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Searching for leftovers - Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating contaminated food. Besides being called food poisoning, the condition is also known as infectious diarrhea or bacterial gastroenteritis. Symptoms of food poisoning are similar to those of the flu, including abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting, watery or bloody diarrhea, fever, headache and abdominal gas.
- Most cases of food poisoning are caused by food that contains certain types of bacteria. Once a contaminated food is eaten, microorganisms continue growing, causing infection. Salmonella and Campylobacter are two of the most common types of bacteria causing food poisoning. These bacteria are typically found in cattle, swine and poultry. They may also be present in raw poultry, meat, eggs and unpasteurized dairy products. Clostridium perfringens is another common bacterium, found in poultry, raw meat, eggs and unpasteurized dairy products.
- Other types of bacteria that cause food poisoning include listeria, staphylococci and Escherichia coli. Listeria is usually linked with raw foods coming from animals. Staphylococci, which mainly occur on human skin, besides the throat and nose, are spread to food when handled. Escherichia coli (E. coli) come from the intestines of cattle and cause a food poisoning infection when eating undercooked beef or drinking unpasteurized milk.
- Botulism is a rare and deadly illness caused by Clostridium botulinum, which is found in almost everything, including water and soil. Although the bacteria typically enter the body through wounds, they can also live in low-acid foods, including fish, meat, poultry or vegetables that have been poorly preserved or canned.
- Although rare, parasites can also cause food poisoning when they're swallowed in untreated or contaminated water. Giardia or beaver fever is an example of a parasite disease that can be transmitted through food. Cryptosporidium is another parasite infection causing food poisoning. The disease causes watery diarrhea that lasts for two to four days.
- People who are especially prone to food poisoning are young children and the elderly. Pregnant women are also highly vulnerable for contracting food poisoning, as well as people with serious or chronic illnesses, as their immune systems are already weak. While mild food poisoning cases are usually treated with fluid replacement and by controlling nausea, more serious cases may need hospitalization.
