The Litigated Dish: What is food poisoning? - Food Safety News

— COMMENTARY —

Three weeks ago, I introduced my column, "The Litigated Dish," to answer the internet's most frequently asked food safety questions. One particularly popular question, according to AnswerThePublic.com (a website that tracks the top Google searches), is "What are the symptoms of food poisoning?"

Much like my answer to last week's question, this question elicits a lawyer's favorite response: "It depends." Which foodborne illness are we talking about? Various bacteria, viruses, and parasites can be responsible for causing food poisoning.

But despite the diversity among the pathogens responsible for food poisoning, there are common symptoms shared by many, if not all, of these maladies. Primary among them is gastroenteritis — a short-term illness triggered by the infection and inflammation of the digestive system — characterized by abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and nausea and/or vomiting. TMI warning: if one contracts Salmonella, Shigella, or Campylobacter, the diarrhea may contain blood. E. coli, another bacterium, can induce hemorrhagic colitis, characterized by minimal stool and large amounts of blood.

Fever, chills, fatigue, and loss of appetite are additional symptoms common to many foodborne illnesses. While many symptoms overlap, however, some distinct signs may be linked to specific pathogens. For instance, in severe cases, Listeria (especially affecting pregnant women, older adults, and individuals with compromised immune systems) can present with headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and other classic signs of meningitis. Botulism can manifest as difficulty in speaking or swallowing, dry mouth, facial weakness or paralysis, blurred or double vision, and respiratory failure. Hepatitis A, a highly contagious liver infection, can result in jaundice — yellowing of the skin and eyes.

Additionally, infection by different pathogens can lead to diverse long-term consequences—but I think I will save that for my next post.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News,click here)

Adblock test (Why?)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What does herpes look like: Pictures, treatment, and prevention - Medical News Today

Image
Herpes sores can affect many areas of the body, including the mouth, genitals, and eyes. Herpes sores look like blisters filled with fluid, which can break open a crust before healing. Herpes is usually a mild condition that causes small sores to appear on the skin. People develop herpes after exposure to the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of this virus: herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1), or oral herpes, which usually affects the mouth herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2), or genital herpes, which generally affects the genitals Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can occur on the face or the genitals. People can encounter both herpes viruses through bodily fluids, including genital fluids and saliva. Once someone has the virus, the symptoms can flare up from time to time for the rest of their life. While the sores can be uncomfortable and even painful, they are not usually dangerous for otherwise healthy adults. This article will explain what herpes is, how people get it, and what herpes looks like with ...
Read more