms cease to be sharp and severe, gradually fading away.

The causes of food poisoning can be:

  • eating food that has been left in the sun for a long time;
  • expired products;
  • unwashed hands;
  • inedible mushrooms;
  • poorly cooked, raw or rotten meat;
  • food prepared by a sick person may be contaminated, even though it looks normal;
  • eating poorly or completely unwashed vegetables and fruits.

The most “attractive” products for the propagation of microorganisms are:

  • dishes with fish, especially raw fish (sushi, rolls);
  • pickles, canned tomatoes and various vegetables;
  • jams, homemade jams;
  • raw eggs;
  • milk, cheese, cottage cheese are excellent breeding grounds for bacteria;
  • products with damaged packaging.

Food poisoning: first aid

Most often, the patient is almost immediately hospitalized for first aid. But what can you do?

The first thing to do when one or more signs of food poisoning is detected: rinse the stomach. It is advisable to rinse until water begins to come out instead of vomit. A 2% soda solution is ideal, but plain water will also work. (Not from the tap, but always boiled!)

You need to drink, drink and drink again! To a healthy person You need to drink up to 2 liters of water per day. To a person with food intoxication you need to drink even more, up to 3 liters per day. Water helps relieve dehydration; in addition to it, you can drink rehydron or weak tea.

It is necessary to avoid heavy and difficult to digest foods. Please note that after poisoning, dysbiosis may develop (a condition in which the amount beneficial bacteria there are fewer, and naturally more harmful ones).

In any case, visiting a doctor is mandatory; only he can prescribe correct treatment and exclude the development of dangerous diseases such as botulism (deadly dangerous disease caused by exposure to exotoxin from botulism bacillus).

What to do next: medications and traditional methods of treating food poisoning

If the condition is not critical, you will not need to see a doctor.

For ordinary food poisoning, gastric lavage is also necessary. This can be done with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, and then you can drink a laxative.

20-30 ml of castor oil will do, castor oil is a miracle medicine for removing toxins from the body.

For diarrhea good remedy will become activated carbon (for adults: 3-4 tablets). With strong and frequent diarrhea Hilak Forte and Loperamide are suitable. You should absolutely not take antibiotics or prescribe yourself treatment with sulfonamides (Sulgin, Sulfazin and others).

Traditional methods of treatment:

  1. You can drink a little dill decoction with honey 10 minutes before a meal, and it doesn’t matter whether the dill is fresh or dry, it can help in any form. Recipe: you will need a small saucepan in which you need to put a teaspoon of dill, then add boiling water and cook for 20 minutes over low heat. Afterwards, you need to let the broth cool and brew, and then add a teaspoon of honey. Drink in large quantities not recommended, half or a glass per day;
  2. It is not recommended for the patient to lie down, much less sleep. Thanks to intense movements, you can help your body remove toxins along with sweat;
  3. Preference in food should be given to various broths; heavy and difficult to digest foods should be abandoned;
  4. Recipe " Ginger tea": tablespoon ground ginger pour boiling water over it and let it cool for half an hour. Then, with an interval of 20-30 minutes, drink a few sips;
  5. After poisoning, it is recommended to take activated carbon 3 times with an interval of 20 minutes (1 tablet per 15 kilograms of weight).

In addition to the above tips, try to avoid eating for 24-36 hours after poisoning. Daily fasting can get you back into shape much faster, returning to your usual diet a day after poisoning, even with feeling good- it is forbidden!

Food poisoning: symptoms and treatment features in children

It happens that the whole family ate a low-quality product, but only the child got food poisoning. This happens due to the immaturity of many body systems, which is why children suffer from diseases much more severely than any adult. If food poisoning is detected, you should always consult a doctor, especially if you are an infant.

Symptoms:

  • dry skin;
  • painful pallor;
  • vomit;
  • pointed facial features;
  • drowsiness;
  • convulsions;
  • anuria;
  • diarrhea.

Often, the symptoms of poisoning disappear on the third day, and the child feels drowsiness and fatigue.

Treatment

The first thing you need to do is call an ambulance. Before her arrival, your task is to try to compensate for the lost fluid; the baby needs plenty of fluids.

For diarrhea, you can start taking medications such as Smecta, Polyphepan and Polysorb.

If the child is not yet one year old or is on breastfeeding, stop feeding and give water, always boiled.

Once the condition begins to improve, you can return to breastfeeding.

If the child is older, then it is also necessary to limit food.

The ideal diet would be: oatmeal or rice porridge with water, weak sweet tea and homemade croutons.

Food poisoning: diet and basic principles of nutrition

When a food infection occurs, such unpleasant symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting. Most often they are uncontrollable, so the task of the diet is to restore normal water and electrolyte balance and eliminate dehydration.

Basic principles of nutrition for intoxication of the digestive system:

The diet can last about a week, and the return to normal nutrition occurs gradually.

Allowed foods for food poisoning:


Prohibited foods for food poisoning:

  • buns, cookies, bread;
  • semi-finished products and snacks in catering establishments are strictly prohibited;
  • flavored tea, cocoa or coffee;
  • mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup;
  • vegetables and fruits are also not advisable to eat;
  • fatty, difficult to digest meat;
  • dried, smoked fish;
  • cheese, milk, sour cream;
  • seeds, chips, crackers;
  • ice cream;
  • sausage and ham.

Diet for food poisoning is the main method of treatment. Observing correct mode nutrition, with all the prohibitions, you can avoid consequences such as dysbiosis of the digestive tract and food allergies.

Due to non-compliance with the diet, there is a risk of gastritis.

When is hospitalization needed?

In case of severe poisoning, you should consult a doctor if:

  • symptoms do not go away for about a week;
  • the pain intensified;
  • painful spasms and cramps in the stomach are observed.

You need to go to the hospital urgently if you suspect such terrible diseases, such as botulism, staphylococcus or salmonellosis. The main signs of the disease are: dizziness, constant nagging pain in the stomach, dry mouth and lips, blurred vision, loss of coordination, loss of balance, eyelids are constantly drooping, and the pupils practically do not react to light.

Treatment of such diseases is carried out only in an infectious diseases hospital, where a serum that neutralizes the toxin will first be administered.

Prevention of food poisoning

Undoubtedly, best treatment– prevention. A best prevention– compliance with hygiene standards when preparing, storing and consuming food.

20 tips to avoid food poisoning:


It is worth remembering that no one is protected from eating disorder. If you see an attractive price for products, be sure to check their expiration date. It expires in a day or two, but isn’t the price so attractive? Better think about it, because it’s not without reason that they are cheaper than good, fresh and high-quality food. Remember, you shouldn’t skimp on your health!

There is also no need to purchase products whose packaging is damaged. And, of course, an unpleasant smell from food is a sign that it should be thrown away immediately.

And many more useful information about food poisoning is in the next video.

Probably every person has experienced all the “delights” of food poisoning at least once. In the article, read all about what poisoning is.

What is "food poisoning"

Belongs to a group of non-contagious diseases (not transmitted to other people) that are formed due to consumption of low-quality food.

The following pathological conditions have similar symptoms:

  • food allergies;
  • alcohol poisoning;
  • overeating and some others.

But they are not food poisoning.

Key signs of toxic infection

The main signs of body poisoning are as follows:

  • The onset of the disease is always acute, accompanied by rapidly developing symptoms.
  • Localization of painful sensations.
  • Direct connection between poisoning and the food eaten.
  • The course of the disease is rapid with a favorable prognosis.

Acute poisoning

Food poisoning is characterized by a sudden onset and vivid symptoms. Acute toxic infection is much easier and lasts relatively short, without causing complications, which, for example, cannot be said about botulism. Incubation period of this disease can be a full day after the stick is in digestive system person.

Signs of poisoning of the body during the acute course of the disease can manifest themselves in the form of:

  • sharp pain in the abdomen (colic);
  • bowel disorders (diarrhea);
  • severe nausea accompanied by vomiting.

Somewhat less common following signs food poisoning:

  • headache;
  • a sharp increase in temperature.

If a patient experiences indomitable vomiting that does not bring relief, and a rapid increase in temperature to high levels, then urgent hospitalization of the person is necessary. In some cases, food poisoning with similar symptoms leads to death.

It is especially dangerous if similar signs of poisoning of the body appear in children, pregnant women and the elderly. This condition is also dangerous for diabetics and hypertensive patients.

Poisoning: signs, symptoms

Now let’s look at all the main signs, as well as characteristic symptoms food poisoning.

Nausea accompanied by vomiting

Accompanies almost every case of the disease. It can occur both in the first hours and days after poisoning. Sometimes it may be missing.

Nausea and vomiting that began at the very beginning of the disease may indicate that the poisoning was caused by mushrooms, fish dishes, glutamate, or food contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus.

It must be remembered that if vomiting does not stop within 24 hours, then a mandatory consultation with a doctor is necessary.

Stool disorder (diarrhea)

With mild poisoning, diarrhea may be absent. But he always accompanies intestinal infection. If the disorder began immediately at the beginning of the disease, then most likely we are talking about food poisoning. But when diarrhea starts after a couple of days, probable cause in this case it becomes bacterial in nature. This could be dysentery, cholera, salmonellosis and others.

Severe abdominal pain

Such painful sensations begin shortly before the onset of diarrhea and vomiting. As the condition worsens, the pain intensifies. As a rule, another attack ends with a trip to the toilet.

Heat

Body temperature rises sharply to high levels and is accompanied by chills and weakness.

Itching, redness of the skin

Typical symptom in particular various food additives. They may also indicate the onset of an allergic attack.

These are the main signs acute poisoning.

Clinical features of food poisoning depending on the pathogen

Signs of food poisoning are directly related to the type of toxic pathogen:

Salmonellosis

The disease manifests itself severe pain and vomiting. The incubation period can last up to a day. That is why the symptoms will increase rather slowly. The disease is characterized by high fever, as well as the presence of mucus and blood in the stool.

Botulism

The first signs of food poisoning and botulism infection are severe headache, weakness, paralysis, spasms and central nervous system disorder.

Staphylococcus

Symptoms appear approximately 40 minutes after the contaminated food enters the stomach. In this case, uncontrollable vomiting is observed. The temperature almost never rises above 37.5 degrees. Staphylococcal poisoning is characterized by severe weakness, reduced arterial pressure and no diarrhea.

What can cause poisoning

You already know what signs of food poisoning are there. It's time to familiarize yourself with the list of foods that can cause the development of the disease.

Food poisoning occurs due to non-compliance with cooking technology, the use of dirty dishes or products that have expired. Here is an unofficial rating of the most dangerous products in this sense:

  • Milk and meat are the undoubted leaders. Especially often sources of infection are dairy products that have undergone insufficient heat treatment. These are kefir, yogurt, fermented baked milk, etc. Meat purchased from an unverified seller can also be dangerous.

  • Mushrooms traditionally occupy second place. Mushroom poisoning is most common in the autumn, when the fruits of the forest begin to reach our table.
  • Eggs and fish are another source of toxic infection. Fish meat can contain various toxins or become a home for numerous microorganisms. Egg - main source salmonellosis.
  • Poor quality or poorly washed fruits and vegetables. These are the key figures in summer food poisoning.
  • Canned food. They are the source of botulism. The most severe food poisoning.
  • Seafood. Such fashionable now mussels, clams and oysters can cause severe poisoning.

Fish poisoning

Fish is one of the sources of food poisoning. If the preparation or storage process did not comply with the prescribed sanitary standards, then active proliferation of microbes begins. It is their waste products (toxins) that cause severe poisoning. The signs of food poisoning in this case are no different from those we discussed a little earlier.

However, fish products can cause special toxic infections, the symptoms of which differ significantly from ordinary poisoning.

Allergic poisoning

The most common fish poisoning. Signs may be:

  • redness of the skin of the face, neck, and entire upper body;
  • severe skin itching;
  • feeling cold;
  • nausea accompanied by vomiting;
  • pain localized in the upper abdomen;
  • diarrhea.

The first signs of fish poisoning, such as swelling of the face, difficulty swallowing, and dizziness, are much less common. Symptoms appear very quickly, literally within 15 minutes, maximum one hour.

Tropical fish meat poisoning

Exotic fish, which live in the warm tropical waters of coral reefs, are able to accumulate in their meat toxic substances produced by algae. Therefore, improperly cooked meat can cause severe food poisoning. Ciguatera toxin is the most common cause of toxic infection.

The disease begins with nausea, severe diarrhea and pain. Symptoms last no more than a day. But after three days the sick person begins to experience neurological disorders. In particular, they perceive cold as warmth, and observe severe itching skin, constant dizziness and gait disturbance. A person can remain in this state for months.

Some tropical fish “give” a person a huge amount of hallucinogens. Hallucinogenic fish poisoning, the symptoms of which appear within just a few minutes, goes away within a few hours. But during the entire period of action of toxins, a person becomes delusional, he becomes impaired and must be under constant supervision.

Poisoning with puffer fish meat

Poisoning by this fish is extremely dangerous and can even lead to human death. in this case it is tetrodotoxin - the strongest natural poison.

Signs of acute poisoning in this case will be as follows:

  • weakness present throughout the body;
  • there is a violation of movement coordination;
  • a person experiences convulsions;
  • violated heartbeat(bradycardia develops);
  • loss of consciousness.

Duration of the disease

It all depends on the type of poisoning, as well as the severity of the symptoms. But the more clearly the disease manifests itself at the beginning, the faster it ends.

Mild food poisoning lasts no more than three days. But more difficult cases when uncontrollable vomiting and diarrhea develop, accompanied by high temperature, the person requires hospitalization. And the answer in this case can only be given by the attending physician.