CONNECTOR.AE 36 CONNECTOR.AE 37 Health and Wellness Health and Wellness Dealing With Food Poisoning Food poisoning is an issue caused when individuals consume food that has either been contaminated or gone bad, and is a result of a specific toxin or bacteria that is found in something they have eaten or drank. Based on the severity of the food poisoning, it can be a detrimental health issue. However, with the right care received, either at home or at medical facilities, it can be cured within weeks. Connector spoke to hospitals in the UAE to get insight into the condition and find ways to manage and deal with it better at home as well as when medical attention is required. Dr Prayrna Sharma, Specialist Internal Medicine at Medeor Hospital Dubai said, “Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating contaminated food, specifically from a toxin in food. It is not usually serious, and most people have mild conditions which get better within a few days, as most cases are due to viral infection and are self-limiting. Still, some cases require medical attention due to bacterial causes or complications, particularly dehydration.” There are various kinds of food items that can be consumed to cause the health issue, and this can be due to food that is left open for too long, especially during the summer months, poultry and seafood However, Dr Prayrna Sharma of Medeor Hospital Dubai said that in certain cases, when food poisoning is severe, some of the symptoms include: • Recurrent vomiting and diarrhoea that contains blood • Excessive thirst • Blurred or double vision • Headache • Loss of limb movement • Little or no urination • Food poisoning can be treated at home and does not always require medical assistance, here are some tips to dealing with it. Eat light: Due to the discomfort of the upset stomach and the loss of appetite, it is easy to skip out on eating meals to avoid the discomfort felt otherwise. However, not eating food makes it difficult to get better quicker and can lead to a hospital visit to ensure food is being consumed. It is essential to avoid eating heavy dishes and instead opt for light meals, that are easy for the stomach to digest. Dr Shipra Patil of Dubai London Hospital said, “Eat small, light meals at first and stick to bland foods such as toast, crackers, bananas, and rice until you begin to feel better.” that is not cooked in the right way and is still undercooked, or products that have not been stored in the right way. Dr Shipra Patil, Specialist Internal Medicine at Dubai London Hospital added, “Food can be contaminated because it is not cooked properly, improperly stored, or because of poor hygiene. Foods particularly susceptible to contamination are raw or undercooked meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish, unpasteurised milk and milk products, raw vegetables and sprouts, soft cheese and contaminated water.” As each case is different and the intensity of food poisoning can differ, the symptoms can manifest either within hours of consuming the food, or after a few days. Some of the symptoms of food poisoning, as mentioned by Dr Shipra Patil of Dubai London Hospital are: • Upset stomach • Nausea • Vomiting • Loss of appetite • Lack of energy and weakness • Diarrhoea with bloody stools and mucus • Stomach pain and cramps • Fever • Headache • Bloating
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