Symptoms of food poisoning.
Why are babies more at risk?

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Babies are more susceptible to food poisoning as their immune system is not very well developed and most of the time they generally suffer from stomach problems. Baby’s symptoms of food poisoning will start 2 to 48 hours after consuming contaminated food.

The main concern with babies is that they don’t get dehydrated.

What is food poisoning?

Food poisoning is when you get ill from consuming contaminated food. Bacteria or other micro organisms infect the body after consumption.
Food born illness is usually a result from improper handling, preparing or storing food.

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How long does food poisoning last?

The incubation period (is the time between consumption and the first signs of food poisoning) range from a few hours to a few days. Symptoms of food poisoning last usually 24 to 48 hours. In some cases it can last up to 2 weeks.

Types of food poisoning.

There are many types of food poisoning depending on the bacteria or parasites in the contaminated food. The most common are:

• Salmonella
  
• E-Coli
  
• Staphylococcus Aureus
  
• Campylobacter
  
• Botulism

Symptoms of food poisoning vary depending on the microbes causing the illness.

 

bacteria	Can be found in	Poisoning symptoms	Special care
Salmonella	Under cooked meat, poultry, unpasturized milk and unwashed fruits and vegetables.	Vomiting ,fever, headache, watery or bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps	Reptiles are carriers of salmonella.
Staphylococcus aureus	Under cooked meat, poultry and eggs. Mayonnaise based salads, cream desserts.	Nausea, vomiting, exhaustion and fatigue, fever,	People with staphylococcal infection should not handle food.
Campylobacter	In stools of most animals.	Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever
E-Coli  (0157 ; H7)	Contaminated drink water (with cow feces). Under cooked mince meat and unpasturized milk.	Mild fever, irritable, watery or bloody diarrhea, anemia.	Children Swimming in contaminated water.
Clostridium Botulinum (Botulism)	Common in soil. Honey, corn syrup, home canned foods.	Double vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty breathing, paralysis.	Extremely dangerous for infants when neurotoxins paralyse the breathing muscles.

 

Treatment for food poisoning in babies.

Usually the symptoms of food poisoning disappear without any treatment.
It is better to stop eating and drinking for an hour so the stomach can settle.
Then try to give small frequent sips of fluid.

Pedialyte and Rehydralyte are rehydration products for children. They replace electrolytes and minerals the body has lost because of frequent diarrhea and vomiting.

Avoid giving drinks with lots of sugar, this can worsen the diarrhea.
Breastfeeding mothers can continue to do so, but try to give your baby some additional fluid.

Inform your doctor if your baby has the following signs of food poisoning:

• Bloody diarrhea
  
• Signs of dehydration
  
• Becomes weak, numb or confused.
  
• Has difficulty breathing.
  
• Can’t keep fluid down for more than 3 to 4 hours.
  
• Has a swollen and hard belly.

How to prevent food poisoning in infants

Keep your baby safe from symptoms of food poisoning by practicing proper food safety and food storage safety while you prepare his meals.

• Always wash your hands before and after preparing meals.
  
  
• Never put food on a surface where raw eggs or raw meat has been.
  
  
• Wash fruits and vegetables with warm running water.
  
  
• Keep kitchen counters and cutting boards clean.
  
  
• Wash dish clothes and sponges at least three times a week.
  
  
• Wash your hands with anti septic soap after changing your infant’s diaper.
  
  
• Cook meat and eggs very well and use a cooking thermometer.
  
  
• Do not give honey, corn syrup and home made canned food to infants less than 12 months to prevent botulism.

 

Food poisoning and pregnancy.

Many mums to be are worried that symptoms of food poisoning can harm their unborn child. If you are pregnant you should be extra careful because in sever cases food poisoning can cause miscarriage, premature birth and birth defects.
Dangerous bacteria are Listeria, Salmonella and E-coli. Symptoms can sometimes go unnoticed or pass like a mild flu.

Toxoplasma (gondii) is a parasite carried by cats. Avoid cleaning the cat litter box when you are pregnant. Toxoplasma passed to the baby can cause miscarriage, disability and retardation.

Foods to avoid when you are pregnant:

Food poisoning symptoms are a common illness. According to food poisoning statistics there are annually 76 million cases of food poisoning in the United States.
About 325.000 of these cases end up in hospital.

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