Signs of food poisoning and prevention. Consequences of food poisoning

Food poisoning occurs when bacteria and microorganisms enter the human body. They penetrate the gastrointestinal tract along with low-quality products or in violation of the rules for cooking. This acute disease can lead to a variety of consequences, so the appearance of symptoms during food poisoning is a serious reason to call an ambulance.

Causes and symptoms

Suspecting food poisoning is not at all difficult, since it affects the state of the whole organism and the well-being of a person. The main symptoms of food poisoning are:

• the appearance of weakness and general malaise;
• bloating and sharp pain, accompanied by diarrhea;
• nausea, often turning into vomiting;
• stomach cramps and great heaviness.

In more severe cases, other symptoms may appear:

• a sharp increase in body temperature;
• pressure reduction;
• the appearance of cold sweat on the human body;
• visual impairment;
• in rare cases - loss of consciousness or hallucinations.

Depending on the severity of the food poisoning, symptoms may appear after a few hours and be mild, or they may come on suddenly after half an hour. In the absence of medical attention, symptoms can worsen every hour, driving the person to dehydration. The consequences of food poisoning can seriously harm his health, affecting many organs.

The causes of food poisoning are most often the same in most patients. In most cases, it occurs due to people's carelessness and inattention to their diet. The main factors causing the disease are as follows:

1. After cooking, food is stored in a warm room for more than two hours, especially for perishable products.
2. Unwashed fruits and vegetables, as well as those that have been washed in dirty water or open water.
3. Adding ice to drinks, which is made from unpurified water. This is of particular relevance when relaxing in bars and foreign hotels.
4. Insufficient roasting of meat, eating raw eggs of unknown origin, poorly thermally processed mushrooms.
5. Violation of hand hygiene before eating.

A careful attitude to the food you eat can significantly reduce the risk of food poisoning and other digestive disorders.

How to Identify Dangerous Products

Most often, food poisoning is caused by foods that have been stored for some time in unknown conditions. But in some cases, the disease also appears after eating a self-cooked, fresh dish. The main signs that the product may be hazardous to health are as follows:

• the expiration date has already expired or is about to expire;
• there is an odor unusual for this product;
• when stirring, small bubbles of gas are found;
• there are signs of destruction on the packaging - dents, abrasions, traces of gluing;
• the consistency does not correspond to the expected and normal;
• the color of the product is suspicious, and the taste is unpleasant.

The appearance of such signs suggests that the product should not be eaten, as this can result in serious poisoning, even if the expiration date is normal.

Types of food poisoning

Food poisoning varies, depending on the cause that caused it. There are two types:

1. Infectious poisoning, which are called food poisoning. In this case, the disease is caused by various bacteria and viruses, as well as their metabolic products. This species is much more common than the next.
2. Non-infectious poisonings that are considered toxic. Their appearance is associated with a violation of caution when choosing food: poisonous plants, mushrooms, the content of poisons or heavy metals in products.

These types differ in intensity of manifestation, impact on the human body and have differences in treatment.

Nutrition during and after food poisoning

When diagnosing poisoning, you need to carefully review your diet. There are certain rules related to what you can eat with food poisoning and immediately after it. Lack of proper nutrition can aggravate the situation and lead to negative consequences for the human body. The mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract is seriously affected by poisoning, this is caused by frequent vomiting and diarrhea.

Compliance with the rules of nutrition allows you to quickly restore their condition and normalize digestion. Directly at the time of poisoning, a person, as a rule, does not want to eat. This is quite logical, since the additional burden on the digestive organs will complicate recovery. Therefore, the first day it is recommended to drink only water in unlimited quantities, but you should not drink too much at a time. Despite the lack of appetite, you should know in advance what you can eat in case of poisoning. Starting from the second day, you can introduce certain products, carefully watching your feelings. The following products are allowed:

1. Low-fat broths, preference should be given to fish or chicken. To prepare them, the first broth should be drained, and then boiled again in clean water.
2. A small amount of crackers without any additives. Bread must be dried in the oven, and then used as an addition to broths.
3. Liquid rice porridge on the water. Rice helps firm the stool, which helps stop diarrhea.
4. Vegetable broths and baked vegetables are allowed after the main symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea have disappeared.
5. Biscuits are allowed from bakery products, but they can be eaten only after the symptoms of poisoning have disappeared.

After food poisoning, you should be equally careful about your diet. It is strictly forbidden to eat foods that adversely affect digestion and complicate recovery. These include:

• any sausage and canned food;
• fatty and smoked foods, including all fried foods;
• any spices (except salt), especially everything spicy;
• dairy products, coffee and cocoa;
• cereals that are difficult to digest by the body. These include millet, barley and barley;
• fresh fruits;
• alcoholic drinks, including low-alcohol ones;
• sweets and bakery products.

Returning to a normal diet should be very careful not to provoke the appearance of various diseases associated with impaired digestion. After the symptoms of poisoning disappear, you can diversify your diet by introducing the following foods:

• vegetable soups with the addition of chopped boiled meat of low-fat varieties;
• steamed meat and fish cutlets;
• baked vegetables and fruits;
• rice and buckwheat porridge, cooked without adding milk.

1. Decoctions of chamomile or wild rose with the addition of honey. Chamomile soothes the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, and rosehip improves immunity for a speedy recovery.
2. Natural green tea.
3. Dill decoction.
4. Non-carbonated mineral water.

Proper diet helps prevent intoxication and the need for hospitalization of the patient. Without following these simple rules, treatment will be ineffective and may take a long time.

What to do in case of food poisoning

First aid for food poisoning should be given to yourself immediately, after the first symptoms appear. The main task is to take measures to remove the maximum amount of toxins and pathogenic bacteria from the human body. In a normal situation, food poisoning is accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, thus the body is cleansed of harmful substances. If this did not happen, you need to help him. The following measures should be taken:

1. Thoroughly wash the stomach. To do this, you need to drink a large amount of warm boiled water. The expansion of the stomach leads to the release of fluid back, which removes toxins. If vomiting does not occur, you can press on the root of the tongue, while the gag reflex will work and the stomach will clear.
2. A cleansing enema will remove harmful substances that have managed to penetrate the intestines. It would be preferable to use the traditional method, which is used in hospitals, but if it is not possible, modern microclysters can be used.

After such procedures, a large amount of fluid is lost, so it is necessary to replenish its supply in order to avoid dehydration. You need to drink in small sips every 5-10 minutes, preference should be given to non-carbonated mineral water, strong tea or compote. Everyone should know what to do in case of food poisoning in order to provide first aid to themselves or a loved one in a timely manner. It is necessary to call an ambulance in the following cases:

• blurred vision and difficulty swallowing;
• symptoms of poisoning appeared in the child;
• signs appeared immediately in several adults and children;
• inability to bring down the high temperature;
• loss of consciousness.

In these cases, urgent hospitalization and medical supervision are required until the symptoms disappear. It is possible to cure food poisoning at home only if the person's condition is satisfactory and he is able to cleanse the body on his own and take the necessary medicines.

Medicines for poisoning

The treatment of food poisoning depends on the particular case of the patient's condition. What to do in case of poisoning, when first aid is provided, does not greatly depend on the age of the person. Medications should be started immediately after the first signs appear in order to avoid severe intoxication and complications. What medicines to take for poisoning can be seen in the table:

Timely and proper treatment will quickly get rid of the symptoms of poisoning and prevent complications. If you cannot cope with the signs of food poisoning on your own, you need to call an ambulance, since the lack of necessary assistance can lead to disruption of the kidneys and liver.

Not only the taste of the prepared dish depends on the quality of the products. First of all, by buying fresh, properly stored food, we protect ourselves from food poisoning. However, even a careful study of the expiration dates before buying and the attractive appearance of the product is not a 100% guarantee of its quality. You can get poisoned by any food that has been exposed to pathogens and their toxins. Especially often food poisoning occurs in the hot season. The article will tell about what symptoms occur with food poisoning in an adult and what treatment should be carried out in this case.

Features of the pathological condition

Food poisoning refers to acute conditions, the development of which provokes the use of low-quality food (the expiration date of which has expired, with storage violations, which has undergone inadequate heat treatment), contaminated with pathogens and their toxins. All poisonings related to food are manifested by general symptoms - indigestion and signs of intoxication.

What was the pathogen determines the type of poisoning. They are:

• microbial or infectious;
• non-microbial, also called toxic.

The state of the infectious type occurs when bacteria (staphylococcus, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), viruses, protozoa, and mold spores enter the body.

Toxic food poisoning develops under the influence of toxic substances present in foods: when eating inedible mushrooms, berries, herbs, poisonous fish.

When the pathogen enters the body with food, they quickly spread throughout the body. Already after an hour or two from eating poor-quality food, symptoms of poisoning may appear.

Note: food poisoning is sporadic in nature, that is, cases of development are most often isolated. Mass poisoning can occur at banquets and feasts, where the same dishes are consumed by several people. But at the same time, not everyone who ate spoiled food may show signs of poisoning, which is associated with a mosaic accumulation of pathogens and their toxins in food.

What causes poisoning?

The main cause of poisoning is the consumption of foods that have been contaminated with pathogens during cooking or further storage. Improper storage means non-compliance with the temperature regime not only in the refrigerators of grocery stores, but also at home. If cooked food has been left on the table or stove for too long, bacteria can grow in it.

Violation of the integrity of the packaging of products sold in the store leads to their deterioration even if the temperature conditions for further storage are observed.

Canned food carries an increased danger, if the production technology of which is violated, there is a high risk of infection with botulism. A person who eats such canned food can die.

The probability of poisoning is higher when consumed:

• dairy products and milk;
• cakes, confectionery with cream;
• meat and fish (cooked by cold smoking);
• out-of-season fruits;
• cooked culinary dishes, especially salads with mayonnaise;
• pickled foods.

Important! For the above products, a few hours of storage in inappropriate conditions (outside the refrigerator) is enough for poisoning to occur after their use.

In addition, the reason for the development of food poisoning can be the use of ready-made meals in public catering places (culinaries, restaurants, cafes, street fast foods) prepared by a person suffering from an intestinal infectious disease. Pathogenic microorganisms can get into food from his hands, contaminated dishes. The likelihood of food contamination increases if sanitary standards in the kitchen are not observed. Insects such as flies, cockroaches, ants can carry the infection.

Toxic food poisoning can be the result of eating mushrooms that you have picked yourself. Moreover, the probability of poisoning is not only when eating inedible mushrooms. Even edible mushrooms or chanterelles collected near the roadway or near industrial enterprises can lead to poisoning. Unfamiliar fruits from trees and shrubs also pose a danger. Collecting and eating them is unsafe!

Symptoms

The severity of symptoms may vary, depending on the amount of food eaten, the general health of the person, the speed of first aid. The first signs of food poisoning in adults can appear both in 30-60 minutes and during the first day after eating suspicious foods. Symptoms of food poisoning include:

• nausea, turning into vomiting (undigested food particles, gastric juice may be present in the vomit), bouts of vomiting are repeated many times;
• increased salivation;
• repetitive, liquid stools, watery consistency with a strongly pronounced unpleasant odor;
• abdominal pain (sharp, severe spasms are intestinal reactions to bacteria and toxic substances that have entered it);
• general malaise, weakness, muscle aches;
• dizziness, headaches.

With food poisoning in adults, the increase in body temperature is often insignificant. In some cases, the indicators remain within the normal range or increase to 37-37.5 degrees. But with severe poisoning and a large amount of toxins entering the bloodstream, the temperature can rise to 40 degrees.

Repeated vomiting and loose, frequent stools lead to fluid loss from the body. Dehydration is a big threat to health, so it is important to constantly replenish lost fluids in case of food poisoning. Severe dehydration is indicated by dryness of the mucous membranes, tight skin of the lips, loss of elasticity of the skin, severe thirst, lack of urination for more than 3 hours. If the water balance is not replenished, a person may lose consciousness, hallucinations may appear, and pressure may drop significantly.

Symptoms inherent in the pathology can be observed for three days, by the 4th day the severity of manifestations decreases. Weakness, impotence, bloating, lack of appetite can be observed for about a week after recovery.

How to help the patient?

If signs of poisoning appear, you must act quickly. The further course of the disease depends on the speed of providing first aid for food poisoning to an adult. With a quick response, the absorption of toxins into the blood can be stopped, thereby preventing the development of serious consequences.

The first thing to do in case of poisoning is to wash the stomach to remove toxic substances from the body. To do this, you need to drink half a liter of a weak soda-salt solution or a solution of potassium permanganate. You need to drink in one gulp, in large sips. After that, they immediately artificially induce vomiting by pressing the root of the tongue with a finger. Washing is repeated many times (8-10 times) until the stomach is completely cleared, as evidenced by clean water coming out during vomiting.

In the future, it is important to ensure optimal intake of fluid in the body. The patient is soldered with water, herbal teas, compotes. You need to drink in small sips so as not to induce vomiting, but often.

After gastric lavage, the victim is allowed to take activated charcoal at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight or another available sorbent: Polysorb, Enterosgel, Sorbex, Smektu.

When the temperature rises, it is necessary to take an antipyretic: Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Nurofen, MIG.

Further treatment

With a mild course, treatment can be carried out at home. If the patient's condition is severe, hospitalization is required. With repeated vomiting, high fever and signs of dehydration, you need to call an ambulance.

If after washing the stomach the condition returned to normal, you need to observe bed rest, drink a lot, take sorbents.

It is necessary to take solutions for rehydration: Oralit, Humana Electrolyte. It is not necessary to take antidiarrheal drugs that fix the stool. With frequent bowel movements, the body gets rid of toxins.

To normalize the intestinal microflora, the intake of probiotics is indicated or. With severe spasms in the intestines, No-shpa, Spasmalgon can be prescribed.

Diet plays an important role in recovery. Eating food on the first day is undesirable. You can eat from the second day. First, light soups from vegetables, rice, mashed potatoes (without milk and butter), biscuits, crackers are introduced. All indigestible foods are excluded from the diet for 2-3 weeks.

- this is a damage to the body due to the ingress of harmful substances or poisons into it. The penetration of toxins is possible through the mouth with food or water, the nasopharynx with air, as well as through the skin. The disease state of the body can be very severe, so it is important to know the types of intoxication, the symptoms and the basics of first aid.

Poisoning - the penetration of harmful toxins into the body

Types of poisoning

Based on the pathogenic substance, which has become a provoking factor in the intoxication of the body, there are several main types of poisoning:

• food;
• exposure to toxic substances and chemicals;
• poisoning with alcohol, drugs, medicines;
• alkaline substances and acids;
• carbon monoxide or household gas;
• self-poisoning (intoxication of the body with its own waste products - feces).

Depending on the ways of penetration into the body, the severity of the disease and the conditions of exposure to internal organs, intoxication has a specific classification.

According to the method of entry into the body:

• oral - through the oral cavity;
• percutaneous - through the skin;
• parenteral - through injections intramuscularly, intravenously, subcutaneously;
• biological - bites of insects, snakes, animals;
• inhalation - through the respiratory tract;
• cavity (penetration of toxins into the ear canal, genitals, anus).

Harmful substances can enter the body through an injection

According to the degree of impact on vital systems:

• lungs;
• medium;
• strong;
• extremely heavy.

According to symptoms:

• acute - a single defeat by toxic substances, manifests itself sharply and brightly;
• chronic - are observed as a result of a gradual accumulation of toxins in the body, often signs appear and then disappear.

Due to the development of intoxication:

• household;
• accidental (in children - medications)
• production (pairs, poisons at large enterprises);
• intentional (suicidal).

Types of poisoning differ in clinical manifestations and features of the impact on the human body. To determine the type of intoxication, it is important to know its symptoms and provide first aid in time.

Food poisoning

Food poisoning occurs as a result of eating contaminated or low-quality food.

Products at risk include:

• meat and fish products;
• milk, kefir, fermented baked milk, butter, sour cream, yogurt;
• eggs;
• cream cakes, biscuits.

Pathogenic microorganisms in products that have undergone improper heat treatment or storage, as a result of which they have deteriorated, are capable of provoking intoxication.

The first symptoms of food poisoning occur 2-4 hours after eating:

• malaise and weakness appear;
• begins to feel sick, frequent vomiting occurs;
• diarrhea can be with blood impurities and thick greenish mucus;
• pain or paroxysmal discomfort in the abdomen;
• pallor of the skin.

Diarrhea occurs with food poisoning

The most dangerous types of food intoxication are poisonous mushrooms (missing, poisonous, improperly stored) and botulism (an acute infection that pathogenically affects the nervous system).

Medicine poisoning

The reasons for getting an excessive amount of medications can be:

• children's access to the first-aid kit (having reached the medicines, the child is able to eat multi-colored pills and provoke poisoning);
• accidental overdose (non-compliance with the daily norm, forgetfulness of the patient);
• intentional poisoning (with the intent to commit suicide).

The first signs depend on the specific drug. If a person has gone too far with sleeping pills, a strong inhibition of the nervous system occurs, a spasm of the airways occurs and an unconscious state is observed.

Common symptoms of drug poisoning are:

• dizziness;
• decrease or increase in blood pressure;
• difficulty breathing;
• drowsiness, weakness, malaise;
• abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea.

With drug poisoning, severe dizziness

Fecal poisoning

Intoxication of the body occurs due to increased putrefactive processes due to constipation.

Symptoms:

• headaches in the temporal part;
• frequent nausea, often with vomiting;
• pain in muscles and joints;
• the appearance of fever;
• weakness, fatigue, drowsiness;
• loss of appetite.

Temperature rises with stool poisoning

With chronic constipation, sleep can be disturbed, swelling appears, hair falls out, nails exfoliate. To prevent self-poisoning, it is important to exclude stool retention for more than 2 days.

Alcoholic, drug intoxication

The use of low-quality alcoholic beverages, their excessive amount can lead to severe poisoning. This also includes the defeat of ammonia.

Intoxication can be recognized by the following signs:

• pain in the abdomen, diarrhea;
• nausea, severe vomiting;
• headaches and dizziness;
• loss of orientation in space;
• prostration.

Alcohol poisoning causes disorientation in space

In severe cases, the person loses consciousness. Paralysis of the respiratory tract is possible, resulting in death.

No less dangerous is drug poisoning. The first signs of intoxication are similar to alcohol damage, only before their manifestations attacks of aggression, overexcitation or euphoria are possible. Psychotropic substances adversely affect the central nervous system, which provokes anxiety, spasms of the respiratory tract, fainting.

Poisoning with poisons and chemicals

Symptoms appear within 20-50 minutes and are pronounced:

• breathing becomes intermittent;
• increased separation of saliva and sputum (cough develops);
• the person sweats profusely;
• gradually begins to cramp the lower limbs.

Chemical poisoning is characterized by leg cramps

It is important to immediately provide first aid to the patient. Otherwise, there is a high probability of paralysis of the respiratory system and death.

Household or carbon monoxide poisoning

Conditions that can provoke the ingress of carbon monoxide into the body are:

• production processes that are involved in the synthesis of organic compounds - poisoning with paint, silicate glue, toxic detergents;
• poor ventilation of the premises;
• household gas leak in the house due to open dampers in the stoves.

The early clinical picture of such poisoning appears within an hour.

You can recognize it by signs such as:

• feeling of tightness in the head;
• dizziness, migraine, tinnitus;
• increased heart rate.

Gradually, nausea and vomiting appear. If the irritating factor is not quickly eliminated and the person is not taken out into fresh air, breathing becomes difficult, it becomes dark in the eyes, the patient loses consciousness. With a strong toxic effect, convulsions and shortness of breath develop, and cardiac arrest is possible.

Intoxication with alkalis and acids

Caustic alkalis and acids are used in the chemical, textile, paper industries, in the manufacture of soap, artificial fibers. Hazardous compounds enter the body with vapors through the respiratory organs, mucous membranes (eyes), skin or in liquid form through the oral cavity.

The first signs of intoxication:

• severe pain syndrome of the affected areas (in the mouth, on the lips, in the chest, in the stomach);
• profuse and painful vomiting with blood;
• swelling of the larynx;
• pain shock.

Alkaline and acid poisoning causes swelling of the larynx

Alkalis and acids provoke a chemical burn of the esophagus, nasopharynx, stomach, and oral cavity. High risk of suffocation and complications on internal organs.

Stages of poisoning

Acute intoxication can occur in 2 main stages.

1. Toxigenic. It begins to develop immediately after the pathogen enters the body. The toxin begins to affect chemical compounds and destroy them, to which the body reacts violently. The toxigenic stage operates until the poison is absorbed into vital tissues.
2. Somatogenic. It begins after the harmful substance has already collapsed and provoked specific complications in the body.

Toxicogenic stage of poisoning - the entry of harmful substances into the body

The purpose of dividing intoxication into certain stages is the correct selection of treatment. In the toxicogenic form, all the forces of doctors go to the speedy removal of toxic substances from the body, while they have not yet been absorbed into the deeper cellular layers. If the somatogenic stage has come, the task of therapy is to restore the functional properties of the internal organs affected by the poison.

Which doctor should I contact?

The specialist who makes the primary diagnosis is. The doctor collects an anamnesis based on the symptoms and complaints of the patient.

• infectiologist;
• resuscitator (in case of severe or extremely severe poisoning);
• toxicologist (during radiation exposure or consumption of products with radionuclides).

With mild intoxication, an examination by a therapist is sufficient. If the patient is unconscious or in serious condition, you should not wait for the doctor, you need to call an ambulance and take the patient to intensive care.

Diagnostics

To find out the source of poisoning and make an accurate diagnosis, the patient is prescribed to undergo a series of studies.

1. The clinical picture is revealed. The doctor makes an examination and a survey, which makes it possible to determine the type of intoxication as much as possible by the first signs.
2. Instrumental research. With the help of a cardiogram, the state of the heart is clarified, and an encephalogram shows the activity of the brain. Determine the degree of damage to the internal organs of ultrasound organizations.
3. Laboratory tests. The quantitative and qualitative presence of toxic substances in the body is determined, as well as the severity of the effects of poisons on the kidneys, liver, intestines and other vital organs.

Cardiogram shows the state of the heart

Treatment

Food, drug, alcohol, or chemical poisoning requires immediate attention. What to do at home and how they help in the ambulance, let's take a closer look.

Providing first aid at home

Any intoxication requires emergency first aid.

It is important not to hesitate and get your bearings on the spot in time:

1. In case of food poisoning, the victim should be given absorbent drugs (activated charcoal), rinse the stomach with saline, or use a laxative.
2. In case of toxic damage to the respiratory system (gas, poisons, chemical vapors and acids), the patient must be protected from the irritant, fresh air must be provided. It is important to rinse the throat and mouth with a concentrated soda solution.
3. In case of mushroom poisoning, it is important to remove poisons from the stomach and intestines as soon as possible. If possible, do an enema, give enterosorbents and laxatives (you can saline solutions).
4. If a person has been poisoned by alcohol, ammonia will help bring him to his senses. It is important to cleanse the stomach by washing with soda solution or plain water.
5. With the defeat of toxic substances of the mucous membrane of the eyes. It is necessary to wash the victim under running water for half an hour. At the end of the procedure, it is better to cover the eyes with a clean bandage.
6. If alkali or acid gets on the skin, immediately remove the pathogenic substance with a cotton pad. In case of alkaline poisoning, treat the affected area with vinegar. The acid is removed under running water.

It is important to provide first aid in time: call a medical team and while it is traveling, alleviate the condition of the victim and prevent the spread of toxins further through the body.

Activated charcoal is the first remedy for food poisoning

Emergency

Upon arrival at the victim, the ambulance team assesses the patient's condition and, depending on the cause of the poisoning, takes appropriate measures. First of all, it flushes the stomach (for food, drug, alcohol poisoning).

If a person has inhaled carbon monoxide:

• an antidote is administered (the required amount of oxygen);
• inject anticonvulsant drugs;
• restore the work of the heart (introduction of glucosides).

In case of carbon monoxide poisoning, injections of special drugs are introduced.

In case of poisoning with alkalis and acids, doctors, after washing the stomach with a large amount of plain water, give the patient narcotic analgesics to prevent a state of shock. In cardiac arrest, chest compressions and artificial respiration are used.

After providing first aid, a team of specialists hospitalizes the victim in the hospital. The patient is observed in the infectious or toxicological department. If necessary, carry out resuscitation measures.

What do they eat when they are poisoned?

To improve the condition and speed up the recovery period, it is important to eat right.

• vegetable puree soups, not fried and without meat;
• steam cutlets from chicken or rabbit meat (possible from the 3rd day of the diet) -;
• steamed fish meatballs;
• biscuit cookies;
• rice, buckwheat porridge cooked on water;
• fruits (non-acidic) and vegetables in a noticed or boiled form;
• dietary meat soufflé (chicken, beef, rabbit);
• couple omelet.

In case of poisoning, you need to eat vegetable soup without meat

You can drink boiled warm water or mineral, but without gas. On the 3rd day after poisoning, it is allowed to take fruit jelly, chamomile tea with honey (1/2 tsp). Dairy products (low-fat yogurt, fermented baked milk, yogurt) are best introduced from the 6th day of the diet.

During the recovery period after intoxication, it is forbidden to drink alcohol, junk food (spicy, salty, smoked, sauces and seasonings, carbonated drinks, flour and sweets). This will save weakened organs from unnecessary stress.

Why is poisoning dangerous?

Penetrating into the human body, toxic substances have a detrimental effect on vital systems and disrupt the work of the latter.

As a result, the following complications may occur:

• pathological changes in the heart and blood vessels - bradycardia or tachycardia, hypertension, arrhythmia;
• deviations in the nervous system - impaired consciousness, hallucinations, overexcitation, depression (may persist for several years);
• allergic reactions that have not been observed before (a consequence of food poisoning) - rashes, redness of the skin (there are both adults and children).

Poisoning can cause changes in blood pressure

Severe poisoning is characterized by a violation of respiratory activity, as a result of which the blood supply to the brain slows down. Pulmonary edema and cardiac arrest are most often fatal.

Prevention

It is possible to protect adults and children from various kinds of intoxication if preventive measures are strictly observed.

1. Properly store food, do not eat suspicious food, unknown or rotten mushrooms, wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly before eating. Fish and meat products should be subjected to high-quality heat treatment.
2. Do not abuse alcohol, do not try surrogate or ammonia in the form of a hangover.
3. Keep medicines out of the reach of children, follow the instructions and daily doses.
4. Adhere to safety rules when working with pesticides, acids and alkalis. Store toxic substances in special containers and rooms.
5. Monitor household gas. Turn off the faucet after cooking, check stoves and pipes regularly for leaks.

Do not eat unknown types of mushrooms

Poisoning the body is a dangerous and painful condition in which there is a strong violation of all vital organs - breathing becomes difficult, pulmonary edema and cardiac arrest are possible. It is important to provide assistance to the victim in time, otherwise there is a risk of death. To prevent intoxication of the body, it is necessary to follow safety rules, both at home and at work.

Bacteria and toxins are found in poor-quality and stale foods. If they enter the stomach, there is heaviness in the stomach and nausea. The disease state is dangerous, so first aid for food poisoning is very important. You need to act immediately, otherwise the poisons will have time to penetrate into the bloodstream and begin to destroy organs and tissues.

Main symptoms

Food poisoning in an adult occurs for various reasons. Most often, the culprits of the trouble are ordinary inattention and insufficient quality control of products. You can get poisoned at a picnic, in a catering canteen, in a cafe, and even at home if the food was stored in violation of sanitary standards.

Symptoms of food poisoning in adults appear quickly. The rate of development of the disease depends on which product caused it.

• Spoiled food provokes nausea and vomiting 2-4 hours after consumption.
• Poisonous plants that have entered the stomach are manifested by colic, diarrhea after 4-12 hours.
• Pathogenic microorganisms spread instantly. Infection becomes noticeable within a day.

Food poisoning gives itself violent signs. If measures are not taken immediately, the intoxication of the body intensifies and begins to threaten human life. Typical symptoms of poisoning:

• cramps in the abdomen;
• intestinal colic;
• nausea, vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• headache, weakness.

When, in addition to these signs, the temperature rises, chills, frequent pulse, excessive salivation disturb, this is a signal that acute intoxication has begun. You need urgent help from an experienced doctor.

Foods may contain dangerous bacteria that cause salmonellosis or botulism. Then even fresh-looking food provokes inflammation. Toxins enter the bloodstream and disrupt the functioning of the heart and lungs. If the patient complains of blurred vision and is having difficulty breathing, then the nervous system suffers. It is urgent to cleanse the body and neutralize toxins, otherwise the consequences may be unpredictable.

Do not forget that the treatment of food poisoning at home is possible only at the initial stage, when the disease is mild. If the patient's condition worsens or from, immediately call an ambulance.

First aid

If you've been experiencing signs of food poisoning, think about what might have caused them. Eating mushrooms, berries, any canned food, cream cakes or fish the day before is a reason to suspect a severe form of poisoning. Be sure to call the hospital. Assistance is required while waiting for the medical team. It is the same as with mild poisoning with stale food.

First aid for food poisoning includes drinking plenty of water and gastric lavage.

• You will need to prepare a weak solution of common salt. A small amount should be mixed in warm clean water.
• Pour a full glass of liquid and drink it in slow sips. This will trigger the gag reflex.
• If it is not observed, help yourself by pressing on the root of the tongue with your fingers.
• After vomiting, rest, calm down and repeat the procedure again.
• Usually, to clear the stomach of harmful contents, you need to drink at least 4-5 glasses.
• When the vomit comes out without impurities of food and mucus, you can stop the process, wash your face and rinse your mouth.

First aid for food poisoning is not over yet. Most likely, toxic substances have managed to partially absorb into the blood, so it is necessary to reduce intoxication with the adsorbent.

• An affordable natural remedy is activated charcoal. Take it at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight.
• Sometimes drugs provoke a new urge to vomit. Try to suppress it for at least half an hour. During this time, the coal will have time to do the work and adsorb toxins.
• If vomiting is not controlled, wait until the stomach calms down, re-drink the charcoal tablets and lie down to rest.

It is advisable to put a cool cloth soaked in a solution of salt water on the forehead. It will reduce pain in the temples, help to remove toxins from the body and calm.

In some cases, food poisoning is not accompanied by nausea, so it is difficult to induce vomiting. This happens when spoiled food quickly leaves the stomach and lingers in the intestines. Do not provoke increased vomiting, it will no longer help.

What to do next

Do not try to cope with diarrhea with medicines and folk methods. With its help, the intestines are cleansed of the processes of decay and toxins. You can stop diarrhea only with the permission of your doctor.

Dehydration is a dangerous tendency that food poisoning causes, and the first aid is to replace fluids. Despite the discomfort, vomiting and diarrhea have a positive effect on the patient. The body is protected from intoxication and cleansed. But along with feces, a person loses water, the reserves of which must be replenished. Doctors recommend after each trip to the toilet to drink a glass of purified cool water without gas in small sips, slowly.

What should an adult do in case of food poisoning when first aid measures are over?

• Plentiful drinking is required. At least 3 liters of fluid is required per day.
• If there is heaviness in the stomach, it continues to stir up and it feels like the stomach is clogged with food, drink only clean water.
• When the condition has improved, it is allowed to brew chamomile or other medicinal herbs.
• For taste, you can put a small spoonful of honey. Drink as much as possible and stay in bed.

Acute food poisoning suggests that after first aid it will not be possible to eat during the day. Stick to this rule even if you feel hungry.

When the patient's condition worsens, he has chills and his mind is confused, there is no need to take risks and look for a way to treat food poisoning with a temperature. The symptom means that severe intoxication has begun. The person needs hospitalization and special therapy.

During the day, toxins should be neutralized, so you can include in the diet light food enveloping the mucous membrane without spices and salt.

For the entire duration of treatment, it is forbidden to eat fatty, spicy dishes, smoked meats, milk, sour cream. These foods exacerbate and exacerbate inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

In the case of food poisoning in an adult, if the symptoms and treatment are quickly brought under control, the problem does not lead to serious complications if you follow a proper diet. From the second day, vegetable broth and enveloping oatmeal jelly are allowed. Little by little, this menu can be expanded:

• boiled rice, buckwheat porridge;
• potatoes in water without oil;
• boiled vegetables;
• dried whole grain bread slices;
• baked apples, bananas.

In order for food poisoning treatment at home to help, meals must be fractional and have a calming effect. Eat small meals every 3-4 hours. Do not forget to drink plenty of fluids, and gradually the gastrointestinal tract will begin to function normally.

When the poisoning is mild, improvement occurs on the 3rd day, but the diet should be followed much longer in order to restore health.

Prevention

In the case of food poisoning, symptoms and treatment are interrelated. But the problem will not appear if competent prevention of the disease is carried out.

• Be sure to wash your hands after coming from the street and before eating.
• Buy quality products, paying attention to the expiration date and appearance.
• Completely give up canned food and smoked meats.
• Cook your food in a smart way and try to eat it right away.
• When storing, do not allow boiled and fresh food to come into contact.
• Maintain sterile cleanliness in the kitchen. Wash fruits in several waters, even if they are collected in your garden.

Folk methods of treatment

It will help to quickly neutralize food poisoning treatment at home using folk recipes. Please consult your doctor before using any of these products.

Enveloping decoctions help to relieve inflammation of the gastric mucosa.

• Take a large spoonful of flaxseed, pour a liter of clean water and put on fire.
• Bring to a boil, simmer for 10 minutes and turn off.
• Cool, strain the decoction through a sieve and drink one glass before meals.

What to do in case of poisoning to ease abdominal pain? Take advantage of the healing cinnamon tea.

• Measure out a teaspoon of ground seasoning, mix it in an enamel pan with a glass of water and boil.
• Let steep for 5 minutes, filter and drink one serving at a time.
• If after three hours there is no improvement, brew a new decoction and repeat the reception.

Manifestations of intoxication can be eliminated with herbal teas.

• Mix together half a teaspoon of dried mint, grated ginger and ground cinnamon.
• Pour the collection with 250 ml of boiling water, cover and wait 10-15 minutes.
• Then put a circle of lemon in a cup and drink hot in small sips.
• This tea is useful to prepare several times a day and drink between meals.

Quickly soothes intestinal upset millet. Grind it into a powder and take one teaspoon every hour throughout the day with water.

Do not forget: the problem of poisoning is easier to prevent than to cure. Be healthy and careful when buying products!

Poisoning is a disorder of the vital activity of the human body after toxic compounds from the environment enter the bloodstream. Symptoms of the pathology are varied, depending on the type of poison and the route of its penetration: through the skin, mucous membranes, gastrointestinal tract. In the absence of medical assistance, the consequences of poisoning develop, which can cause disability and even death of the victim.

Why poisoning occurs

It is impossible to predict how the body will react to a particular toxic substance. A lethal dose of ethyl alcohol for many people does not cause any harm to citizens with alcohol dependence. Or the sweetish aroma of Datura flowers can provoke severe intoxication in one person, and the other will feel only a slight headache.

Poisoning is extremely dangerous for young children and adolescents. Metabolic processes in their body proceed faster, and the vascular walls are characterized by increased permeability. This facilitates the penetration of toxic compounds into all organs and tissues.

Toxicologists classify poisons according to their degree of danger to humans and the severe consequences that develop after intoxication:

• stale, expired or unsuitable foods for newborns and toddlers;
• poisons of plant and animal origin;
• household chemicals: washing powders, bleaches, disinfectants;
• oil paints, varnishes, adhesives, solvents;
• herbicides, insecticides, growth and maturation accelerators, fungicides;
• alcoholic beverages, tobacco products;
• pharmacological preparations.

The most severe consequences for humans occur after intoxication with caustic alkalis, acids, mercury, chlorine, arsenic, and potassium cyanide. The danger of poisoning lies in the short period of time from the penetration of the poison into the body until the heart stops completely.

Clinical picture of poisoning

Symptoms of poisoning depend on the hazard class of the toxic substance, the state of human health and the way endotoxins penetrate into the bloodstream. The most severe consequences of intoxication occur when the vapors are inhaled and ingested into the gastrointestinal tract. A lethal outcome is most often stated in acute poisoning with alcohol, narcotic substances, arsenic and potassium cyanide.

Food poisoning always occurs against the background of a violation of the digestive system. After 2-3 hours, the victim develops nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence and stomach pain.

The consequences and symptoms of each poisoning have their own distinctive features. But there are general signs indicating the penetration of poison into the human body:

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1. Hypothermia or a sharp increase in temperature, fever, chills.
2. Sensation of an unpleasant taste in the mouth, increased salivation, belching with air.
3. Pale skin, dry mucous membranes.
4. Violation of urination, change in color and smell of urine.
5. Swelling, burning, skin rashes, itching and redness.
6. Decreased visual acuity, double vision, lack of reaction to light.
7. Tremor of the upper and lower extremities, convulsions, epileptic seizures.

In acute poisoning with large concentrations of toxic substances, the victim falls into a deep coma. The blood supply to the brain is reduced, which provokes serious consequences for the body. A person has pulmonary edema and cardiac arrest.

Characteristics of the consequences of intoxication

It is sometimes extremely difficult to determine what kind of poison that caused the poisoning. The victim is in an unconscious state, and relatives are not aware of the events. Therefore, when providing assistance, doctors are guided by the symptoms that have arisen, making efforts to eliminate them.

As a rule, it is possible to establish the type of toxic compound in case of chronic poisoning. Often, the long-term use of pharmacological drugs leads to a deterioration in health. After conducting laboratory tests, the substance that provoked the poisoning is established.

The most severe consequences of intoxication include a decrease in the functional activity of the urinary, cardiovascular, digestive and central nervous systems of the human body.

Respiratory disorders

In acute forms of poisoning, the victims are almost always diagnosed with respiratory disorders. Such complications provoke ventilatory failure and aspiration. The effect of "sucking" develops against the background of a sharp decrease in pressure. The dangerous consequences for the human body include pulmonary edema of non-cardiogenic etiology.

Some time after poisoning, adults may develop acute respiratory distress syndrome. The disease is characterized by the appearance of extensive swelling of the lung parenchyma, circulatory disorders, and a decrease in the content of molecular oxygen inside the bloodstream. Distress syndrome refers to inflammatory pathologies and often causes death.

Only timely detoxification therapy can save a person. In children, adolescents and adults, after poisoning with toxic compounds, there are consequences in the form of relapses of bronchospasm. This can cause the development of bronchial asthma or frequent off-season bronchitis.

Cardiovascular disorders

In case of poisoning with poisons of plant or animal origin, heavy metals, narcotic substances, cardiovascular complications appear. The consequences of intoxication are: bradycardia, tachycardia, arterial hypertension. Pathological conditions can completely disappear after recovery or take a chronic form.

Sometimes the victim develops oxygen starvation of brain cells, a shift in blood pH to the acid side. The tone of smooth muscle decreases, which leads to arterial or renal hypotension. The dangerous consequences of intoxication include the likelihood of intracerebral hemorrhage.

Neurological disorders

A few hours after ingestion of toxic compounds, a person may experience epileptic seizures. In the medical literature, cases of the preservation of a convulsive syndrome in a victim for several months and even years have been described. This is due to a persistent violation of the blood supply to brain cells.

With intoxication, a change in the level of consciousness is diagnosed, which manifests itself in the form of arousal, visual and auditory hallucinations, and a depressive state. Often, after treatment for poisoning, the victim remains emotionally unstable. Depression is especially dangerous, the therapy of which takes months or years.

Many people are predisposed to the effects of intoxication. For example, a person with low resistance to bacterial or viral infections is more likely to develop respiratory complications.

The consequences of food poisoning are often expressed in the acquisition of a tendency to allergic reactions. Products that were previously harmless to the body, after intoxication, cause redness or rashes on the skin. In severe cases, angioedema and anaphylactic shock are possible.