Food poisoning - the first signs and all the symptoms. Food poisoning symptoms and treatment. Types, classification of poisoning. First aid, diet and prevention

Food poisoning has clear symptoms, resulting from the consumption of food or liquids containing food toxins, viruses, microorganisms or their waste products.

Food poisoning is not contagious. However, the massive illness of people who participated in the joint meal is a typical sign of food poisoning.

Causes of food poisoning

Poisoning occurs when two types of toxic agents enter the body.
1 group. Infections caused by protozoa, viruses or microbes. These include E. coli, staphylococci, salmonella, botulinum and listerine, shigella (dysentery), rota- and enteroviruses.
Food prepared by a person infected with microorganisms becomes a source of disease.
2 group. Toxic poisoning caused by the ingestion of inedible mushrooms, plants, poison, heavy metals or chemical toxins contained in food. For example, toxic dyes, preservatives; fertilizers or salts of heavy metals that have fallen into vegetables or fruits growing in ecologically polluted regions.

How to recognize food intoxication?

What are the signs of food poisoning?

Poisoning manifests itself suddenly, the state of health deteriorates sharply from normal to requiring medical intervention. The first signs can appear half an hour after the harmful toxin enters the body. The average time for the manifestation of food poisoning is 2-5 hours. Some toxins are stored in the body for up to a week, but this is a rare exception.

1 group of symptoms of food poisoning

The body tries to get rid of the harmful substance. During this period, the gastrointestinal tract, affected by toxins, tries to get rid of spoiled food on its own.
In the first period of the development of the disease, the symptoms of food poisoning are as follows:

  • Vomit. First, the stomach gets rid of all the food in it. The urge continues even when the stomach is already empty, vomiting of gastric juice or painful urge begins. Taking any liquid, food or medicine provokes vomiting. During this period, rapid gastric lavage can stop the disease.
  • Diarrhea. The intestines, like the stomach, are rapidly emptied. First, the entire contents of the intestine are released, then a liquid greenish stool with a pungent odor follows.

Any ingestion of food, liquid or drugs causes a lightning-fast bowel movement.
Adsorbents and drugs taken at this stage are hardly retained in the body.
The gastrointestinal tract is inflamed, which is manifested by a number of typical symptoms:

  • painful abdominal cramps and excruciating colic - it is difficult to be in an upright position;
  • nausea - any food and drink, except water, causes acute disgust;
  • increased salivation.

Group 2 symptoms of food poisoning

body intoxication. During this period, pathogenic toxins enter the blood from the gastrointestinal tract, and a general deterioration begins. Intoxication occurs almost immediately after the manifestation of damage to the stomach and intestines and manifests itself as follows:

  • weakness, lethargy - in case of food poisoning, bed rest is immediately required, since the patient is not able to be on his feet;
  • temperature rise - depends on the toxic agent, the temperature rises to 37-39 C.
  • chills - the patient will need warm clothes and a blanket, because he is cold all the time;
  • pain - due to intoxication of the blood, a painful toxin spreads throughout the body, and widespread severe pain occurs. Headache, muscles, joints.

During this period, the body's defense mechanisms are activated. When the above signs of food poisoning appear, it is necessary to begin intensive treatment under the supervision of a physician. Intoxication with botulinum or shigella derivatives can be fatal.

Poisoning is especially dangerous for the elderly; children - they have a weak protective reaction of the body to toxins; pregnant women - poisoning in some cases leads to the production of oxytocin, a sharp contraction of the uterus, a miscarriage is possible.

Group 3 signs of food poisoning

Dehydration of the body. It occurs as a result of vomiting and diarrhea, which deprive the body of fluid. A dangerous symptom that, against the background of intoxication, can lead to death.
For example, in a small child, the loss of 500 ml of fluid is deadly. Self-medication at this stage is unacceptable. If you have not yet consulted a doctor, you need to do it immediately. It is possible to replenish the loss of fluid by administering intravenous fluids and nutrient solutions.

Symptoms of dehydration.

  • Thirst - in this case, any liquids other than water cause disgust, and drinking provokes vomiting or diarrhea. It is necessary to drink, because some amount of moisture will remain in the body and help fight poisoning. With a strong weakness of the patient, they are forcibly watered - this usually applies to children.
  • Decrease in urination - against the background of diarrhea, urination is absent.
  • The heartbeat is frequent and weak - dehydration leads to thickening of the blood, which in some diseases threatens to form blood clots. Arterial pressure is significantly reduced.
  • Severe weakness - as the loss of moisture, the patient weakens so much that it is difficult to move and even talk.
  • Dryness of the skin and mucous membranes - the lips dry up, even the inner surface of the mouth does not seem wet. In adults, wrinkles appear sharply, dehydrated skin “sags”, loses its elasticity and smoothness.

At the stage of loss of a large amount of physiological fluid, food poisoning: symptoms and treatment should be under the supervision of a physician.

Group 4 symptoms of food poisoning

Damage to the central nervous system.
Some toxic agents affect the nervous system. Damage to nerve cells is manifested by the following symptoms:

  • hallucinations;
  • rave;
  • paralysis of the muscles of the larynx - without lightning-fast assistance, the patient suffocates, because the respiratory muscles do not work;
  • paralysis of the muscles of the face, body;
  • impaired coordination of movements;
  • paralysis of the eye muscles - leads to visual dysfunction;
  • coma.

Poisoning caused by Clostridium botulinum (botulism) leads to damage to the central nervous system. Symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea are absent in botulism. After the incubation period (several hours - 2 days), weakness and headache occur. Then the damage to the nervous system appears:

  • visual impairment;
  • damage to the facial muscles - the face turns into a frozen mask with smooth nasolabial folds - this is a typical sign of botulinum damage;
  • paralysis of the muscles of the pharynx and palate - the patient cannot swallow, breathe - it is suffocation that most often leads to death.

The main causes of food intoxication

Subsequently, the patient can accurately determine which food caused the poisoning. Food contaminated with microorganisms may look and smell normal, but the toxic agents inside have not yet begun to multiply.

There are a number of foods that should be treated with caution, especially on hot days:

  • milk products;
  • raw and undercooked eggs;
  • dishes with raw uncooked fish or meat;
  • cream cakes, pastries;
  • home preparations;
  • salads dressed with mayonnaise;
  • all perishable products (especially cottage cheese, sausages, salads);
  • products in packaging, the integrity of which is broken.

With food poisoning, the sooner treatment is started, the faster the patient will feel better. If measures are taken quickly in case of infectious poisoning, improvement can occur within a few hours after the onset of the disease. Treatment is best done under medical supervision.
Be sure to call a doctor if an elderly person, a child or a pregnant woman falls ill.
Toxic poisoning in most cases is treated only inpatient.

Food poisoning can occur if you eat low-quality foods or liquids in which microbes or toxins have multiplied. After a while, vomiting, nausea and loose stools appear. The patient's condition depends on the amount of the product used, and its suitability.

Types of food poisoning are divided into: toxic and infectious. In case of toxic poisoning, infection occurs when chemicals, heavy metals, poisonous fungi and plants enter the human body. Infectious poisoning is very common, it is caused by various viruses and microbes, infection occurs through food: water, eggs, meat, poorly washed vegetables and fruits, dairy products, preservatives.

Indigestion can occur even through dirty hands.

At home, it is impossible to determine the exact outbreak of the disease, the patient only assumes why the poisoning occurred. People with weak immunity and small children are prone to food poisoning, so they monitor the food for the child with great responsibility and try to give only fresh food, thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits.

Causes of poisoning

Food poisoning can occur:

Often there is food poisoning from confectionery, especially spoiled cream; dairy products; long-stored salads with mayonnaise or sour cream; homemade canned food; mushrooms; seafood; fruits and vegetables treated with pesticides.

Signs of food poisoning

In case of poisoning, the symptoms begin within half an hour and continue to be expressed in an enhanced mode in the first two days. The phenomenon is dangerous for others, a group outbreak of the disease may occur in a team or family. If the symptoms of poisoning do not go away after a day, you need to seek help.

Symptoms of food poisoning include:

  • the temperature rises sharply;
  • lethargy and poor appetite;
  • dizziness, flies before the eyes;
  • bloating and pain in the abdomen;
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • fever or chills;
  • low pressure;
  • frequent loose stools;
  • in severe cases - coma.

It should be noted that with mild poisoning, diarrhea may not be. But if loose stools appear on the first day, then this is food poisoning, and if after a few days - a bacterial intestinal infection. Usually such symptoms accompany diseases such as: dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever.

With severe poisoning, dehydration of the body occurs, symptoms such as lethargy and weakness, dry mouth, dizziness and loose stools appear, sometimes the temperature may rise. Do not let the disease take its course, complications may occur due to improper assistance. With timely and proper treatment, improvement may occur on the second day, the main thing is to take appropriate measures in a timely manner.

Symptoms of severe poisoning

In confectionery products, staphylococcus is most often present, the infection does not affect the taste and color of food, but after an hour, signs of poisoning may occur: nausea, vomiting, headache, loose stools, loss of consciousness. In case of fish poisoning, the following symptoms occur within half an hour: abdominal pain, gag reflex, impaired movement, shortness of breath.

In case of poisoning with dairy products, especially in summer, intoxication occurs within 30 minutes. Its first signs: colic, cramps and pain in the stomach, loose stools.

The most dangerous disease, meat poisoning, if medical assistance is not provided in a timely manner, a person can die. Symptoms: fever, chills, gag reflex, loose stools, respiratory failure, tachycardia. A high temperature may appear, in which case it is necessary to give antipyretic drugs.

Mushroom poisoning is the most common and severe, intoxication occurs from 20 minutes to 2 hours. Signs: muscle pain, vomiting, loose stools with blood, worsening breathing, lethargy, lowering blood pressure, delirium.

Alcohol poisoning occurs immediately, and have the following symptoms: vomiting, incoherent speech, weakness, cold sweat, fever or chills, loss of consciousness.

Poisoning with food additives is very common, symptoms may appear immediately or after a while - a rash, itching, swelling of the face or hands, feet; abdominal pain, diarrhea.

Canned food poisoning has severe consequences and symptoms include: headache, pain, dry mouth, thirst, fever, vomiting, and loose stools.

When to see a doctor immediately:

  1. Mushroom poisoning;
  2. If, after eating, weakness occurs, the temperature rises, speech is disturbed, shortness of breath appears, the absence of a long time of urine;
  3. Bloody diarrhea for more than a day;
  4. A child under 3 years old or a baby has been poisoned;
  5. Signs of poisoning appeared in a pregnant woman;
  6. Poisoned by a person with cancer or HIV;
  7. Symptoms have occurred in several adults or children;
  8. There were signs of dehydration: dry lips, no urine, crying without tears;
  9. Sharply turned yellow eyes and skin;
  10. Swelling of the joints and rash all over the body.

First aid for intoxication

In case of minor poisoning, help can be provided at home, and in case of severe symptoms, it is imperative to call an ambulance. Particular attention should be paid to pregnant women and young children in case of intoxication, you should not self-medicate, it is better to show the doctor so as not to harm even more.

First of all, you need to rinse the stomach, that is, remove toxins and microbes. To do this, give water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate to drink, so that repeated vomiting occurs. Do a cleansing enema. This technique is suitable for an adult, and children should be given water, mineral water without gas, juice can be given after diluting it with water. To prevent rapid dehydration of the body, rehydron or saline should be given to drink from a spoon.

Adults after a gag reflex are given activated charcoal by diluting it with water. Drink in small sips to cleanse the body. The dose is calculated as follows: 1 tablet per 10 kilograms. To prevent dehydration, try to drink a lot of boiled water in small sips so as not to provoke vomiting.

In case of fainting or worsening of the patient's condition, immediately call an ambulance. Severe poisoning can affect internal organs such as the liver. The first symptoms are yellowness in the eyes, the presence of blood in vomit or loose stools. Do not self-medicate, do not take folk remedies, tinctures, pills, only a specialist in this field can determine the exact diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment.

In the hospital, with the help of tests, they will be able to find out the cause of the poisoning: they will examine the blood, vomit and loose stools to find the causative agent of the disease. The products that the patient has eaten are identified and sent to special authorities for their verification. At the first sign of poisoning, you should seek medical help, as serious consequences can occur. What type of intoxication can only be determined by a doctor, based on questions and a study of the symptoms of the disease. Such dangerous diseases as botulism and listeriosis can lead to the death of the patient. When poisoning with home canned food, there can be serious consequences.

diet after illness

After the patient's condition improves, it is not recommended to immediately lean on the usual food. You need to start drinking different compotes, weak black tea and water, eat cereals cooked in water, vegetable soups, boiled meat, fish and poultry, crackers. Doctors recommend cooking raisin compote, which contains a lot of potassium, so that the body will recover faster.

Fresh fruits and vegetables should not be consumed at first, it is better to boil or bake them in the oven. Such a diet should be followed within a week, after recovery, gradually returning to the previous diet. Eat food in moderation, in no case, do not overload the exhausted stomach in order to restore its microflora.

Prevention of poisoning

Always wash your hands with soap and water before eating and when preparing food. Especially in contact with meat and fish products. Do not eat raw eggs, fish, meat, cook until tender. Use separate cutting boards for meat products. Store dairy products in the refrigerator. Be sure to wash fruits and vegetables before eating in running water, and then pour over with boiled water. Use foods with a fresh expiration date and store them properly.

The article will talk about treatment methods and ways to prevent food poisoning in adults.

Perhaps at least once in a lifetime, each of us has encountered food poisoning. This, at first glance, not a serious disease has a number of unpleasant symptoms: nausea, weakness and vomiting.

If food poisoning is not cured in time, you can get serious diseases that are treated with droppers and injections. In order not to delay such methods of treatment, it is necessary to identify poisoning in the early stages. Sometimes the symptoms of poisoning are mild, difficult to recognize and can be mistaken for a mild ailment.

You need to know the symptoms of such a disease in order to help yourself and your family members in a timely manner. If food poisoning is accompanied by severe symptoms, you should consult a doctor.

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What can cause food poisoning in an adult?

In adults, food poisoning is quite common. All due to the fact that people do not monitor the correctness of their diet. There are several most common causes of food poisoning, which can be roughly divided into 3 groups:

  • Food poisoning caused by pathogens. In this case, along with food, microbes enter the human body, which are called toxin infections. Such microorganisms may have a fungal or bacterial environment. Their main mission is to force a person to spread their colonies. Therefore, the main symptoms of this type of poisoning are severe vomiting and diarrhea.
  • Food poisoning caused by poisons. Some plants, fungi and even animals contain substances that are toxic to the human body. By eating such products without proper processing, a person can be affected by internal organs up to death. Such poisonings include: mushroom poisoning (fly agaric, pale grebes and other species), plants (belladonna, belladonna, wolf berries), some species of animals and fish
  • Food poisoning caused by chemicals found in food. Sometimes, when we eat food, we do not know what harmful substances are contained in their composition. The most common poisonings are pesticides and nitrates.


The first signs of food poisoning in an adult

These signs must be known in order to provide assistance in a timely manner and prevent the transition of the disease to a severe stage.

  • Lack of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness and low blood pressure
  • Bloating and dysbacteriosis
  • General weakness
  • Elevated temperature.

Temperature with food poisoning in adults

The temperature occurs due to the toxicity of the body. By raising the temperature, the body wants to overcome pathogens or poisons that have entered the body. In the first stages of poisoning, the temperature will be around 37 degrees. Later, if microbes penetrate from the alimentary tract into the blood, the temperature will rise sharply. Even a slight increase in temperature in combination with nausea requires attention.


What to do with food poisoning in an adult?

If food poisoning occurs suddenly and there is no way to see a doctor, you need to give yourself first aid before going to the hospital.

  • The first thing to do in the absence of vomiting is to induce it. This is necessary so that the stomach is cleansed of toxins and they do not penetrate further into the body. It is best to do a gastric lavage with warm boiled water. Also. you can dissolve a potassium permanganate crystal in it so that the solution acquires a pinkish color. Enough 1 liter of this solution. For washing, the patient should drink the prepared liquid in small sips for a short period of time. This procedure should induce vomiting.
  • The flushing procedure causes severe dehydration. Therefore, when the nausea subsides a little, the patient needs to drink mineral water or unsweetened green tea.
  • If the poisoning is minor, absorbent preparations can be used. For example, activated charcoal
  • After a few hours after the treatment procedures, you need to pay attention to how you feel. If the temperature does not subside, and nausea continues, you should immediately consult a doctor.
  • In case of poisoning, it is not recommended to take antibiotics and other strong drugs on your own, without the advice of a doctor.
  • Do not neglect the treatment of poisoning. If you start this disease, the liver and nervous system may begin to be damaged, infection of the blood and internal organs may occur.


How to treat food poisoning in adults?

After diagnosing food poisoning, the doctor finds out the cause of its occurrence. Only after that complex treatment is attributed:

  • Lavage of the stomach and intestines. In the hospital, these procedures are done with the help of special devices. Inducing vomiting and diarrhea is the best way to rid the body of food toxins.
  • Next comes the water balance. For this, special solutions are used: regidon, citraclucosol or glucosolan. Sometimes you have to use drips
  • After the main procedures, the use of absorbents is attributed, for example, white or activated carbon, polysorb
  • If necessary, relieve pain with painkillers
  • If washing was done late and intoxication occurred, antibiotics are attributed
  • Also, I attribute drugs that restore the intestinal microflora and protect the mucous membrane


Pills and antibiotics against food poisoning in an adult

Antibiotics and other tablets can only be used as prescribed by a doctor. The fact is that each type of microorganisms and toxins is afraid of certain types of antibiotics. At home, it is difficult to find out the exact cause of food poisoning. That's why. only an experienced doctor can prescribe antibiotic treatment.

Folk remedies for food poisoning

Folk remedies are not the main method of treatment. However, they can have an auxiliary therapeutic effect. You can use any of the traditional medicine only after consulting a doctor.

  • The use of foods rich in vitamin C will reduce the feeling of nausea. You can use lemon juice. But it is recommended to add it to foods or tea, pure juice can harm the affected gastric mucosa.
  • In case of poisoning, it is recommended to use a decoction of dill with honey. It is best to use dill seeds for a decoction. But, if they are not available, dry greens will do.
  • Ginger also works well for poisoning. To use it, you need to pour a teaspoon of dry root with a glass of hot water. Then, apply a tablespoon of the solution three times a day.
  • In case of food poisoning, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids. Suitable water, green tea, rosehip broth
  • Chamomile is a mild and harmless antiseptic. You can make delicious and fragrant medicinal tea from chamomile, mint and lemon balm
  • According to traditional medicine, there are special points on the human body that can improve well-being, overcome nausea and weakness.


Diet for food poisoning in adults

With food poisoning, the human digestive system is extremely weakened. By treatment and washing, all beneficial bacteria and enzymes are removed from it. Therefore, it is recommended to follow a special diet in case of poisoning.

  • In case of poisoning, it is recommended not to load the digestive system with an abundance of food. Better to eat 4-6 small meals a day
  • In the early days of poisoning, fatty foods and even vegetable oils should be excluded from the diet. During the entire period of treatment, it is not recommended to eat fatty meat and fish.
  • You can not eat fast food and convenience foods
  • You need to cut down on carbohydrates in your diet. Some fruits can cause fermentation processes in the intestines. However, it is impossible to completely abandon carbohydrates.
  • Food should be more rare than with a normal diet. Useful soups and low-fat broths
  • Food is recommended to be boiled and steamed
  • Heavy foods such as nuts and legumes should not be eaten during poisoning.


How to eat after food poisoning for adults?

When the poisoning is cured, you need to follow a few tips so that the disease does not happen again:

  • Avoid foods that are past their expiration date, or that smell bad and look stale
  • Don't drink raw eggs
  • When pickling or salting foods, you must follow the cooking technology
  • Do not eat food bought in stalls or on the street (for example, pies, pasties and puffs)
  • Wash hands before eating, wash dishes thoroughly
  • Remember to wash fruits and vegetables before eating.
  • Do not eat unfamiliar mushrooms and plants


How long does food poisoning last in adults?

It all depends on how quickly the person started treatment. Also, it depends on the severity of poisoning and the causes of intoxication. Poisoning can last from one day to two weeks.

  • In the summer, the number of food poisoning increases. Keep track of the safety of food, put food in the refrigerator on time
  • Do not delay the treatment of poisoning. No need to wait for the morning if nausea and fever appeared in the evening. Urgent gastric lavage and drink activated charcoal
  • It is necessary to figure out which product caused the poisoning. It is necessary to throw away a spoiled or harmful product so that the rest of the family does not suffer
  • After providing first aid, be sure to go to the hospital. Food poisoning is easily confused with E. coli, jaundice, or other infectious diseases.
  • Keep a diet and drink plenty of fluids so that the healing process goes faster

With the right approach, curing food poisoning is quite simple. From now on, you need to be more careful with the food you eat.

Video: Food poisoning

Video: Folk recipes for food poisoning

A huge number of people face poisoning every day and, unfortunately, nothing can be done about such horrific statistics. This kind of problem is understandable, because the modern world is full of a variety of products that contain dyes, chemicals, preservatives, and sometimes poisons. Poisoning is especially relevant in the summer, when the air temperature is quite high. Treatment in this case does not require delay, so we will devote our article to this problem, namely, what is the treatment of food poisoning at home?

In order to understand how this kind of disease is treated, it is necessary to understand in what cases it occurs. Food poisoning occurs when the poison enters the body with poisoned, stale or low-quality food. Also, as is the custom in our modern world, many unscrupulous manufacturers add prohibited substances to their products and do not indicate them on the packaging in the “product composition” column. Therefore, below we will consider in detail what constitutes food and treatment, types, classification), and also we will understand in what cases urgent medical care is required?

Symptoms of food poisoning

  1. Nausea, vomiting.
  2. Diarrhea.
  3. Headache.
  4. Increased body temperature.
  5. Abdominal pain.
  6. Dehydration.
  7. Reduced blood pressure.

The most common causes of this disease

  1. Toxins that are found in plants and animal meat, in particular mushrooms, as well as improperly cooked seafood - fish, shellfish.
  2. Infections (bacteria, viruses).
  3. Pesticides that are found in food, or poisons with which they are processed.

These are the most common causes of food poisoning.

What to do, symptoms and treatment at home?

The first symptoms occur within 48 hours of eating the poisoned foods.

Urgent first aid is very important, because the sooner treatment begins, the faster the body will cope with intoxication.

First aid

Below we will understand what is food poisoning in children, home treatment, emergency care.

Children

If you are interested in the question of how to cure food poisoning at home in children, then you need to be extremely careful here. It should be remembered that any manifestations of poisoning in children should serve as a reason to consult a doctor.

In the meantime, the doctor has not come, help the baby.

"Ambulance"

Cases requiring medical attention

  1. The child is less than 3 years old.
  2. Symptoms persist for more than 2-3 days.
  3. Increased body temperature.
  4. Poisoning is present in several other family members.

When is it necessary to call an ambulance immediately?

  1. The child cannot drink water due to profuse and constant vomiting.
  2. If you know that the baby was poisoned by mushrooms or seafood.
  3. A rash appeared on the skin.
  4. Swelling appeared on the joints.
  5. The child has difficulty swallowing.
  6. The kid is talking incoherently.
  7. The skin and mucous membranes turned yellow.
  8. Blood in vomit and feces.
  9. No urination for more than 6 hours.
  10. There was weakness in the muscles.

Diet after poisoning

Treating food poisoning at home should be accompanied by diet. You can not eat fatty and spicy foods. You should limit the consumption of dairy products. Alcohol and smoking should also be avoided for a long time. Meat, vegetables and fish should be steamed. Eat small meals every 2-3 hours. The diet should include cereals boiled in water, especially those that contain a large amount of fiber in their composition. Drink strong black tea, decoction of chamomile, rose hips.

Prevention of food poisoning

Earlier we figured out how to treat food poisoning. Symptoms and first aid are also discussed in detail. Therefore, below we present a few useful rules that will help you avoid this unpleasant and fairly common problem.

What not to do with food poisoning?

  1. Put a heating pad on the abdomen.
  2. Drink fixing drugs for diarrhea.
  3. Give an enema to pregnant women, children, the elderly with diarrhea.
  4. Drink milk or water with gas.
  5. Never induce vomiting if:
  • an unconscious person;
  • there is confidence that the person was poisoned by alkali, kerosene, gasoline or acid.

If all of the above recommendations have been followed, then the likelihood that you will quickly cure food poisoning is quite high. Do not forget that only a doctor should assess the severity of poisoning, because timely medical assistance will help to avoid serious health problems. It should be remembered that at the first symptomatic manifestations of poisoning in children and the elderly, you should consult a doctor.

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.

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