Health tips: Avoid food poisoning, drink plenty of fluids

People suffering from food poisoning don’t just suffer from diarrhoea, but also stomach cramps, vomiting, high fever.

Tummy trouble

Remember how the evil step mother in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves painstakingly prepares the poisoned apple in a huge cauldron, intended for putting Snow White to a death-like sleep? Well, unfortunately in real life, there is no intricate process involved in producing food which poisons our digestive system. One unhygienic meal at to a shoddy dhabba, and you expose yourself to the risk of food poisoning. Yes, we have all been victims of food poisoning at least once in our lives. But people suffering from food poisoning don’t just suffer from severe diarrhoea, they also experience stomach cramps, vomiting and high fever.

During this time of immense discomfort, you have to allow your gut some ‘quiet time’ and refrain from having any big meals in addition to caffeine and dairy products. Drink plenty of fluids; adults should be gulping down around 16 glasses of water. This can be taken stirred with ORS (Oral Rehydration Salt), which is readily available at any grocery store and replenish the salts and minerals the body loses. In addition, include in your diet some ispaghul husk or psyllium seed mixed with yogurt or water. This herbal derivative adapts to the bowel movements and is also used for constipation as well.

The doctor should be visited if the diarrhoea does not settle down within three days and if the fever, pain and vomiting persists, or if blood appears in the stool. Severe dehydration, often manifested as dizziness and lightheadedness, too requires immediate medical attention.

The physician will inquire into how the illness first started and may order some lab tests to identify the microorganism causing this pathological cascade. Patients, who have lost a lot of body water, will be rehydrated intravenously — pumping the fluids directly into the blood vessels. The patient can take antibiotics prescribed by the doctor. Refrain from self-administering diarrhea medication as the passage though the digestive tract of unwelcome causative agents will be slowed down and the course of the illness will be prolonged.

The best way to avoid food poisoning is to actually adopt some lifestyle modifications: eating properly cooked food and paying heed to one of the most important advice given by public health institutes — hand washing, especially prior to handling food, crockery, cutlery etc. The length and thoroughness of the way our cuisine is prepared usually ensures that all germs are eliminated. But still some precautionary measures are necessary. Keep raw meat separate from ready food. Defrost properly in the refrigerator or the microwave but never in the open. Chuck anything that is expired, moldy, or stinks. These preventive tips will ensure that you avoid the stomach bug.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2012.