Food poisoning is a common and serious public health problem, food poisoning can be caused by a variety of causes, including bacteria, toxins or improper storage, symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever and weakness, and in severe cases, it can even be life-threatening. What exactly is food poisoning, what are the other symptoms of food poisoning, and how often does food poisoning occur?
Definition of food poisoning
It is mainly a case in which two or more people ingest the same food and similar symptoms occur, which is called a case of foodborne outbreak. The following conditions can also be considered food poisoning cases:
1. Symptoms of botulinum toxin caused by botulinum toxin, and botulinum toxin detected by self-examination
2. The same type of pathogen or toxin detected by a suspicious food sample
3. Acute food poisoning (e.g. poisoning by chemicals, natural toxins, etc.) caused by ingestion of food, even if there is only one person, is considered as a food poisoning
4. It is also regarded as a case of food poisoning if it is inferred from epidemiological investigation and is inferred to be caused by ingestion of food
In addition, acute food poisoning (e.g., poisoning by chemical substances or natural toxins) caused by ingestion of food can be regarded as a case of food poisoning even if there is only one person.
Symptoms of food poisoning
Symptoms of food poisoning can vary depending on different pathogens and toxins, but generally common symptoms include:
● Abdominal pain and abdominal discomfort: It is often accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal pain, abdominal fullness, abdominal discomfort, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea.
● Vomiting and diarrhoea: Digestive symptoms caused by food poisoning, including vomiting and diarrhoea, can sometimes occur at the same time. Diarrhea is usually acute, and stools may appear watery or bloody, accompanied by abdominal cramps and abdominal pain.
● Fever and headache: Some food poisoning can cause systemic symptoms such as fever and headache in the body.
● Muscle pain and weakness: Some food poisoning can cause symptoms such as muscle pain, joint pain, and weakness, making patients feel tired and weak.
● Skin rashes and allergic reactions: May cause skin rashes, itching, and other allergic reactions, especially for those with allergies to certain foods.
● Other symptoms: such as heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, blurred vision, etc., these symptoms depend on the cause and severity of food poisoning. People with weakened immune systems may have more severe symptoms and may even die from food poisoning.
How long does it take to get a seizure after eating?
There are many causes of food poisoning, and the incubation period of each cause is also different, for example, the incubation period of "rice fermented acid" contaminated food is 1~10 hours. The incubation periods for common causes of food poisoning are as follows:
● Salmonella: 5~72 hours (mostly 12~36 hours).
● Staphylococcus aureus: 1~8 hours (mostly 2~4 hours).
● Botox: 12~30 hours (mostly 12~24 hours).
● Cactus bacillus: 1~16 hours (mostly 2~4 or 8~16 hours).
● Escherichia coli: 5~48 hours (mostly 10~18 hours).
● Poisonous pufferfish: 10 minutes to several hours.
● Pesticides, toxic and illegal food additives, etc.: depending on the amount of intake. Acute poisoning takes minutes to hours; chronic poisoning can be latent for years or longer.
How long do food poisoning symptoms last?
Symptoms usually last for 1~2 days, and some last for 1 week~10 days.
How can I prevent food poisoning?
1. Wash your hands: Wash thoroughly before and after preparing food, and bandage wounds first.
2. Choose fresh ingredients: Ingredients should be fresh and hygienic, and the water should be clean.
3. Separate raw and cooked food: Handle raw and cooked food with different utensils to avoid cross-contamination.
4. Heating: Avoid the "danger zone" of 7~60°C, and the core temperature of the food exceeds 70°C before bacteria are easily destroyed.
5. Storage temperature: Lower than 7°C can inhibit the growth of bacteria, cooked food, or perishable food and its raw materials, it is recommended to store below 5°C, not too long at room temperature, hot storage temperature should be higher than 60°C.
Finally, if you suspect that you or others have food poisoning, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible and receive appropriate treatment and care.