Symptoms of Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is a specific type of illness caused by the intake of contaminated food. Many factors contribute to this serious medical condition including bacteria, viruses, toxic agents and parasites. Knowing the different symptoms of this health problem is very important, which can actually help in determining all the possible treatments for this problem. Here are some of the known symptoms of food poisoning.
Food Poisoning Caused by Bacteria
The presence of bacteria in food is one of the main causes of food poisoning. For instance, Vibrio cholerae is known to cause mild to moderate poisoning in humans, the usual symptoms of which include nausea, headache and diarrhea. Likewise, it can also cause fever with chills as well as vomiting. Meanwhile, the nervous system is the primary target of Clostridium botulinum. This particular type of bacteria can lead to symptoms like overall weakness, speech problems and blurred vision. When left untreated, these signs can develop into breathing difficulties as well as immobility. The most common cause of food poisoning is salmonella. The symptoms of salmonella infection include crampy diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. Additionally, this condition may also lead to arthritis and headache. Another type of bacteria that can lead to food poisoning is campylobacter. Common symptoms include muscle aches, headache and watery diarrhea. Furthermore, this mild illness is always associated with fever.
Food Poisoning Caused by Viruses
Aside from bacteria, the presence of different types of viruses can also lead to food poisoning. Under this classification, one of the most common is hepatitis A. The symptoms for this one include tiredness, loss of appetite and fever. When left untreated, patients can suffer from jaundice, which is marked by the yellowing of the skin as well as the eyes. Rotavirus is another major problem, which is actually transmitted by means of fecal contamination. The symptoms are fever, watery diarrhea and vomiting. If the poisoning is caused by noroviruses, the usual signs are low-grade fever, headache and abdominal pain.
Food Poisoning Caused by Toxic Agents
Although considered as the least common amongst the many causes of food poisoning, the intake of toxic agents can cause significant amount of pain to many people. The presence of pesticides in food can lead to symptoms like cramps, headache and blurred vision. Furthermore, it is also associated with the shaking of the legs and arms, increased saliva production as well as diarrhea. Other toxic agents that can lead to poisoning are scombroid, ciguatera poisoning and mushroom toxins.
Food Poisoning Caused by Parasites
Two of the known parasites that can cause food poisoning are cryptosporidium and giardia. The primary symptom for the first one is watery diarrhea that can last from at least one to two weeks. On the other hand, the second one is associated with signs like mild illness as well as a week-long watery diarrhea.
More Points on the Symptoms of Food Poisoning
Knowing the various symptoms of food poisoning is very important, especially in determining the actual causes of the different problems. More importantly, these details can help identify the best treatments for each of these possible causes. The presence of parasites, toxic agents, viruses and bacteria in food are very bad for the health of humans. Be able to solve these problems right away by understanding the different signs and symptoms of food poisoning.
