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food poisoning Note the signs of a sick stomach Have you or your child ever become sick to your stomach after eating a meal? You are not alone. Nearly one in 10 people in the U.S. fall prey to food poisoning every year. And it’s not fun. Vomiting may start suddenly, often within minutes of eating the food, followed by stomach cramping and diarrhea, and sometimes accompanied by fever or bloody stools. Although most adults and children recover on their own, this illness can be deadly and is responsible for more than 300,000 annual hospitalizations in the U.S. Food poisoning is most commonly caused by contamination of food or drink with bacteria or viruses. It is caused less frequently by parasites or toxins. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 80% of food poisoning cases are due to restaurant food, and around 20% due to food prepared at home. Nearly all cases of food poisoning are due to improper food handling. The top mistake is storing or cooking food at the wrong temperature. The second is cross contamination, where a cook handles infected and clean foods with the same utensils (knife, cutting board, etc.), without washing his or her hands and the utensils in between. The third is infection from someone who is sick and neglects to wash his hands before touching food. In most children, the vomiting subsides within the first 12 to 24 hours, and is followed by diarrhea lasting from five days to as long as three weeks. During the first 12 hours, infants under 1 year of age should receive small frequent feedings of Pedialyte, and then resume breastfeeding or formula as usual. (Also, alert your doctor.) In children who are already eating solid foods, Pedialyte should also be given for the first 12 to 24 hours, until the vomiting stops, and then resume foods as usual. Adults and older children should drink Powerade or Gatorade diluted with water, or broth. Avoid juice and fatty foods, since both can worsen diarrhea. No specific medication is recommended for children with vomiting and diarrhea. See the doctor immediately if your child is under age 3 with food poisoning symptoms, or if he or she refuses to or is unable to keep down fluids, and is acting unusually weak or sleepy. Seek immediate medical attention for fever above 101°F, bloody stools or vomit, joint swelling or rash, slurred speaking, difficulty swallowing or walking, or yellow discoloration of the skin or eyes. In some cases, blood and stool testing and X-rays may be necessary to determine the extent of the illness and identify the infecting organism. In cases of severe symptoms, fluids given through the vein and hospitalization may be necessary. Depending on the case, antibiotics may be prescribed. Be aware that prescription medication such as Phenergan for nausea should not be given to a child under age 2, and Compazine, also for nausea, should be used with caution in children. A few simple precautions can help keep your family safe from food poisoning at home. Wash your hands well before handling food and make sure your children learn that habit before they eat or if they help prepare family meals. Never feed honey to a child less than 12 months of age. Avoid cross-contamination by using separate cutting boards and knives for raw and cooked foods. Avoid eating raw meat, fish, seafood, and eggs. Cook meat thoroughly. Keep your refrigerator and freezer set at or below 40°F and 0°F, respectively. At the grocery store, select cold items right before checking out, and get them home into the refrigerator promptly. Never eat food past its expiration date or from a damaged package or can. Discard any food that has been sitting out for more than two hours, particularly leftovers from your children’s packed lunches. The next time you find yourself eyeing food at a restaurant suspiciously, or sniffing the milk container at home, remember this: WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT! If spoiled food looked, smelled, or tasted bad, we would all be saved much heartache...or rather, belly ache.m Dr. Richelle K. Marracino is a family practice physician at the UC Riverside Campus Health Center. Information: 951.827.3031. For Letters: inlandempirefamily.com |
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