Food poisoning

Causes

Germs present in contaminated food can cause food poisoning, a type of gastroenteritis. The problem germs are usuallyStaphylococcus, Salmonella or Campylobacter.

These germs can grow in undercooked or poorly reheated meat, chicken, seafood or eggs, or cream that has ‘gone off’. People of all ages can be affected.

Symptoms

Food poisoning happens very soon after eating the contaminated food. Vomiting, abdominal cramps and excessive wind are followed by watery, explosive diarrhoea. Your child might also have a fever.

It often takes 24-48 hours for the symptoms of food poisoning to settle down. If the vomiting and/or diarrhoea don’t go away, your child might become dehydrated. You can usually prevent this by making sure your child keeps drinking fluid – little sips at regular intervals is best.

When to see your doctor

Seek medical attention if your child:

• has diarrhoea that goes on for more than a few days
• has bloody diarrhoea
• has severe abdominal pain and vomiting (your child can’t keep any fluid down for at least 30 minutes)
• isn’t drinking and has signs of dehydration (including little or no urination, loss of weight, lethargy and extreme thirst)
• has symptoms of food poisoning and is less than one year old.

Treatment

Most cases of food poisoning are mild and don’t require any specific treatment. But if diarrhoea goes on, or becomes bloody, or if the abdominal pain and vomiting are severe, see your doctor.

Avoid giving your child dairy products for 2-3 days after an episode of food poisoning, because this might prolong the diarrhoea. Your child’s diet should be similar to that followed for the treatment of diarrhoea.

Prevention

Make sure you wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly when preparing food. Check that meats are fresh and don’t smell bad. Also make sure you cook meat and eggs well.

Always wash your hands before handling food.

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