Food poisoning is a relatively common occurrence although the effects of food poisoning can be hard to deal with. There can be many reasons as to why food poisoning occurs, although all these reasons have to do with food that is unhygienic. Food poisoning occurs when we eat food that is not fresh, has been cooked with unhealthy substances or is in any other way contaminated. The symptoms of food poisoning are often similar to that of flu and hence you need to diagnose the condition properly.
Causes of Food Poisoning
Before food poisoning can be treated, it needs to be identified. Among the most common causes of food poisoning is E. Coli bacteria, although the most dangerous bacteria is the Clostridium botulinum. This bacteria is mostly found in canned foods that are not properly canned or processed. Other bacteria that may lead to food poisoning include listeria, salmonella, staphylococcus aureus and Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni).
Symptoms
Symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, weakness, chills, diarrhea, fatigue, headaches, and abdominal cramps and so on.
Home Remedies
The best home remedy for a person who is suffering from food poisoning is drinking lots of fluids. Fluids like water and drinks with electrolytes help to flush out the system of its impurities and the bacteria causing food poisoning. Drinking fluids is a time tested and effective remedy in the case of food poisoning. Also, there are some foods that should be avoided such as soda and dairy products. Rich foods should also be avoided during food poisoning.
Duration
With regard to how long does food poisoning last, there is no definite answer. While at times the symptoms of food poisoning may clear in a span of 12 to 48 hours, at other times, it may take several days to get rid of food poisoning.
Things to Consider
Although food poisoning is common and affects almost everybody more than once, it can be very unpleasant. Hence certain considerations should be kept in mind. Firstly, people who can be more prone to developing food poisoning are children and adults. This is primarily because the immune system in people of both these age groups is less capable of dealing with the bacteria causing infection. Secondly, people who are ill may easily fall prey to food poisoning. Hence, the food habits of children, elders as well as those who are sick should be controlled with care to avoid them suffering from food poisoning.