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

The reaction of the body to these microorganisms is different for all people - some people actually get poisoned, while others do not react.

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:

— food poisoning- provoke missing products (with an expired shelf life), as well as products that have been stored incorrectly or prepared in violation of sanitary standards;

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

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 history:

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

The following tests are also ordered:

- laboratory study 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 a study of products that could cause poisoning.

Treatment of food poisoning includes taking first aid for food poisoning, recovering the body, and following certain rules of nutrition (diet) after all the measures taken.

First aid for food poisoning

1. Gastric lavage

When the first symptoms of food poisoning appear, it is urgent to rinse the stomach. This is done to remove the remnants of harmful 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 (to a light pink color) or 1 tbsp on 2 liters of water at room temperature. a spoonful of soda.

Drink this solution and call by pressing 2 fingers on the root of the tongue. Repeat the process 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 delusional state, an unconscious person, then inducing vomiting at home is strictly prohibited! Such patients may choke on vomit. Vomiting in this case can only be caused by health workers under their supervision !!!

2. Eliminate toxins from the body

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

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

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

When taking activated charcoal, 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 washing the stomach and taking the sorbent, to replenish the loss of fluid in the body (after vomiting and diarrhea), you need to drink plenty of fluids.

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

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

4. Other activities

Warming

Often, when food is poisoned, a person develops. In this case, it needs to be warmed up. For warming, cover the patient with a blanket, and attach a heating pad to the legs.

Diet

After first aid and treatment of poisoning, a sparing diet is prescribed, which contributes to the rapid resumption of the functionality of the digestive organs. We will look at the diet in this article a little later.

5. Medicines for food poisoning:

To restore water balance. They are used after washing the stomach to prevent dehydration of the body: "", "Oralit", "Chlorazole", "Litrozol" and others.

To restore intestinal microflora. They are used after gastric lavage: "Hilak forte", "Linex", "Mezim", etc.;

Antipyretics. They are used if the 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.

Seek immediate medical attention if:

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

After food poisoning (Food poisoning diet)

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 plenty and gradually return to your diet.

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

- the first day, when the symptoms of poisoning have disappeared, adhere 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 crushed as much as possible. Start eating with cereals and broths - oatmeal, rice porridge (on the water). Prepare vegetable or chicken broths. Don't forget to drink plenty of water;

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

Folk remedies for food poisoning

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

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

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

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

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

Flowers and leaves of marshmallow. 2 tbsp. spoons of flowers and leaves of marshmallow pour 2 cups of boiling water. Leave to infuse 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 buy and consume less frozen convenience foods - pizza, meatballs, fish sticks, etc.

Do not purchase or consume fish that are shriveled in appearance, or fish with white gills.

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

In the summer, when it is hot outside, do not buy or eat sweets with cream, milk filling - cakes, tubes, 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. this drink does not benefit a person, except for medicinal purposes, for example, red wine to increase hemoglobin levels, etc.

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

Which doctor to contact in case of poisoning:

Food poisoning. Video

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

The first signs of poisoning

With a disease, the general well-being of a person always worsens. The first symptoms appear in the period from 2 to 24 hours after the ingestion of toxins:

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

Temperature

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

The temperature rises gradually, slowly bringing the person to a feverish state. The fastest rate increases with food poisoning. If the thermometer shows less than 38.5 degrees, nothing needs to be done. The fever can last from 1 to 5 days. If the temperature rises above 39 degrees, lasts more than a day, it is necessary to take an antipyretic.

How long does it take for poisoning to show up?

The rate 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 sign appears - diarrhea. Less time for the manifestation of symptoms is spent when a large amount of sleeping pills, for example, Zolpidem, is ingested - from 30 minutes to 2 hours. With food poisoning, the main symptoms appear within a day, the first - in the period from 1 to 6 hours.

Dizziness

The symptom does not have any pronounced features, is not decisive in the diagnosis. Dizziness during poisoning can persist throughout the illness, aggravated by a change in body position. The symptom has a non-systemic character, the 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

For a person, pale grebe, fiber, cobweb, pig, false mushrooms are especially dangerous. Symptoms appear 1.5-2 hours after consumption. Diarrhea occurs, then the condition returns to normal for a while, after 2-3 days yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes occurs. At the same time, the hands become cold, the temperature rises. Specific symptoms of mushroom poisoning of certain types:

• Pale grebe causes convulsions, abdominal pain, very large stools, heart failure, coma.
• Talkers, red fly agaric lead to constriction of the pupils, lacrimation, slow heartbeat, shortness of breath, bronchial spasms, hallucinations.
• Other types of fly agaric (panther, smelly), false mushrooms cause delirium, severe hallucinations.
• Morels lead to convulsions, loss of consciousness, toxic liver damage, manifested by yellowness of the skin.

carbon monoxide

In our country, oxygen oxide intoxication is very common, 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 appliances. Signs of gas poisoning in adults:

1. At the first degree, general weakness, headache, vomiting, spasms are manifested. This is how the brain responds to oxygen starvation.
2. With an average degree, these symptoms of poisoning intensify, in addition to them, there is a disorder of vision, hearing, and confusion. Due to the lack of oxygen, increased cardiac activity begins, chest pains appear, and a heart attack is possible. Lung function is impaired, as a result of which shallow breathing appears.
3. Severe degree is characterized by trophic disorders of the skin, acute renal failure, respiratory arrest. Cerebral edema, coma develops. Areas of skin with poor circulation become whitish.

Signs of food poisoning

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

Symptoms in adults

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

• painful nausea;
• gradual increase in body temperature to 39 degrees or more;
• general weakness, malaise;
• frequent vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• chills;
• dizziness;
• pallor of the skin;
• profuse salivation;
• sharp pains 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 those products that did not harm the rest of the family can cause an acute reaction. In a child, the disease is more severe than in adults, often caused by Escherichia coli. Symptoms of food poisoning in children:

• vomiting, frequent stools;
• stomach ache;
• a 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, if handled carelessly, can break. Poisoning can occur when mercury balls are ingested or if its vapors are inhaled for a long time. Symptoms of mercury vapor poisoning:

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

To avoid poisoning after the fall of the thermometer, you must quickly collect the balls of mercury. It is convenient to do this with a syringe or a 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 household diseases, the leading position is occupied by complications after taking alcoholic beverages, often resulting in death. If you suspect alcohol poisoning, symptoms may include:

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

Symptoms of ammonia poisoning

Ammonia is used as a stimulant in fainting. Inhalation of sharp vapors brings consciousness back. Prolonged contact may cause poisoning. Signs:

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

First aid for poisoning

With the appearance of vomiting, severe pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, you need to call a doctor, if the condition is serious - an ambulance. Before the arrival of specialists, it is necessary to start removing toxins from the body:

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

Find out more about emergency care.

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 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 dynamics of the increase in the incidence is 10-12% annually.

Features of food poisoning and classification

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

Food poisoning is classified into:

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

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

The dangers of food poisoning are:

Small incubation period (2 - 6 hours);

The rapid development of the disease.

Also characteristic:

Mass defeat: all people who have consumed an unsuitable product suffer;

Poisoning can occur even with normal-looking and tasting foods, since the food could already be contaminated with microbes;

Potentially dangerous are dishes stored for a long time after cooking.

Food poisoning - the first signs

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

Symptoms of food poisoning depend on certain factors:

Toxin or infectious agent that caused poisoning;

The amount of food eaten or a drink poisoned with a toxin;

General condition of the body.

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

Heat;

Decreased or lack of appetite;

General weakness;

Diarrhea and cramping pains in the abdomen;

Flatulence;

Nausea and vomiting;

Cold clammy sweat, low blood pressure.

All 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 to 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, stool frequency), temperature reaction are the main signs that must be carefully observed, analyzed, and based on them in the first hours of poisoning a diagnosis is made.

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, a particularly severe course of food poisoning is observed, and death is not ruled out.

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 vivid clinical manifestations indicating the presence of infection - botulism, salmonellosis).

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

There are rules that everyone needs to remember:

1. Do not take antiemetic or antidiarrheal drugs, because vomiting and diarrhea are the body's defense mechanisms and the fastest way to massively eliminate toxins.

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

3. Restoration of water-electrolyte balance and the volume of lost fluid: drink plenty of water using pharmacy forms of saline solutions or prepared at home. Ready-made solutions for oral administration: Regidron, Normohydron, Oralit, Chlorazole, Gastrolit, Hydrovit, 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) for maximum effect. Oral rehydrants are used in 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. For the rapid removal of toxins, it is necessary to take sorbents (in case the absorption of toxins in the intestine has already occurred): Polysorb (powder, soluble in water, convenient for use, Enterosgel, Enterol, in extreme cases - activated white and black charcoal, tablets of which can be crushed and given in water at the rate of: 1 tablet per kilogram of body weight every 3 hours.Usually, with repeated vomiting and diarrhea, up to 20 tablets can be used once.

5. With a severe pain attack, it is unacceptable to take analgesics or antibiotics unless a diagnosis is made. It is possible to receive antispasmodics (No - shpa, Drotaverin, Riabal, etc.).

6. If vomiting and diarrhea are absent, laxatives should be taken 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 cups of liquid and washed down with plenty of water.

Treatment of food poisoning in a hospital setting

The treatment of food poisoning differs from the treatment of acute intestinal infections, as they proceed much easier and faster: mild forms of food poisoning can be safely resolved on the 3rd day on their own.

The main directions of treatment

Detoxification;

Prevention of dehydration;

Restoration of intestinal biocenosis;

Normalization of the gastrointestinal tract through a sparing 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 old (rapid dehydration occurs with diarrhea and vomiting, which can aggravate the condition dramatically);

Pregnancy and advanced age of patients;

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

Diarrhea more than 10 times a day with an admixture of blood, indomitable vomiting, high fever that persists for two days, severe increasing weakness;

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

Adequately assess the condition can only be a doctor who decides on the need for hospitalization.

1. In a hospital, parenteral rehydration is performed. This is especially important for poisoning in children who cannot drink the required amount of liquid.

For parenteral rehydration, Trisol, Quartasol, Acesol, Laktosol, etc. solutions are used.

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

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

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

5. Antipyretic drugs are prescribed only for patients who do not tolerate high temperatures (NSAIDs: Paracetamol, Ibuklin / paracetamol with ibuprofen /)

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

7. Also in a hospital, the stomach is washed with a probe, siphon enemas. For procedures, up to 10 liters of water are used.

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

But basically, recovery from poisoning is dieting.

Food poisoning - prevention

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

Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water 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.

Raw eggs, fish, meat subjected to heat treatment or roasting; thoroughly wash the cutting board and knife 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.

Be careful with mushrooms and catering food, do not use products of dubious quality.

Do not store canned metal cans for more than 2 years; you can also not store food in copper and zinc utensils.

You can not eat 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 health for many years and avoid unpleasant diseases and serious complications.

Food poisoning is an acute indigestion caused by the consumption of poor-quality or toxic foods and drinks.

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

The last type of poisoning is the most dangerous. You don't have to fight them on your own. If a non-infectious nature of the poisoning is suspected, see a doctor immediately.

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

But usually people are faced with toxic infections that can be cured 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 has a short incubation period. The first signs appear 2–6 hours after ingestion and progress rapidly without treatment.

Treatment

Step 1. Gastric lavage

When the first symptoms appear, you need to remove the remnants of toxic food from the body. For this, the stomach is washed. actions are the same as for first aid.

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

Step 2. Reception of sorbents

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

Activated carbon reduces the absorption of toxins, salts of heavy metals, 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, coal is best taken in the form of an aqueous suspension. To do this, crush the tablets and mix with 100 ml of boiled water at room temperature. The taste of this mixture is rather 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, other sorbents can be used (according to the instructions). For example, "Smektu", "Laktofiltrum", "Enterosgel" and others.

Step 3: Drink plenty of water

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 agents: Regidron, Oralit and others. These are powders and solutions containing mineral salts and glucose and preventing dehydration.

Other medicines

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

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

Step 4. Mode and diet

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

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

With active treatment, the symptoms recede - improvement should occur within a few hours. Finally, the body returns to normal, as a rule, within three days. But for a few more days, abdominal pain, weakness, and flatulence may persist.

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

Step 5. Prevention

No one is immune from foodborne infections. But it is up to everyone to reduce their risk to a minimum.

1. Wash your hands before eating.
2. Keep the kitchen clean, follow the cooking technology.
3. Be picky about the quality of products when buying. For example, do not buy fish with an ammonia smell and a "rusty" coating. (All recommendations for choosing fish.)
4. Do not eat at dubious gastronomic establishments, 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 treat it incorrectly, you can get a chronic disease of the digestive system: gastritis, duodenitis or colitis.

The reasons

This condition occurs when using low-quality products. Poisoning can cause:

1. Expired or spoiled products.
2. Those that were stored in improper conditions.
3. Food that has been stored in damaged packaging.
4. Made from dish ingredients that are not fresh or contaminated with bacteria or mold.
5. Poisonous plants, berries, parts of animal carcasses.
6. Food prepared by a sick person.
7. Poor hygiene when preparing or eating food (dirty dishes).
8. Non-compliance with the technology of preparation.

There are a number of foods that are quite easy to get poisoned. It:

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

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

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

Be especially careful when eating 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 in the period from half an hour to 12 hours after eating spoiled foods. The timing of the onset of symptoms depends on the degree of contamination with pathogens, as well as the amount of food eaten.

The simultaneous use of carbohydrate and sour-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 mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. Toxins that enter the blood cause general intoxication of the body.

As soon as the body itself recognizes the poisoning, it tries by all means to get rid of the poisoned food. Therefore, there are:

1. Nausea and vomiting, the purpose of which is to clear the stomach of poisoned food. Mild poisoning often proceeds without vomiting, limited to minor indigestion.
2. Diarrhea - develops if spoiled foods have managed to get into the intestines.
3. Abdominal pain - sharp, cramping. There is often temporary relief after vomiting or stool.
4. Flatulence, rumbling, distension in the abdomen.
5. Headache.
6. Fever, 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, profuse 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 resolves on its own within 3 to 7 days. But in some cases, the patient needs emergency medical care:

1. When poisoning is caused by fish, expired canned food, poisonous mushrooms.
2. If a child, a pregnant woman or an elderly person has been poisoned.
3. When poisoning is caused by products containing toxic substances.
4. If the symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting) do not go away and do not 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 a temperature.

What to do in case of poisoning?

Antibiotics are not required. It is necessary only 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, because it will kill the already affected intestinal microflora.

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

First aid for food poisoning

First you need to cleanse the body of the source of poisoning as soon as possible. Food intoxication will pass on its own if it is possible to completely clean the digestive tract. To do this, induce vomiting or give a laxative. If you are already vomiting, you need to drink more fluids to make up for its loss, as well as speed up the flushing of toxins.

If you let the process take its course, vomiting will occur periodically for several hours. If you wash the stomach, in the first half hour the patient's condition will improve significantly. Vomiting should be induced until clear water comes out. For washing 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 remnants of 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 young children, artificial vomiting can be harmful.

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

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

These are such medicines:

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 reception after vomiting.
2. Preparations for restoring the 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 a small amount in the first 2-3 days.
3. Painkillers can help reduce abdominal pain and muscle spasms. 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 painful urges persist. 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, while not harming beneficial bacteria that live in the intestines.

After the symptoms disappear, you can drink 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 weakly resists, or the patient has chronic gastrointestinal diseases, it is better to seek medical help.

With mild poisoning, it is quite possible to be treated with folk methods. They can quickly help alleviate 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 to suppress nausea.
2. Herbal decoction of wormwood and yarrow in equal proportions will help to quickly cleanse toxins.
3. To reduce spasms, you need to make an infusion of cinnamon sticks, pouring it with a glass of boiling water. This remedy also binds poisons well.
4. Dill decoction with honey helps to replenish the balance of 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 little by little for nausea and vomiting in an adult.

Nutrition for food poisoning

On the first day, food should be avoided altogether. When the symptoms are completely gone, after a few hours, you can eat mashed 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 strong fermentation.

After acute poisoning, you need to adhere to a sparing diet for at least a week.: use light soups and slimy cereals. Sweets, alcohol, fresh vegetables and fruits, smoked meats and marinades should be discarded: they irritate the mucous membrane and only increase inflammation.

Alkaline mineral waters, herbal teas, fruit drinks are suitable for drinks. Sweet soda, juices, coffee are strictly prohibited.

Video - food poisoning