Symptoms of food poisoning. Treatment of food poisoning at home - the best remedies

The body's reaction to these microorganisms is different for all people - in some people poisoning actually occurs, in others there is no reaction.

The biggest danger of food poisoning is death, which most often occurs after poisoning with mushrooms or missing fish.

There are several types of food poisoning:

— foodborne diseases– provoke missing products (with expired expiration dates), as well as products that were improperly stored or prepared in violation of sanitary standards;

— toxic poisoning (non-infectious)– caused by the ingestion of natural or chemical toxins into the body along with food (poison of inedible mushrooms and plants, as well as chemicals).

If you suspect toxic poisoning caused by poisonous mushrooms, berries or chemicals that have entered the body along with food, consult a doctor immediately! This type of poisoning is very dangerous, so you should not treat it yourself!!!

Symptoms of food poisoning

The first signs of food poisoning appear within 2-6 hours after eating.

Symptoms of food poisoning include:

Diagnosis of food poisoning

To make a diagnosis, the doctor collects a detailed medical history:

- interviews the patient;
- measures body temperature and pulse;
- conducts a general examination for the presence and palpation of the abdomen.

Tests are also prescribed:

— laboratory examination of feces;
— .

In rare cases, the following diagnostic procedures may be prescribed:

— fibroesophagogastroduodenoscopy;
- colonoscopy;
— sigmoidoscopy;
- fluoroscopy.

In case of mass food poisoning, the Sanitary and Epidemiological Service (SES) conducts an investigation of the products that could cause the poisoning.

Treatment of food poisoning includes taking first aid for food poisoning, restoring the body, as well as following certain nutritional rules (diet) after all the measures taken.

First aid for food poisoning

1. Gastric lavage

When the first symptoms of food poisoning appear, it is necessary to urgently rinse the stomach. This is done to remove any remaining junk food.

A weak solution of potassium permanganate or soda is excellent for washing. To prepare the product: pour literally a few grains of potassium permanganate (until light pink) or 1 tbsp into 2 liters of water at room temperature. spoon of soda.

Drink this solution and call by pressing 2 fingers on the root of the tongue. Repeat the procedure until clear water comes out.

Important! If the victim of poisoning is a child under 2 years old, a person after or in a very weakened or delirious state, a person unconscious, then inducing vomiting at home is strictly prohibited! Such patients may choke on vomit. In this case, only health workers under their supervision can induce vomiting!!!

2. Removing toxins from the body

After gastric lavage, sorbents are taken to remove toxins from the body.

The most popular sorbent is carbon, which we often recognize under the names: “Activated carbon” or “White carbon”.

These drugs reduce the absorption of harmful substances in the gastrointestinal tract and promote the removal from it not only of toxins, but also salts of heavy metals, alkaloids and other harmful substances.

When taking activated carbon, proceed from the calculation: 1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight. “White coal” is taken 2-4 tablets, depending on the severity of the poisoning.

3. Replenishment of fluid lost by the body

After gastric lavage and taking the sorbent, drinking plenty of fluids is necessary to replenish fluid loss in the body (after vomiting and diarrhea).

Drink 2–3 liters of boiled liquid per day. Alternate saline solution (add 1 teaspoon of table salt to 1 liter of boiled water), sweet, weak tea and chamomile decoction.

Drinking plenty of fluids not only restores water balance, but also helps a person warm up and also reduces pain.

4. Other events

Warming

Often, when food is poisoned, a person develops. In this case, it must be warmed up. To keep warm, cover the patient with a blanket and apply a heating pad to the legs.

Diet

After first aid and treatment of poisoning, a gentle diet is prescribed, which helps to quickly restore the functionality of the digestive organs. We will look at diet a little later in this article.

5. Medicines for food poisoning:

To restore water balance. They are used after gastric lavage to prevent dehydration of the body: "", "Oralit", "Chlorazol", "Litrozol" and others.

To restore intestinal microflora. Used after gastric lavage: “Hilak Forte”, “Linex”, “Mezim”, etc.;

Antipyretics. Apply if body temperature is above 37.5 degrees: “”, “”, etc.

Antibiotics are used only in severe cases of poisoning and are prescribed only by the attending physician.

See your doctor immediately if:

— symptoms of poisoning persist for 3 or more days;
- the course of poisoning becomes more severe;
- pain in the kidneys, liver or other internal organs, as well as prolonged abdominal cramps are observed;
- holds;
- there is increased sweating and a feeling of suffocation;
- a child or an elderly person has been poisoned;
- there is a suspicion of poisoning with poisonous mushrooms, berries or fish.

After food poisoning (Diet for food poisoning)

An integral part of the treatment of food poisoning is diet.

In the first days after poisoning, it is necessary to give up fatty, spicy and heavy foods, milk and dairy products, alcohol and other bad habits.

Eat small meals. Steam or boil dishes. Drink a lot and gradually return to your diet.

To fully restore the body after food poisoning, follow some nutritional rules:

- the first day, when the symptoms of poisoning have disappeared, stick to bed rest and only drink - boiled water, weak green tea, decoction, tea from (warm, you can sweeten it a little);

- on the second day, food should be light, boiled and chopped as much as possible. Start eating with cereals and broths - oatmeal, rice porridge (with water). Prepare vegetable or chicken broths. Don't forget to drink plenty of fluids;

- on the third and fourth days you can eat mashed potatoes, rice, lean fish fillet (steamed).

Folk remedies for food poisoning

Treatment of food poisoning with folk remedies is permissible only for mild cases and only after consultation and permission from a doctor.

Dill. Pour 1 teaspoon of dill seeds into 1.5 cups of boiling water and let them brew for about 5 minutes. Now boil the infusion for a couple of minutes, strain, let it cool slightly, and when the product is warm, add 1 teaspoon of honey to it. Take the resulting product instead of tea throughout the day. The daily norm is 1 liter.

Cinnamon. Pour ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon into 1 cup of boiling water and mix thoroughly. Let the product sit for 15-20 minutes, then strain. Drink this decoction in small sips throughout the day. The daily norm is 1.5 l.

Wormwood and yarrow. Pour 500 ml of boiling water, 1 teaspoon dried and 1 teaspoon. Let them sit for about 20 minutes, then strain. Divide the resulting product into 5 servings to drink throughout the day.

Marshmallow root. Pour 1 teaspoon of crushed marshmallow roots into ½ cup of boiling water. Let the product sit for about 30 minutes, strain and add to it (to taste). Drink the resulting infusion 4 times a day, 1 tbsp. spoon.

Marshmallow flowers and leaves. 2 tbsp. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over spoons of marshmallow flowers and leaves. Leave to brew for 3-4 hours, then drink instead of tea 3 times a day.

To prevent, or at least minimize the risk of food poisoning, adhere to the following preventive rules:

Try to purchase and consume less frozen semi-finished products - pizza, cutlets, fish sticks, etc.

Avoid purchasing or eating fish that look wrinkled or have white gills.

If you have allergies to certain foods, be aware of them.

In the summer, when it is hot outside, do not purchase or eat sweets with cream or milk filling - cakes, straws, eclairs, etc.

Do not drink alcohol “from under the counter”, as well as cheap wines, low-alcohol drinks, energy drinks, etc. Better yet, don’t drink alcoholic beverages in any form at all, because... this drink does not benefit humans, except for medicinal purposes, for example, red wine to increase hemoglobin levels, etc.

Change your washcloth and kitchen towel more often, and keep your kitchen clean.

Which doctor should you contact if you are poisoned?

Food poisoning. Video

If poisons and toxins enter the human body, a disorder of normal life occurs - poisoning. This condition can be caused by poor-quality food, alcohol, pesticides, carbon monoxide, mushrooms and many other factors. In order to recognize a complication in time and provide first aid, you need to know the main symptoms.

The first signs of poisoning

When an illness occurs, a person’s general well-being always worsens. The first symptoms appear within 2 to 24 hours after toxins enter the body:

• sharp, sometimes unbearable, abdominal pain;
• nausea;
• frequent vomiting;
• diarrhea, foul-smelling watery stools with particles of undigested food;
• bloating;
• spasms;
• low blood pressure;
• weakness;
• hallucinations, double vision.

Temperature

An invariable symptom when toxins or poisons enter the blood is an increase in temperature. In this state, metabolism begins to accelerate, microcirculation improves, and blood vessels dilate. In this way, the body tries to kill pathogenic microbes, creating conditions unfavorable for them. The person becomes covered in sticky sweat and feels dizzy.

The temperature rises gradually, slowly bringing the person to a feverish state. The rate increases most quickly with food poisoning. If the thermometer shows less than 38.5 degrees, nothing needs to be done. Fever can last from 1 to 5 days. If the temperature rises above 39 degrees and lasts more than a day, you must take an antipyretic drug.

How long does it take for poisoning to appear?

The speed at which symptoms appear depends on the type of harmful substance and its dosage. If a person has eaten toxic mushrooms, for example, fly agaric, galerina, complete absorption occurs after at least 4 hours, after which the first symptom appears - diarrhea. It takes less time for symptoms to appear when a large amount of sleeping pills, for example, Zolpidem, enters the body - from 30 minutes to 2 hours. In case of food poisoning, the main symptoms appear within 24 hours, the first symptoms appear in the period from 1 to 6 hours.

Dizziness

The symptom does not have any pronounced features and is not decisive for diagnosis. Dizziness during poisoning can persist throughout the entire illness, intensifying with changes in body position. The symptom is non-systemic in nature, its severity depends on many factors. If a person has lesions of the vestibular apparatus, dizziness may remain even after the consequences of the disease have been eliminated.

Symptoms of mushroom poisoning

Particularly dangerous for humans are the pale toadstool, fiberweed, cobweb, pigweed, and false honey mushrooms. Symptoms appear 1.5-2 hours after consumption. Diarrhea occurs, then the condition normalizes for a while; after 2-3 days, yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes occurs. At the same time, your hands become cold and your temperature rises. Specific symptoms for poisoning with certain types of mushrooms:

• Toadstool causes cramps, abdominal pain, very large stools, heart failure, and coma.
• Talkers and red fly agaric lead to constriction of the pupils, lacrimation, slow heartbeat, shortness of breath, bronchoconvulsions, and hallucinations.
• Other types of fly agaric (panther, stinking), false mushrooms cause delirium and severe hallucinations.
• Morels lead to convulsions, loss of consciousness, toxic damage to the liver, expressed by yellowing of the skin.

Carbon monoxide

Oxygen oxide intoxication is very common in our country, often leading to death. There are many sources of danger, starting with stoves in private homes and ending with all kinds of burners and heating devices. Signs of gas poisoning in adults:

1. In the first degree, general weakness, headache, vomiting, and cramps appear. This is how the brain reacts to oxygen starvation.
2. At moderate degrees, these symptoms of poisoning intensify; in addition, visual impairment, hearing loss, and confusion are observed. Due to a lack of oxygen, increased cardiac activity begins, chest pain appears, and a heart attack is possible. Lung function is impaired, resulting in shallow breathing.
3. Severe degrees are characterized by trophic skin disorders, acute renal failure, and respiratory arrest. Cerebral edema and coma develop. Areas of skin with poor blood circulation become whitish.

Signs of food poisoning

The disorder often occurs when eating low-quality food, products that are expired or stored in violation of sanitary standards. The severity of symptoms depends on the amount of toxins eaten. Signs may differ in adults and children.

Symptoms in adults

Foodborne illness is characterized by a short incubation period. The first manifestations can begin within 30 minutes. Common signs of food poisoning in adults:

• painful nausea;
• gradual increase in body temperature to 39 degrees or more;
• general weakness, malaise;
• frequent vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• chills;
• dizziness;
• pale skin;
• excessive salivation;
• sharp pain in the abdomen;
• sticky sweat.

Signs in a child

In children, toxins are absorbed faster from the mucous membranes, and the body cannot fully resist external factors. Even foods that do not cause harm to other family members can cause an acute reaction. In children, the disease is more severe than in adults and is often caused by E. coli. Symptoms of food poisoning in children:

• vomiting, frequent bowel movements;
• stomach ache;
• significant increase in temperature;
• lethargy, weakness;
• lack of appetite;
• headache;
• dry skin due to dehydration;
• reduced blood pressure;
• pointed facial features;
• allergic skin rash.

Symptoms of mercury poisoning with a broken thermometer

A very fragile device is a thermometer, which can break if handled carelessly. Poisoning can occur by ingesting mercury beads or by prolonged inhalation of its vapor. Symptoms of mercury vapor poisoning:

• headache;
• vomit;
• nausea; stool disorder;
• swollen, bleeding gums;
• metallic taste in the mouth;
• painful swallowing.

To avoid poisoning after a thermometer falls, you need to quickly collect the mercury balls. It is convenient to do this with a syringe or brush, it is better to collect it in a jar of water.It is advisable to take the collected mercury to specialized institutions.

Signs of alcohol intoxication

Among everyday diseases, the leading position is occupied by complications after drinking alcoholic beverages, often resulting in death. If you suspect alcohol poisoning, symptoms may include:

• Emotional arousal, increased motor activity. The person seems to be in euphoria, moving away from all problems.
• Redness of the skin, mainly of the face.
• Stomach pain associated with the damaging effects of ethanol contained in alcohol.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• Increased sweating.
• Dilated pupils due to the effect of ethanol on the nervous system.
• Impaired thermoregulation.
• General weakness.
• Low blood pressure.
• Violation of water-mineral balance: increase or decrease in urination.
• Pain in the right hypochondrium due to liver damage.
• Breathing is noisy and rapid.
• Inability to perceive reality.

Symptoms of ammonia poisoning

Ammonia is used as a stimulant for fainting. Inhaling pungent vapors restores consciousness. Prolonged contact may result in poisoning. Signs:

• lacrimation;
• increased sweating;
• vomit;
• dizziness;
• sneezing;
• cough;
• convulsions;
• hoarse voice;
• sore throat;
• feeling of suffocation;
• stomach ache;
• hyperemia.

First aid for poisoning

If vomiting, severe abdominal pain, or diarrhea occurs, you should call a doctor; if the condition is severe, call an ambulance. Before the arrival of specialists, it is necessary to begin removing toxins from the body:

1. If there was no vomiting, it must be induced artificially. A strong solution of soda or irritation of the uvula will help.
2. Drink plenty of fluids, preferably clean water. Teas and fruit drinks are acceptable.
3. Take sorbents - Smecta, activated carbon.
4. In case of vapor poisoning, a person should be taken out into fresh air, given ammonia to sniff, and offered to rinse their mouth with a soda solution.

Find out more about how emergency care works.

Video

The incidence of food poisoning in the world, according to WHO, is increasing every year. There are some difficulties in statistics in recent years due to the fact that not all countries record and systematize information about poisonings. According to WHO statistics from five years ago, the death rate from food poisoning in the world is 2 million people annually, of which 75% are children under 14 years of age. The annual growth rate of incidence is 10 - 12%.

Features of food poisoning and classification

Food poisoning is a collective term that unites the clinical picture of acute digestive disorders (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) that occurs after taking low-quality foods or drinks. Sometimes, depending on the type of poisoning, there are many more clinical symptoms.

Food poisoning is classified into:

Infectious - pathogens: bacteria, viruses, protozoa; such poisonings are food poisoning infections (PTI);

Non-infectious (toxic) - arise as a result of toxins, poisons entering the body, when poisonous herbs and mushrooms are used in food.

A dangerous feature of food poisoning is:

Short incubation period (2 - 6 hours);

Rapid development of the disease.

Also characteristic:

The scale of the damage: all people who consume the unsuitable product suffer;

Poisoning can occur even with foods that look and taste normal, since the food could already be contaminated with microbes;

Food stored for a long time after preparation is potentially dangerous.

Food poisoning - the first signs

The first signs of food poisoning appear between 1 - 2 and up to 6 hours after poisoning. Over the next 2 days they progress and, without treatment, can lead to serious consequences in the future.

Symptoms of food poisoning depend on certain factors:

Toxin or infectious agent that caused poisoning;

The amount of food eaten or drink that was poisoned by the toxin;

General condition of the body.

But the first signs of food poisoning are always the same, regardless of the above factors:

High temperature;

Decreased or lack of appetite;

General weakness;

Diarrhea and cramping abdominal pain;

Flatulence;

Nausea and vomiting;

Cold clammy sweat, low blood pressure.

All the symptoms of food poisoning

In some cases, the clinic develops very quickly, and all the symptoms of food poisoning develop within 1 - 2 hours, while the patient’s condition worsens and he needs urgent treatment.

All the symptoms of food poisoning are often the only information that helps make a diagnosis, since children cannot explain their complaints, and in adults, due to the severity of the condition, it is sometimes difficult to collect an anamnesis. Changes in vomiting (frequency, type and amount of vomit), feces (blood impurities, color, smell, consistency, frequency of stool), temperature reaction - these are the main signs that must be carefully observed, analyzed, and based on them in the first hours of poisoning a diagnosis is made.

It may also happen:

Visual impairment (diplopia or complete loss);

Decreased muscle tone;

Increased salivation;

Brain damage (hallucinations, delirium, coma);

Damage to the peripheral nervous system (paresis, paralysis).

Such symptoms are observed more often when affected by neurotoxic poisons. In pregnant women, children under 3 years of age and the elderly, food poisoning is particularly severe, and death is possible.

Food poisoning - first aid

Urgent hospitalization for emergency treatment is carried out in difficult situations when there is a threat to life. In most cases, at the initial stage of food poisoning, first aid is provided at home.

First aid measures:

Detoxification;

Detoxification;

Elimination of dehydration;

Etiotropic treatment is not required until the diagnosis is clarified (with the exception of anamnesis and clear clinical manifestations indicating the presence of infection - botulism, salmonellosis).

The scope of first aid for food poisoning depends on the time elapsed from the moment of poisoning and the severity of the condition.

There are rules that everyone needs to remember:

1. You should not take antiemetic or antidiarrheal drugs, since vomiting and diarrhea are the body’s defense mechanisms and the fastest ways to massively eliminate toxins.

2. It is necessary to give the victim a lot of fluid (clean water) and induce vomiting to remove toxins from the stomach. Continue gastric lavage until clean, clear water appears.

3. Restoration of water and electrolyte balance and the volume of lost fluid: drink plenty of fluids using pharmaceutical forms of saline solutions or those prepared at home. Ready-made solutions for oral administration: Regidron, Normohydron, Oralit, Chlorazol, Gastrolit, Gidrovit, etc. Solutions are diluted according to the attached instructions, for example, 1 packet of Regidron is diluted in 1 liter of water, you need to drink 3 liters (use 3 packets of Regidron during the day) to achieve maximum effect. Oral rehydrants are used in the intervals between vomiting and taking medications.

In the absence of ready-made solutions, you can use a weak solution of manganese (the solution should be pink) or 2% alkaline (with baking soda added to the water), glucose-salt (3 tablespoons of sugar + 1 teaspoon of salt per 1 liter of water).

4. To quickly remove toxins, it is necessary to take sorbents (if absorption of toxins has already occurred in the intestines): Polysorb (powder, soluble in water, easy to use, Enterosgel, Enterol, in extreme cases - activated white and black carbon, tablets of which can be crushed and given in water at the rate of: 1 tablet per kilogram of weight every 3 hours. Usually, for repeated vomiting and diarrhea, up to 20 tablets can be used once.

5. In case of a severe pain attack, it is unacceptable to take analgesics or antibiotics unless a diagnosis has been made. It is possible to take antispasmodics (No - spa, Drotaverine, Riabal, etc.).

6. If there is no vomiting or diarrhea, it is necessary to take laxatives to prevent further absorption of toxins in the intestines. For this purpose, sodium and magnesium sulfates are prescribed: 1 tablespoon of the product is dissolved in 0.5 glasses of liquid and washed down with plenty of water.

Treatment of food poisoning in a hospital setting

Treatment of food poisoning differs from the treatment of acute intestinal infections, since they occur much easier and faster: mild forms of food poisoning can safely resolve on the 3rd day on their own.

Main directions of treatment

Detoxification;

Prevention of dehydration;

Restoration of intestinal biocenosis;

Normalization of the gastrointestinal tract through a gentle diet.

But often food poisoning is life-threatening. Acute symptoms that develop in a short time require immediate hospitalization and treatment in a specialized department.

Indications for hospitalization for food poisoning are also:

Temperature up to 40 C;

Poisoning in a child under 3 years of age (rapid dehydration occurs with diarrhea and vomiting, which can dramatically worsen the condition);

Pregnancy and old age of patients;

Poisoning by poisonous mushrooms and plants, toxic compounds and liquids;

Diarrhea more than 10 times a day mixed with blood, uncontrollable vomiting, high fever that persists for two days, severe increasing weakness;

The result is general dehydration of the body (dry mucous membranes, decreased urine production up to anuria, decreased body weight).

Only a doctor who decides on the need for hospitalization can adequately assess the condition.

1. Parenteral rehydration is carried out in a hospital setting. This is especially important in case of poisoning in children who cannot drink the required amount of liquid.

For parenteral rehydration, solutions of Trisol, Kvartasol, Acesol, Lactosol, etc. are used.

2. Sorbents are used with caution in young children and elderly patients.

3. Antispasmodics - for the urge to defecate, cramping pain in the abdomen.

4. Antiemetic and antidiarrheal therapy are necessary only in severe cases with uncontrollable vomiting and diarrhea, since the bulk of toxins have already left the body. Cerucal, Motilium, Imodium, etc. are prescribed.

5. Antipyretics are prescribed only to patients who cannot tolerate high fever (NSAIDs: Paracetamol, Ibuklin /paracetamol with ibuprofen/)

6. Probiotics and prebiotics (means for restoring normal intestinal biocenosis, containing live bacteria or their components - Enterozermina, Linnex, Bifidumbacterin, Baktisubtil, etc.).

7. Also in a hospital setting, gastric lavage with a probe and siphon enemas are performed. Up to 10 liters of water are used for procedures.

For a long time, the condition of the digestive tract may not be restored. This is associated with irritation of the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines and in some cases requires additional treatment.

But basically, recovery from poisoning involves following a diet.

Food poisoning - prevention

To avoid food poisoning and the unpleasant symptoms and complications associated with it, you need to adhere to basic hygiene rules, which are the prevention of food poisoning.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap before eating or preparing food.

It is good to wash vegetables and fruits, especially in the hot season, to prevent flies from landing on food.

Subject raw eggs, fish, meat to heat treatment or frying; Wash the cutting board and knife thoroughly after raw meat.

Defrosting meat - before cooking it, but not at room temperature, but in the microwave or in the refrigerator.

Monitor the temperature in the refrigerator - at least 30 C.

Treat mushrooms and food from public catering with caution, do not use products of questionable quality.

Do not store preserved metal cans for more than 2 years; You should also not store food in copper or zinc containers.

You should not eat the milk and caviar of certain types of fish caught during their spawning period (pike, mackerel, burbot, perch).

If you remember and adhere to these rules, you will be able to maintain your health for many years and avoid unpleasant diseases and serious complications.

Food poisoning is an acute digestive disorder caused by consuming low-quality or toxic foods and drinks.

• Food poisoning(PTI). Occur due to consumption of food contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms. For example, stale food. Failure to comply with sanitary and hygienic standards can also provoke PTI.
• Toxic (non-infectious) poisoning They occur when natural or chemical toxins enter the body with food. For example, poison from inedible mushrooms and plants, as well as chemicals.

The last type of poisoning is the most dangerous. You shouldn't fight them on your own. If you suspect a non-infectious nature of poisoning, you should consult a doctor immediately.

Also, regardless of the type of poisoning, qualified medical care is necessary for pregnant and lactating women, children and the elderly.

But usually people encounter toxic infections that can be treated at home. Next, we will talk about what steps to take to cope with PTI on your own.

Symptoms and pathogenesis

The course of food poisoning depends on the age and general condition of the person, as well as the type of pathogenic bacteria. But the general picture is this:

• obsessive nausea;
• repeated vomiting;
• weakness, malaise;
• changed complexion;
• diarrhea;
• chills;
• elevated body temperature.

PTI is characterized by a short incubation period. The first signs appear 2–6 hours after eating and progress quickly without treatment.

Treatment

Step 1. Gastric lavage

When the first symptoms appear, the remaining toxic food must be removed from the body. To do this, wash the stomach. The actions are the same as when providing first aid.

1. Prepare a weak solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) or baking soda (1 tablespoon of soda per 1.5–2 liters of water at room temperature).
2. Drink some of the solution.
3. Induce vomiting (press the root of the tongue with two fingers).
4. Repeat the procedure several times until the vomit is clear.

Step 2. Taking sorbents

Sorbents are drugs that help remove toxins from the body. The most famous of them is activated carbon.

Activated carbon reduces the absorption of toxins, heavy metal salts, alkaloids and other harmful substances into the gastrointestinal tract, and also promotes their removal from the body.

Dosage for poisoning: one tablet for every 10 kg of body weight.

In other words, if you weigh 70 kg, then you will need at least seven tablets. In severe cases, the dosage should be increased.

In case of poisoning, it is better to take coal in the form of an aqueous suspension. To do this, crush the tablets and mix with 100 ml of boiled water at room temperature. This mixture tastes quite nasty, but it effectively fights poisoning.

You can also use white charcoal instead of regular charcoal. It is believed that this is a selective, concentrated sorbent. It not only removes toxins, but also retains nutrients. In this case, the dosage is halved: for an adult, 2–4 tablets, depending on the degree of poisoning.

Instead of coal, you can use other sorbents (according to the instructions). For example, “Smecta”, “Lactofiltrum”, “Enterosgel” and others.

Step 3: Drink plenty of fluids

Vomiting and diarrhea severely dehydrate the body - you need to replenish fluid losses and maintain water balance.

Drink at least 2–3 liters of boiled water per day.

You can also take special rehydration products: “Rehydron”, “Oralit” and others. These are powders and solutions containing mineral salts and glucose and preventing dehydration.

Other medicines

As for taking other medications for toxic infections, there are several general rules:

• When active vomiting stops, you can use drugs that restore the intestinal microflora (Hilak Forte, Linex, Mezim and others).
• If the temperature rises above 37.5 degrees, it must be brought down with antipyretics (paracetamol, ibuprofen and others).
• Taking painkillers is not recommended: they can complicate diagnosis in case of complications.
• Antimicrobial drugs (mostly antibiotics) are used in severe cases of toxic infection and are prescribed exclusively by a doctor.

Step 4. Routine and diet

With a food infection, the patient feels severe weakness. You should adhere to bed rest and refuse to eat for the first day (if your appetite is impaired and your body rejects food).

On the second or third day, you can indulge in jelly, crackers (without poppy seeds, raisins, vanilla or any other additives), as well as liquid mashed potatoes or oatmeal porridge cooked in water.

With active treatment, symptoms subside - improvement should occur within a few hours. The body finally returns to normal, usually within three days. But abdominal pain, weakness, and flatulence may persist for several more days.

If the main symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, fever) do not decrease and do not go away more than six hours after starting treatment, consult a doctor.

Step 5. Prevention

No one is immune from foodborne infections. But everyone has the power to reduce their risk to a minimum.

1. Wash your hands before eating.
2. Keep the kitchen clean and follow cooking techniques.
3. Be demanding about the quality of products when purchasing. For example, do not buy fish with an ammonia smell and a “rusty” coating. (All recommendations for choosing fish.)
4. Do not eat at questionable gastronomic establishments, and do not drink tap water.

Follow these and other precautions and stay healthy!

Why food poisoning occurs, what symptoms and treatment are typical for this condition - every person should know this information. in order to prevent poisoning in time, recognize the symptoms and provide first aid to the patient.

Food poisoning is one of the most common health disorders. If you do not follow a diet during the recovery period or carry out treatment incorrectly, you can get a chronic disease of the digestive system: gastritis, duodenitis or colitis.

Reasons

This condition occurs when consuming low-quality products. Poisoning can be caused by:

1. Expired or spoiled products.
2. Those that were stored in improper conditions.
3. Food that was stored in damaged packaging.
4. Foods prepared from ingredients that were initially stale or contaminated with bacteria or mold.
5. Poisonous plants, berries, parts of animal carcasses.
6. Foods prepared by a sick person.
7. Lack of hygiene when preparing or eating food (dirty dishes).
8. Failure to comply with cooking technology.

There are a number of foods that are quite easy to poison. This:

• meat and fish;
• raw eggs;
• dairy products;
• canned food (the most common reason is a violation of the integrity of the packaging);
• poisonous mushrooms.

Therefore, the choice of products and the cleanliness of dishes must be treated with extreme care. You should not eat food that has expired - this applies to packaged and home-cooked foods. The quality of products can often be determined by appearance and smell, as well as consistency.

A spoiled product is more friable, has an unpleasant odor and a pale color; there may be mucus or mold on the surface. When it comes to liquid food, a characteristic sign is air bubbles and a sour taste.

Particular care should be taken when consuming canned meat and fish. Poisoning with them can cause botulism, a severe intoxication that often leads to death.

Symptoms and signs of poisoning

The first signs of food poisoning appear between half an hour and 12 hours after eating spoiled foods. The timing of the onset of symptoms depends on the degree of contamination with pathogenic microorganisms, as well as the amount of food eaten.

The simultaneous consumption of carbohydrate and fermented milk foods accelerates the manifestation of symptoms, since these foods are a breeding ground for bacteria.

The activity of microorganisms and their metabolic products cause irritation of the gastric and intestinal mucosa. Toxins entering the blood cause general intoxication of the body.

As soon as the body itself recognizes poisoning, it tries with all its might to get rid of the poisoned food. Therefore, there arise:

1. Nausea and vomiting, the purpose of which is to clear the stomach of poisoned food. Mild poisoning often occurs without vomiting and is limited to minor digestive upset.
2. Diarrhea - develops if spoiled foods manage to get into the intestines.
3. Abdominal pain - acute, cramping. Vomiting or stool often provides temporary relief.
4. Flatulence, rumbling, bloating in the abdomen.
5. Headache.
6. Fever and chills usually accompany severe poisoning.
7. Muscle pain.
8. Weakness, dizziness.
9. In case of poisoning with poisonous berries or mushrooms, there may be convulsions, dilated pupils, confusion, and excessive salivation.

Signs of food poisoning are very easy to confuse with other acute diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, etc.)

When is medical help needed?

Simple food poisoning goes away on its own within 3 to 7 days. But in some cases, the patient requires emergency medical care:

1. When poisoning is caused by fish, expired canned food, poisonous mushrooms.
2. If a child, pregnant woman or elderly person has been poisoned.
3. When poisoning is caused by products containing toxic substances.
4. If symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting) do not go away or decrease within 2-3 days.
5. When the condition rapidly worsens, the patient loses consciousness, the frequency of vomiting and diarrhea exceeds 25 times a day, or poisoning occurs with fever.

What to do in case of poisoning?

Taking antibiotics is not mandatory. It is only necessary if the symptoms of the disease do not subside and the exact cause of the poisoning can be identified.

In any case, treatment with antibacterial drugs is prescribed by a doctor. Self-medication in this case can be harmful, since it will kill the already damaged intestinal microflora.

The main thing in case of food poisoning is to monitor the patient’s condition and provide him with a drinking regime.

First aid for food poisoning

First you need to cleanse your body of the source of poisoning as quickly as possible. Food intoxication will go away on its own if you manage to completely cleanse the digestive tract. To do this, you need to induce vomiting or give a laxative. If you are already vomiting, you need to drink more fluid to replenish fluid loss and also speed up the flushing of toxins.

If the process is left to chance, vomiting will occur periodically over several hours. If you rinse the stomach, the patient’s condition will improve significantly within the first half hour. Vomiting should be induced until clean water begins to come out. For rinsing, use clean boiled water or a solution of soda and iodine. After vomiting, you need to drink water and a sorbent that will bind the remaining toxins.

Vomiting should be induced if poisoning occurs in an adult. If a pregnant woman has food poisoning or signs of food intoxication are observed in small children, artificial vomiting can be harmful.

An enema is not necessary because this procedure only cleanses the rectum and part of the colon, while food poisoning is localized in the upper intestines.

You can only take medications at home that will help relieve intoxication, get rid of the source of infection and protect the gastrointestinal tract from inflammation.

These are the following medications:

1. Sorbents help bind and remove toxins. These are activated carbon, Polysorb, Enterosgel, Atoxil, Smecta, Sorbogel. You need to drink them at the first sign. You need to repeat the dose after vomiting.
2. Preparations for restoring water-salt balance - Regidron, Litrosol, Oralit and others. Most drugs are available in the form of powders for solution. They are taken after each attack of vomiting or diarrhea, as well as several times an hour in small quantities in the first 2-3 days.
3. Painkillers will help reduce abdominal pain and muscle cramps. You can use No-shpu, Spazmalgon.
4. Antiemetics and antidiarrheals can be used in two cases: if these symptoms recur too often and when the body has already been cleared of contaminated food, but the painful urge persists. For this purpose, you can drink Cerucal, Motilium, Loperamide.
5. Antibacterial drugs are used in rare cases as prescribed by a doctor. The most popular intestinal antibiotics are Nifuroxazide, Intetrix. They kill pathogenic microflora without harming the beneficial bacteria living in the intestines.

After the symptoms disappear, you can take probiotics, which will help restore the intestinal microflora faster.

Acute poisoning can be cured without the help of doctors if you take sorbents and maintain water balance. If the poisoning is severe, the body has weak resistance, or the patient has chronic gastrointestinal diseases, it is better to seek medical help.

In case of mild poisoning, it is quite possible to be treated with traditional methods. They can quickly help relieve the condition and speed up recovery.

The most effective means:

1. Ginger decoction or infusion is a powerful antiseptic. You need to take it 50-100 ml every half hour. It also helps suppress nausea.
2. A herbal decoction of wormwood and yarrow in equal proportions will help you quickly cleanse yourself of toxins.
3. To reduce spasms, you need to make an infusion of a cinnamon stick, pouring a glass of boiling water over it. This remedy also binds poisons well.
4. Dill infusion with honey helps replenish electrolytes, reduce negative effects and alleviate symptoms.
5. Water with lemon replenishes vitamin C deficiency, strengthens the body's defenses, and helps fight pathogenic bacteria. It can be given a little at a time for nausea and vomiting in an adult.

Nutrition for food poisoning

On the first day you should refuse food altogether. When the symptoms completely go away, after a few hours you can eat pureed mucous soups. But dairy products should be avoided for at least a week: If pathogenic bacteria remain in the intestines, fermented milk products will cause severe fermentation.

After acute poisoning, you need to adhere to a gentle diet for at least a week.: Eat light soups and slimy porridges. You should avoid sweets, alcohol, fresh vegetables and fruits, smoked meats and marinades: they irritate the mucous membranes and will only increase inflammation.

Suitable drinks include alkaline mineral waters, herbal teas, and fruit drinks. Sweet soda, juices, coffee are strictly prohibited.

Video - food poisoning