Food poisoning often occurs in hot weather. Diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea are characteristic symptoms of poisoning with salmonella, staphylococcus or E. coli bacteria, which like heat and multiply rapidly in the summer in poorly stored food. Find out how to avoid food poisoning in hot weather and what to do to cure it.

Food poisoning in hot weatheris most often caused by eating poorly stored food, in which, under the influence of high temperature, it quickly multiplied dangerous for our digestive system bacteria and toxins:

  • salmonella - most often found in animal products: eggs, meat, milk and its products;
  • staphylococcus - it reproduces best in sweet, carbohydrate foods
  • E. coli bacteria - they can be found in any product because they are transmitted by insects (especially flies);
  • sausage venom - most often found in poorly stored canned meat, fish or vegetables.

As a result of poisoning, within a few hours (approx. 6) of consuming the poisoned product, there are:

  • diarrhea
  • stomach pains
  • vomiting
  • nausea

In this case, appropriate treatment should be initiated as soon as possible.

Where are the toxins and bacteria that are dangerous for our stomach lurking?

List of products not recommended for consumption during hot summer days

  • ice cream, cream cakes that were not well chilled.
  • defrosted and re-frozen products (this includes ice cream, frozen vegetables, fish and more);
  • tartare - raw meat and raw egg yolk increase the risk of poisoning;
  • undercooked or undercooked dishes (E. coli bacteria multiply quickly);
  • giblets that deteriorate very quickly on hot days;
  • seafood, especially raw;
  • unpasteurized milk,
  • foods that are seasoned too abundantly, especially spicy. In this way, stale products are often "camouflaged". Remember that contaminated products often smell suspiciously (e.g. those contaminated with botulism often smell of rancid fat).
Important

Be careful what water you drink in hot weather!

In hot weather, drink still bottled mineral water. If you decide to have it in a restaurant (especially in exotic countries), check how it is served. If the waiter serves it in an open bottle, don't risk poisoning it and ask for a new, closed one. Even small amounts of contaminated water can lead to serious food poisoning.

Food poisoning - how to cure them?

When you have diarrhea, swallow a few tablets of healing charcoal (you can take up to 10 at once). You can also take charcoal prophylactically (a few tablets a day) if you are not sure about the quality and freshness of what you eat in hot weather.

First of all, you should drink a lot of bottled mineral water, which will replenish the deficiency of essential minerals and restore the water and electrolyte balance, disturbed during vomiting or diarrhea. A dehydrated organism is less efficient and is therefore very susceptible to bacterial growth. Instead of mineral water, you can also drink slightly s alted rice cooking water, black tea, and preferably - a tannin-rich infusion of dried blueberries or blueberry juice. Tannins have anti-inflammatory and astringent properties - they inhibit the growth of bacteria in the digestive system. Drink often, but in small sips - too much fluid drunk at once can make vomiting worse. It is important to supplement the potassium deficiency that occurs during diarrhea (it can be provided by e.g. bananas, preferably slightly ripe, which also treat diarrhea).

>>>Diarrhea diet. What to eat and drink when you have diarrhea?

Do not suppress vomiting - if you quickly get rid of the residual stomach contents, you will soon recover. After vomiting and diarrhea are over, follow an easy-to-digest diet as your stomach is weak and irritated. Corn flakes, rice or barley gruel, crackers or broth will work.

>>>What to eat if you poison yourself?

Food poisoning. When is it necessary to see a doctor?

If symptoms of poisoning persist for more than 2 days and, despite home treatment, persist or worsen, see a doctor who will prescribe stronger drugs for diarrhea. People with increasing abdominal pain, diarrhea or vomiting with an admixture of blood require immediate medical attention. Symptoms such as increased temperature, headaches, visual disturbances, breathing disorders and urinary retention are also a cause for concern.

This will be useful to you

Food poisoning in hot weather - how to avoid them?

Food poisoning in summercan be avoided by following some basic rules:

1. Wash your hands before preparing a meal, before each meal and after using the toilet. 2. Clean kitchen utensils and utensils carefully, and do not use the same wooden / plastic boards on which you place your ready-to-eat items when cutting raw products. 3. Shop at stores that guarantee proper food storage 4. Check the use-by dates of products 5. Eat your meals immediately after preparation. It's best to only eat food that has been previously cooked, as the high temperatures kill most germs. Put raw products - meat, fish and eggs - in the fridge or freezer right after you come back from shopping. Keep them covered at the bottom of the refrigerator, away from ready-to-eat products. 7. If you do not intend to heat-treat (boil or fry) the eggs, but want to use them raw, for example in a cake, remember that you need to steam them for 10 seconds in boiling water before breaking. Products based on raw eggs should be cooled, stored in a low temperature and eaten as soon as possible. 8. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water (hot - above 60 degrees). It's best to peel them thinly.

It is also worth protecting the kitchen against insects that spread germs (especially E. coli bacteria).

Category:

Gastrology