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

Food poisoning is considered to be a condition resulting from the consumption of spoiled or toxic food. Intoxication is caused pathogenic microorganisms or the effect of a toxic compound entering the body with food.

Features of food poisoning

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

On average, such intoxications appear within a period of half an hour to three or four hours.

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

Types of food poisoning

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

Intoxications caused by mold fungi are quite common. Toxoinfection is the result of not only the microorganisms themselves, but also their waste products.

Occurs as a result of eating naturally poisonous species of plants, fish and animals (for example, fugu or fly agarics) or spoiled foods that become toxic if storage rules are not followed or the expiration date expires.

In addition, the cause of intoxication can be food that has been contaminated with poisons due to improper cultivation, production or packaging technology. Poisoning from fatty foods is also possible, which occurs when excessive consumption fats, especially animal fats, and simple carbohydrates.

First manifestations

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

If poisoning with fatty foods occurs, symptoms such as increased gas formation, feeling of severe heaviness in the stomach.

When toxic substances begin to penetrate into the bloodstream through the walls of the stomach, general malaise, lethargy, and a rise in temperature appear. Possible pain and aches in muscles and joints, fever. In acute intoxication, accompanied by profuse vomiting, large losses of water are always observed.

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

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

If profuse vomiting and diarrhea do not stop for a day or more, it persists high temperature resistant to medications, you must seek qualified advice medical care.

Signs of severe poisoning

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

These are various disorders of the visual apparatus, muscle spasms, inability to control muscles, and impaired coordination of movements. In severe cases, incoherent speech, blank gaze, hallucinations, and loss of consciousness may occur.

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

Some severe food poisoning manifests itself as signs of allergic reactions: skin irritation, severe itching, excessive swelling. Serious intoxication affects the functioning of the liver.

Toxins that are strong enough that it cannot neutralize can lead to a decrease or complete loss of liver function. This can lead to death for the patient. When the first “liver” symptoms appear, you should seek medical help.

First aid

In case of any food poisoning, assistance immediate assistance often plays decisive role. The earlier measures are taken to eliminate intoxication, the more effective the treatment will be. If you become infected with toxoinfection through eating poor-quality food, you should definitely consult a doctor. Most often this occurs as a result of eating canned food prepared at home.

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

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

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

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

For this purpose, sorbents are used, the most commonly used of which is activated carbon. Sorbent substances act like a sponge, collecting poisons along the way and removing them naturally. Doctors recommend taking drugs such as Polysorb, Smecta, Enterosgel for this purpose.

If the symptoms of intoxication do not go away for a long time or the person is in in serious condition, you need to immediately contact a doctor. It is best to do this even for mild poisoning, since even they can have serious consequences.

If among the poisoned there are children, elderly people or pregnant women, then contacting a doctor is mandatory. This is also necessary when blood impurities are observed in the vomit or contents of the toilet bowl; critical temperature, there is fever, confusion, and signs of brain damage.

Prevention

Measures to prevent food poisoning include:

• purchasing products only from trusted retail outlets, refusing to purchase goods second-hand, especially home canned goods;
• careful selection of products: checking expiration dates, integrity, tightness of packaging, organoleptic properties(color, smell, consistency);
• Thorough washing of vegetables, herbs, fruits before consumption;
• sufficient heat treatment, especially of meat and fish products;
• defrost food only in the refrigerator (not at room temperature) and immediately before cooking;
• compliance with the storage conditions of cooked food at home;
• compliance with sanitary standards: thorough washing of cutting boards, knives, dishes using disinfectants;
• control of pathogens and vectors infectious diseases, baiting rats, cockroaches, ants, keeping the house clean.

Symptoms food poisoning depend on the number of low-quality products or toxic substances that have entered the gastrointestinal tract, such as a toxin or a type of toxic infectious agent.

As a rule, food poisoning occurs due to consumption of poorly produced foods, prepared dishes, or improper storage of food. Intoxication with toxic substances is less commonly diagnosed. Food toxic infections are divided into two categories - non-bacterial (poisonous plants, mushrooms, chemical components) and bacterial - food toxic infections. Signs of food poisoning can be very diverse - from colic and diarrhea to kidney failure and disorders of the central nervous system, in addition, the symptoms are directly related to the type of intoxication.

Typical clinical picture of food poisoning:

• Nausea.
• Colic, abdominal cramps.
• Diarrhea.
• Vomit.
• Increased salivation.
• Increased body temperature.
• Dehydration.
• Fall blood pressure.
• Disorders of the functions of the central nervous system and even coma are possible.

Symptoms of food poisoning often appear 1-2 hours after ingesting a low-quality product or toxic substance, but can also be noticeable only a day after the toxin or pathogen enters the body.

Main types and signs of dangerous poisonings:

1. Salmonellosis is a bacterial intoxication caused by one of the serotypes of the Enterobacteriaceae family, the genus Salmonella. Acute poisoning develops quickly, within 3-6 hours. Characterized by a sharp increase in body temperature, fever, cramping abdominal pain, vomiting and repeated loose stool. The consistency of stool is watery, with foam and a specific odor. Diarrhea lasts 2-3 days even with adequate treatment. Complications of salmonellosis can be infectious-toxic or dehydration shock.
2. Foodborne illness caused by food contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus - staphylococcus. Signs of such intoxication appear 2-5 hours after eating food (most often dairy or meat). The main symptoms are nausea, turning into uncontrollable, repeated vomiting, lethargy, weakness, headache, colic. Diarrhea develops 1-2 hours after the onset of nausea and lasts from 12 to 24 hours. Body temperature, as a rule, is not elevated, and there is no mucus or blood in the stool.
3. Dysentery (shigellosis). which is provoked by Shigella bacilli. The disease most often debuts acutely. Main symptoms of food poisoning:
   • Sharp rise body temperature up to 39 degrees.
   • Chills, fever.
   • Pain in the lower abdomen (lower area of ​​the large intestine). The pain changes character - from dull, aching to cramping, sharp.
   • Nausea and vomiting.
   • Flatulence.
   • Repeated urge to defecate, diarrhea (sometimes up to 20 times a day). Defecation is painful (tenesmus), the first 2-3 days are profuse, then the stool becomes more liquid, watery and scanty. Blood may be present in the stool.
   • Severe dehydration leading to dryness skin.
   • Decreased blood pressure.
4. Botulism is a severe toxic infection caused by anaerobic bacilli Clostridium botulinum. Incubation period can vary from several hours to two days. The first signs of poisoning are atypical weakness and a transient headache. Diarrhea or vomiting is usually not observed, since toxins most often affect the central nervous system. Vision is impaired (oculomotor nerves are affected), paresis develops facial muscles(smoothing nasolabial folds, mask-like face). Dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, developing aphonia, paralysis of the pharyngeal muscles and soft palate These are all life-threatening symptoms of food poisoning that often lead to suffocation and death.

Severe food poisoning appears 1.5-2 hours after consuming poor-quality food or toxic substances. Clinical picture acute intoxication depends on the type of toxic infection. If it is a foodborne illness, signs include cramping abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. Stool upset can be intense - up to 15-20 times a day, this threatens severe dehydration and hypovolemic shock. If poisoning is associated with poisons (toxins) acute symptoms primarily affects the central nervous system. Impaired coordination, ophthalmological dysfunction, paralysis of the facial and laryngeal muscles, and suffocation may develop. Severe food poisoning from plants or mushrooms causes a feeling of dryness, viscosity in the mouth, headache, nausea, and uncontrollable vomiting.

Food poisoning in adults

It is as severe as in children, although the child’s body is less protected and adapted to the consumption of many products familiar to the older generation. It's all about the variety and quantity of food. Only an adult can afford to “experiment” with the abuse of alcoholic beverages or delicacies in the form of seafood. Children are most often deprived of these dubious food pleasures, and the portions they are able to eat are much smaller. Food poisoning in adults can be caused by the following reasons (foods, substances, events):

• Mushrooms, most often of an unfamiliar species.
• Oysters, shrimp, mussels.
• Caviar, milt, fish liver.
• Poorly cooked meat.
• Smoked products - fish or meat.
• Home-canned foods.
• Mass feasts (weddings, anniversaries), where the amount of food eaten and the combination of incompatible dishes can lead to food poisoning.

The digestive organs of adults are more adaptive to various products nutrition than the child’s gastrointestinal tract, which is why toxic infection most often develops more slowly than in the younger generation. The immune and enzymatic systems actively engage in the fight against intoxication; it is this reason that sometimes explains the late “start” of symptoms of food poisoning in adults.

Food poisoning during pregnancy

The symptoms of food poisoning are not much different from intoxication in women before or after pregnancy. The only difference is that the symptoms may be more pronounced, since the presence of toxicosis aggravates the discomfort. expectant mother. In addition, uncontrollable vomiting and diarrhea can lead to blood thickening and provocation of blood clots. Dehydration often activates the production of oxytocin, which can increase uterine contractions with all the ensuing consequences. But, fortunately, food poisoning during pregnancy has little effect on the general condition of the mother and fetus, especially if detoxification measures are taken in a timely manner.

Symptoms food poisoning in pregnant women:

• Loss of appetite, weakness.
• Pain in the epigastric region, often cramping.
• Feeling of nausea progressing to vomiting.
• Flatulence.
• Diarrhea.
• Headache and slight hyperthermia.

Symptoms of mushroom food poisoning

These are severe, life-threatening intoxications. Symptoms of food poisoning most often appear 4-6 hours after consumption. poisonous mushrooms. The most dangerous is considered to be the toadstool, followed by fly agaric and conditionally poisonous mushrooms (lines).

1. Poisoning with toadstool can occur when even a few grams of it are consumed. The clinical picture becomes characteristic only after 12-24 hours, this is a life-threatening factor, because during this period of time toxins have time to enter the bloodstream. Signs of intoxication:
   • Pain in the muscles of the body.
   • Feverish state.
   • Severe abdominal pain.
   • Diarrhea with blood.
   • Yellow tint to the skin.
   • Urinary retention.
   • Falling blood pressure, slowing heart rate.
   • Cramps.
   • Suffocation.
2. Fly agaric poisoning manifests itself much faster - after 20-40 minutes. Signs:
   • Nausea.
   • Vomit.
   • Colic and cramping pain in the abdomen.
   • Stool disorder.
   • Increased sweating.
   • Dyspnea.
   • Involuntary salivation caused by the alkaloid muscarine.
   • Cough with sputum.
   • Delusional state, hallucinations.
   • Cramps.

Food poisoning with mushrooms is the result of the arrogance of amateurs mushroom dishes, although at present many spore-bearing plants (eukaryotes) mutate so quickly that even experienced mushroom pickers can make a mistake in their choice.

Symptoms of fish food poisoning

This is most often poisoning from fish caviar, milt or liver. In addition, there are exotic species marine or river inhabitants that are not recommended as food are marinkas, osmans, moraines and other fish, fortunately, unfamiliar to the common man. Caviar can cause toxic infection, since during the spawning period even fish that are familiar to the stomach begin to secrete toxic substances, which can be preserved in small quantities in eggs, liver or milk. During spawning, you should not eat the listed food components, especially if it is the liver of perch, burbot, mackerel or pike caviar. Also, eating mackerel itself can cause severe allergic reaction, since its meat contains a large amount of histamine. Shellfish may contain a dangerous toxin - saxitoxin, which is a nerve poison. The signs of fish food poisoning are characterized by rapid development. Symptoms of food poisoning are noticeable literally 20-30 minutes after eating the toxic part of the fish. Abdominal colic, vomiting, dizziness to the point of loss of consciousness, impaired coordination and vision, suffocation - these are manifestations of food intoxication caused by fish products.

Food poisoning with cottage cheese

Most often it happens in the spring-summer period, when the temperature environment raised and creates favorable conditions for the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in fermented milk products. You should not eat cottage cheese without heat treatment, especially bought at the market, as if from a domestic cow. Statistics say that dairy products from cows kept at home are the main source of salmonellosis or dysentery in the summer. In addition to salmonella, enterococci “like” to multiply in cottage cheese various groups, that is, E. coli, and staphylococcus is often found in curd products. Food poisoning with cottage cheese is characterized by an acute onset, the disease develops rapidly and is manifested by the following symptoms:

• Cramping pain in the epigastric region, colic.
• Sudden weakness.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Diarrhea with pain.
• Increased temperature and fever are characteristic of salmonellosis or dysentery.

Food poisoning with cottage cheese in children's institutions, canteens or other public places nutrition often lead to massive food intoxication.

Mass food poisoning

This food route spread of infection, since food products are not only carriers of harmful microorganisms, but also a good breeding ground for them. Mass infections can be caused by eating dairy, meat products, dishes containing eggs or butter. All products containing protein, unboiled water, unwashed fruits or vegetables are a source of potential food infection. Mass poisonings are especially common in the summer during special events - anniversaries, weddings, and so on. Also, the carrier of the infection may not be the product, but the person who prepared the food or contaminated water, utensils, or equipment. Mass food poisoning “starts” rapidly; several people who consumed food in the same place end up in the hospital with signs of food infection. Symptoms of food poisoning depend on the type of pathogen. As a rule, they are identical for all patients.

Food additive poisoning

This is intoxication by natural or artificial substances added to food. In dietetics and toxicology, there is the concept of “Chinese cuisine syndrome,” which describes a characteristic allergic reaction to certain flavorings in Chinese dishes. Food components are added to products to improve their organoleptic properties, but most additives are prohibited in European countries and the USA, since they provoke mass food poisoning and even oncological diseases. Symptoms of poisoning food additives more often similar to signs of an allergy, at least initial stage the development of toxic infection looks like an allergic reaction:

1. Rash.
2. Swelling of the face and limbs.
3. Colic, abdominal pain.
4. Rarely – diarrhea.

Any synthetic oxidizing agents, stabilizers, dyes, preservatives or thickeners are not natural substances familiar to the digestive tract. Excess acceptable standards or eating foods of questionable origin can lead to accumulation in the body harmful substances and the onset of food poisoning even while following a strict diet.

Food poisoning from dairy products

Baking soda poisoning

Almost never found in toxicological practice. Sodium bicarbonate, on the contrary, was previously considered a panacea for almost all diseases; high blood pressure was treated with soda, cleansed the intestines and relieved the symptom of heartburn. Indeed, if it is not possible to get emergency medical care for intoxication with alcohol, iodine, phosphorus or mercury, soda is suitable as an emergency drug: gastric lavage soda solution will help slightly slow down the spread of the poison. However, with toxic infection with various types of acids ( hydrochloric acid, vinegar), soda cannot be used. In such cases, doing it yourself can actually cause baking soda poisoning. The reaction of sodium and acid is accompanied by a rapid release of carbon dioxide; primary intoxication not only does not stop, but also develops much faster and more severely.

Symptoms of meat food poisoning

These are 4 forms of classic intoxication with meat products:

1. Rotten meat, which contains toxins of enterovirus or paratyphoid bacillus, is manifested by symptoms of food poisoning, similar to dysentery or cholera. Such toxic infections are called gastroenteritis. A febrile state, general weakness, in addition to persistent diarrhea and vomiting, can lead to cachexia (exhaustion) and death.
2. Meat containing typhoid bacillus provokes not only local intoxication intestinal tract, but also poisoning of the entire body. Symptoms develop quickly - from chills and high body temperature to loss of consciousness. Diarrhea is rare, as is persistent vomiting.
3. Putrefactive toxins found in spoiled meat can cause paralytic symptoms - dilated, fixed pupils, dry mouth, tachycardia, visual disturbances and loss of coordination. Paralysis affects the entire musculature and often leads to cessation of bowel function.
4. Most dangerous looking poisoning with meat products is botulism. Food poisoning from meat containing Clostridium botulinum is a threat to human life. Paralysis sets in oculomotor muscles, the pupils dilate, severe weakness appears. Botulism is manifested not only by ophthalmological symptoms; the most dangerous are the syndrome of breathing and swallowing disorders, as well as disruption of the central nervous system.

Symptoms of canned food poisoning

This is most often botulinum toxin poisoning, since these anaerobic rods are able to live and reproduce only in a hermetic environment, that is, without access to air. Less commonly, canned food contains other dangerous microorganisms - staphylococci, enteroviruses. Signs of food poisoning from canned food are typical for clinical picture botulism:

• Headache that increases gradually.
• Dry mouth, decreased salivation.
• General weakness, malaise.
• Low-grade body temperature, rarely hyperthermia up to 38-39 degrees.
• Vomiting or diarrhea is not typical for botulism; constipation is more common.
• Ophthalmological disorders – double vision, “fog”, asymmetrical dilation of the pupils.
• Dry mouth and difficulty swallowing food and even liquids.
• Strong muscle weakness, a person is unable to hold his head upright.
• Decreased blood pressure.
• Difficulty urinating (retention) due to paralysis of the bladder.
• Respiratory paralysis.

Symptoms of food poisoning can be varied, but there are also typical manifestations - colic, diarrhea, vomiting. At the first signs of poisoning, you need to assess the severity of the patient’s condition and seek medical help.

Food poisoning in children is dangerous due to its rapid development

Unlike adults, a child has poorly developed gag reflex, especially in children under one year of age. In addition, the child’s body loses fluid faster due to diarrhea and vomiting; dehydration is the main threat to the baby’s life. His body weight is small and the loss of even 500 ml of fluid is fraught with renal failure and hypovolemic shock. Many procedures supposed to be first aid are also not applicable to children at home. The child is simply unable to take a large number of activated carbon tablets and sometimes refuses drinking regime, which is necessary for toxic infection. Cleansing enemas and medicines most often have to be used in inpatient conditions. Food poisoning in a child in a clinical sense is much more acute and is accompanied by lethargy, weakness, diarrhea, cyanosis of the skin, weakened cardiac and renal function.

There is probably no such person who, at least once in his life, has not received “food poisoning” as a gift with all the ensuing consequences. Moreover, it flows quite violently. So what to do if you have food poisoning? How to help yourself without resorting to serious medications?

Naturally, when I write this article, I do not take into account poisonings of young children, poisonings that occur with severe toxic damage, high fever, loss of consciousness, convulsions, uncontrollable vomiting or diarrhea.

By the way, if we have already started talking about toxic manifestations and signs of food poisoning, here are its main symptoms:

• pain, spasms in the epigastrium, and then along the intestines;
• nausea, vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• feeling of fullness in the stomach, gas;
• headache, dizziness, weakness;
• rapid heartbeat;
• visual disturbances - fog, double vision, blurred objects;
• possible increase in temperature, usually up to 38 degrees, chills.

Signs of poisoning food, when it is necessary to call doctors and provide resuscitation measures - loss of consciousness, decreased blood pressure, convulsions.

The question is often asked How quickly does food poisoning manifest itself?? — It varies, depending on the body’s resistance, the amount eaten, the type of toxins. The average time is from 2 hours to a day.

Another question - Is there always diarrhea when poisoned?? - No, not always, sometimes, even with severe poisoning, there is chills, nausea, severe weakness, bloating, but a person cannot vomit and go to bowel movement on his own. And in this case, the situation is even more serious, there is no outflow of infected contents, intoxication increases...

In principle, everyone is still able to assess whether they can try to cope with the problem themselves or whether they need to call urgently ambulance and go to the infectious diseases department.

It just often happens like this... A friend got a stomach ache, he ran to the toilet a couple of times, and immediately called an ambulance, and then safely refused to go to the hospital. Here the outbreak of PTI or OGE is labeled at the clinic, and a formal pandemonium begins - taking smears for flora three times, daily visits to the therapist, temperature sheets, again taking smears, reports to the SES... In this case, no one will think it’s enough!

So, if we still solve the problem of banal food poisoning ourselves... Our conversation is about treating food poisoning in adults at home and about first aid in this situation.

First aid for food poisoning at home

First urgent Care for any acute poisoning consists of immediate gastric lavage.

• If you suspect that the poisoning is recent, then the first thing to do is wash out the stomach a weak solution of potassium permanganate, causing vomiting.

It’s done in an elementary way, although it’s disgusting - drink a couple or three glasses of this pink water and put two fingers in your mouth, pressing on the root of your tongue. However, sometimes it’s enough just to drink the solution, and the body itself will say: “Be.”

• As soon as the contents of the stomach have left their home, it’s time to think about reducing intoxication , because some of the toxins managed to be absorbed and went to do their “dirty” business.

You need to take activated carbon (1 tablet per 10 kg of weight). Sometimes, after taking charcoal, the urge to vomit appears again, it is advisable to endure them for at least twenty to thirty minutes; if possible, the charcoal begins to actively adsorb from the first minutes of exposure.

Then after vomiting, about half an hour later, when everything has calmed down and the cramps in the stomach have gone away, try taking charcoal again. As a rule, the second attempt is more successful and activated carbon begins its journey through the gastrointestinal tract.

• In the meantime, we will rest, because, as a rule, poisoning is accompanied by general symptoms - headache, weakness. A cloth with cool salty water is just right to accompany such a “rest.”

Salt draws out toxins, coolness soothes and relieves tension, which naturally exists, because no one wants to get sick.

First, clean water, then, if there is no negative reaction, you can try weak tea with honey, herbal infusions with anti-inflammatory herbs, such as chamomile. So, drink as much as you like, but don’t eat! Even if you already want it!

In such cases, the best thing is a water-tea break! Daily fasting (24 or 36 hours) will return you to shape much faster than if you only follow a diet after poisoning.

And even more so, I don’t recommend it to anyone, even if wellness, after a couple of hours, start eating as usual. With all the excesses and harmfulness...

To summarize, first aid for poisoning should be fast, the toxins continue to be absorbed and carry out their poisoning effect while you are thinking and panicking, ideally so that each person knows in advance how to act in such an emergency situation.

How do you usually begin to treat poisoning at home?

Those who trust pharmacology more, drink sorbents in case of food poisoning smecta, enterosgel , bred rehydron to reduce dehydration processes. But it's not much better than activated carbon and water, simple clean water... In general, everyone chooses for themselves. “A woman, a religion, a road...”

More complex and expensive medicine does not guarantee greater efficiency. I gave smecta on the recommendation of the pediatrician to my child, he continued to vilify as he vilified. But after coal and a slight refusal of food, everything quickly went smoothly. Yes, children themselves refuse food in this state.

And many mothers immediately begin to panic: “My child is starving, I need to do something urgently, how will he, poor child, fight toxins if he misses a full three-course meal!” And they feed the dodging child with all sorts of tricks and jokes, thereby prolonging his torment.

Truly, the road is paved with good intentions...

Naturally, anyone who has experienced all the unpleasant symptoms of poisoning at least once will not want to experience them again, so it is worth being proactive and protecting yourself from repetitions. The following table gives the 10 most fundamental rules for preventing poisoning:

What can you eat if you are poisoned? The question is rhetorical.

Directly with all the beauty of the symptoms of poisoning - nothing, you can’t eat until complete removal toxins from the patient's body!

What should I eat when I feel a little better? How can I fully restore my stomach after poisoning?

Foods that help after food intoxication:

• Tea, crackers, dried bread.
• Works great for fixing rice. Better not polished, more benefits.
• Oatmeal, enveloping and soothing the stomach.
• Kiseli, oat infusions, rosehip infusions.
• Mashed potatoes, boiled vegetables, vegetarian soups...

This is somewhat different from leaving therapeutic fasting because the main thing is there - cleansing , and are used fresh vegetables as a “broom” from deposits of unnecessary deposits, and in the case of food poisoning and its treatment, it comes first detoxification . Moreover, detoxification of the inflamed gastrointestinal tract!

Here we choose calm dishes, enveloping, without salt and spices. And in small quantities, let meals be more frequent if you want to eat, but little by little.

If you don’t feel like eating at all, then for the first 2-3 days this shouldn’t bother us at all; the body needs to direct its forces not to digestion processes, but to self-healing (which is more successful in an unloaded state).

Now you know what to do in case of food poisoning, how to provide first aid to yourself and your loved ones, how and how to treat severe poisoning, and what to take to improve the condition. Good health to you! May spoiled food pass you by!

Every person has experienced food poisoning at least once in their life. Doctors distinguish between two types of poisoning. The first type is the consumption of poisonous mushrooms, plants, and berries that are not suitable for ingestion. The second group is the ingestion of spoiled, contaminated or dirty products, which lead to intoxication of the body. This is the type of poisoning we encounter most often. Food poisoning often awaits us if we dine in dubious establishments catering. Poisoning often occurs when hygiene rules are not followed - unwashed fruits and vegetables can be dangerous. The risk of developing food poisoning also depends on the condition of the digestive tract. If the intestines are weak, they react to the slightest changes in diet. In addition, the type of infection is distinguished - poisoning with simple bacteria goes away in a few days, but, for example, salmonellosis is much more difficult to treat. In this article, we will try to understand food poisoning - consider its symptoms, learn how to act in case of poisoning and how to treat it at home.

Symptoms of food poisoning

Symptoms of food intoxication may not always be characteristic; sometimes the absence of vomiting and diarrhea leads a person to other diagnoses; the patient may associate weakness and feeling unwell with colds and other pathologies. Let's try to figure out how poisoning can manifest itself.

Most often, poisoning is accompanied by pain in the gastrointestinal tract various localizations– in the stomach or intestines, it can even sting your side.

A feeling of nausea appears, and in some cases vomiting occurs.

In most cases, a person develops diarrhea, but this does not always happen. By the way, the absence of vomiting and diarrhea is much more dangerous, because toxins do not leave the body, their concentration increases more and more.

Often the patient’s abdomen becomes bloated, severe gas formation and flatulence develop.

Intoxication makes itself felt - weakness, poor health, and dizziness appear. In children this manifests itself especially clearly - the baby constantly lies down, even if by nature he is very active and mobile.

In case of severe poisoning, the temperature may rise, fever, chills, aching joints may occur, and fog may appear before the eyes.

With obvious dehydration, when a person suffers from diarrhea and vomiting, the smell of acetone appears from the mouth. In such a situation, you need to urgently consult a doctor.

Poisoning can occur within an hour after consuming a spoiled product. Maximum time It takes 24 hours for signs of food poisoning to appear.

First aid for food poisoning

If you are poisoned by low-quality, dirty or spoiled products, it is very important to act wisely in the first hours. As soon as you suspect you are poisoned, analyze what you ate lately. If you are not sure about the freshness or sterility of the prepared dishes, it is better to do a gastric lavage. This will help cleanse the body of the remnants of spoiled food that has not yet been absorbed into the walls. Remember, the fewer toxins in the body, the faster you will recover. The remnants of these toxins can be removed using a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Make pale pink water, drink at least two glasses of the solution, after which the body itself will experience the urge to vomit. Once you have emptied your stomach, you need to drink and vomit again. This should be done until food stops coming out of the stomach and the water remains clean. If there is no urge to vomit, drink more water and press your fingers on the root of the tongue - the contents of the stomach will come out very quickly.

In difficult cases, in a hospital setting, not only the stomach, but also the intestines are washed. To do this, they do a cleansing enema to rid the intestinal walls of toxins that have penetrated beyond the stomach. After washing the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to take sorbents. The simplest option is activated carbon, which should be taken in a dosage of one tablet per 10 kg of weight. That is, if your weight is 60 kg, you need to drink at least 6 tablets of coal at a time. Instead of this sorbent, you can drink what you have on hand - Filtrum, Polysorb, Enterosgel, Smecta, etc. If vomiting occurs after taking the sorbent, repeat the procedure after half an hour, do not be afraid of an overdose. Try to hold back vomiting at least a little, after a few minutes the sorbent will begin to act and the nausea will pass.

The best cure for food poisoning is fasting. Under no circumstances should you eat in the first hours after intoxication, even if you want to. Doctors say that fasting is much more beneficial, even than dieting, although not everyone can handle it. If you do not eat anything for 24 hours, the body will be able to cope with the poisoning faster, and there will be no trace of the disease. But eating is an additional burden. Compassionate mothers who are trying to feed their baby during the period of poisoning should know about this, with the words “He will not have the strength to fight the disease.”

You can’t eat, but you can and even need to drink. Excessive vomiting and diarrhea lead to dehydration, which is very dangerous, especially for young children. The fact is that a baby can have physiological stool 10-12 times a day, this is normal. In such a situation, the mother does not immediately notice that the baby has diarrhea. Mucus or blood in stool unusual color bowel movements should alert the mother. Dehydration is very dangerous condition, in a child it can occur in an unrealistic way short terms. Therefore, you need to solder the baby. In order not to induce vomiting, it is necessary to give the baby a teaspoon of water every 5 minutes; large portions of liquid will cause the baby to vomit. Helps a lot during poisoning breast-feeding- This is a natural protection against dehydration. However, do not allow prolonged latching - a large portion of milk can lead to the baby vomiting again. It is better to put the baby to the breast more often, but not for long.

You can restore the water-salt balance in adults and children using a special solution called Regidron. If you don’t have it on hand, you can prepare the composition yourself - add half a teaspoon of salt and the same amount of baking soda per liter of water. Drink as often as possible - liquid flushes out the remaining toxins from the body. After all the above measures, you can lie down to rest, because the patient feels weakened.

As noted, best diet- this is fasting. However, not many people can withstand daily fasting, especially if their health has already returned to normal. But this does not mean that you need to again eat questionable foods, fatty dishes and stale fruits. In the first days after poisoning, only lean and light meals are allowed. This includes steamed chicken and rabbit meat, simple cereals, crackers, dried bread, bananas, baked apples, biscuits. Rice has a very good effect - it perfectly strengthens and relieves diarrhea. Oatmeal is recommended for stomach pain - it gently envelops its walls, relieves spasms, it is a light food that will not cause discomfort. It is very good to drink jelly, tea, herbal infusions. Light vegetarian dishes are acceptable, without large quantity salt and spices. You should exclude baked goods, heavy meat, fatty, smoked, spicy and fried foods from your diet.

After acute period the disease has passed, some patients note that their stool has still not recovered. This occurs against the background of a violation normal microflora intestines. To correct the situation, you should take a course of probiotics - Linex, Hilak Forte, Acipol, etc. You can improve your gut health by drinking fermented milk products with live bacteria.

Folk remedies in the fight against poisoning

There are a lot of recommendations in the collection of home medicine recipes that will help get rid of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Cinnamon. Cinnamon powder perfectly absorbs everything unnecessary; it is an excellent natural sorbent. Pour boiling water over a teaspoon of spice, let it brew and cool, drink in small sips throughout the day.

1. Ginger. This excellent remedy in the fight against nausea. Grate the root and add it to the teapot along with the tea leaves. But remember, nausea can only be suppressed if the stomach is completely cleansed.
2. Althea. The root of this plant perfectly removes toxins and stops diarrhea. Pour a tablespoon of crushed root into a glass of boiling water, let it brew and drink 50 ml three times a day.
3. Dill. You need to prepare a decoction from dill seeds - this is an excellent remedy in the fight against flatulence, bloating and increased gas formation.
4. Rose hip. Rose hip decoction contains a lot of acids and vitamin C, which is so necessary for poisoning and dehydration. The decoction should be drunk in small portions half an hour before meals.

Recipes home treatment They perfectly restore the body after poisoning, but you should not always rely only on yourself. Some categories of patients should never stay at home if poisoned - only stay in a hospital under the supervision of doctors. Such patients include children under three years of age, pregnant women, and the elderly. If poisoning does not go away, and the symptoms only get worse, you should definitely consult a doctor at any age. You should also consult a therapist or infectious disease specialist if you have a high fever due to poisoning, if a rash appears on the skin, if stool blood appears, vomiting does not stop, or the patient loses consciousness. If you ingest poisonous mushrooms or plants, you should immediately call an ambulance.

How to protect yourself from poisoning

We all know that we need to wash our hands after using the toilet and before eating anything. But, unfortunately, this rule is not always followed, especially if we are talking about children. Here are some more tips to help you protect yourself from poisoning.

You need to eat only in trusted places. Questionable food service outlets, where the seller takes money with one hand and holds a hamburger bun with the other, can be dangerous.

You need to wash your hands before and after preparing food, especially if you handled raw meat or poultry.

Every 2-3 days, check the refrigerator, do not allow food to stagnate. Do not eat products that have expired. If you notice that a product is about to expire, cook something from it for dinner. For example, sausage can be added to pizza, a cupcake can be baked from sour kefir, etc.

Do not leave food open on the table - cockroaches and flies can crawl on it, after which you eat contaminated food.

Keep a separate cutting board in the household for raw meat, fish and birds.

Fry meat, fish and eggs thoroughly.

Carefully inspect the cans for integrity. Any product, even good timing If it has an unpleasant, sour or unusual odor, it should be thrown away.

After opening condensed milk or other canned food, you need to transfer the contents into glass or porcelain containers; food in a metal container oxidizes when exposed to air.

Do not leave cooked soups on the stove overnight; be sure to put all prepared food in the refrigerator. If you didn’t eat the soup right away, but left it for tomorrow, when you eat again, try to warm it up thoroughly, i.e. boil.

And, of course, buy only fresh and high-quality products, use filtered or boiled water for drinking and cooking.

We can say that food poisoning is a minor disorder that passes quickly, the body recovers in a few days. But sometimes food poisoning can be hiding something more serious, such as salmonellosis or botulism. Therefore, if you cannot cope with poisoning on your own, do not experiment, go to the hospital as soon as possible. After all, any disease can be treated more successfully if you seek help in time!

Video: what to do if a child has food poisoning

Food poisoning can occur if you consume low-quality foods or liquids in which microbes or toxins have multiplied. After some time, vomiting, nausea and loose stools appear. The patient's condition depends on the amount of product consumed and its suitability.

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

Stomach upset can occur even through dirty hands.

At home, it is impossible to determine the exact outbreak of the disease; the patient can only assume why the poisoning occurred. People who are more prone to food poisoning weak immunity and small children, therefore they take great responsibility to monitor the child’s food and try to give only fresh food, wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly.

Causes of poisoning

Food poisoning can occur:

Food poisoning often occurs from confectionery products, especially spoiled cream; dairy products; long-stored salads with mayonnaise or sour cream; canned food homemade; mushrooms; seafood; fruits and vegetables treated with pest control chemicals.

Signs of food poisoning

In case of poisoning, symptoms begin within half an hour and continue to be expressed in an intensified manner in the first two days. The phenomenon is dangerous for others; a group outbreak of the disease may occur in a team or family. If symptoms of poisoning do not go away after 24 hours, you should seek help.

Food poisoning occurs following signs:

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

Please note that when mild poisoning There may not be diarrhea. But if loose stool appears on the first day, it means food poisoning, and if after a few days it means a bacterial intestinal infection. Typically, such symptoms accompany diseases such as dysentery, cholera, and typhoid fever.

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

Symptoms of severe poisoning

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

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

The most dangerous disease, meat poisoning, if medical assistance is not provided in a timely manner, a person may die. Symptoms: fever, chills, gag reflex, loose stools, breathing problems, tachycardia. A high temperature may appear, in which case antipyretic drugs should be given.

Mushroom poisoning is the most common and severe; intoxication occurs within 20 minutes to 2 hours. Signs: muscle pain, vomiting, loose stools with blood, worsening breathing, lethargy, low blood pressure, delirium.

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

Poisoning from food additives is very common, symptoms may appear immediately or after some time - rash, itching, swelling of the face or arms, legs; abdominal pain, diarrhea.

Canned food poisoning has severe consequences and the following symptoms: headache, pain, dryness in oral cavity, thirst, fever, vomiting and loose stools.

When to see a doctor immediately:

1. Mushroom poisoning;
2. If after eating, weakness occurs, the temperature rises, speech is impaired, shortness of breath appears, and there is no urine for a long time;
3. Bloody diarrhea for more than a day;
4. A child under 3 years of age or an infant has been poisoned;
5. Signs of poisoning appeared in a pregnant woman;
6. A person with cancer or HIV has been poisoned;
7. Symptoms occurred in few adults or children;
8. Signs of dehydration appeared: dry lips, lack of urine, crying without tears;
9. The eyes and skin turned yellow;
10. Swollen joints and rash all over the body.

First aid for intoxication

In case of minor poisoning, help can be provided at home, and in case of strong signs V mandatory you should call an ambulance. Special attention In case of intoxication, attention should be paid to pregnant women and young children; you should not self-medicate; it is better to show a doctor so as not to cause even more harm.

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

After a gag reflex, adults are given activated carbon, diluted with water. Drink in small sips to cleanse the body. The dose is calculated as follows: 1 tablet per 10 kilograms. To prevent dehydration, try to drink plenty boiled water take small sips so as not to provoke vomiting.

If the patient faints or worsens, call an ambulance immediately. Severe poisoning can affect internal organs, such as the liver. The first symptoms are yellowness in the eyes, the presence of blood in the vomit or loose stool. Do not self-medicate, do not take folk remedies, tinctures, tablets, determine accurate diagnosis and appoint correct treatment Only a specialist in this field can do this.

In the hospital, with the help of tests, they will be able to find out the cause of the poisoning: they will examine blood, vomit and loose stools to find the causative agent of the disease. The foods that the patient ate are identified and sent to special authorities for testing. At the first signs of poisoning, you should seek medical help, as serious consequences may occur. What type of intoxication can only be determined by a doctor, based on questions and studying the symptoms of the disease. Such dangerous diseases, like botulism and listeriosis, can lead to the death of the patient. Poisoning from home-canned food can have serious consequences.

Diet after illness

After the patient’s condition improves, it is not recommended to immediately turn to the usual food. You need to start drinking various compotes, weak black tea and water, eating porridge cooked in water, vegetable soups, boiled meat, fish and poultry, crackers. Doctors recommend cooking raisin compote, which contains a lot of potassium, thanks to which the body will recover faster.

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

Prevention of poisoning

You should always wash your hands with soap before eating and when preparing food. Especially when in contact with meat and fish products. Do not eat raw eggs, fish, meat, cook until tender. Use separate cutting boards for meat products. Store dairy products in the refrigerator. Be sure to wash fruits and vegetables in running water before consuming them, and then rinse them with boiled water. Use products that are fresh from the expiration date and store them properly.