Food poisoning
Food poisoning is caused by consuming contaminated food or drink, is not usually serious and most people get better within a few days.
To avoid dehydration, it is important to have lots of fluids such as water or squash.
In most cases of food poisoning the food is contaminated by bacteria such as campylobacter, salmonella or E.coli or a virus such as the norovirus.
The symptoms of food poisoning usually begin within one to two days of eating contaminated food but they may begin at any point between a few hours and several weeks later.
As examples, food can become contaminated by:
- Not cooking food thoroughly, particularly meat
- Not storing chilled food correctly
- Keeping cooked food unrefrigerated for too long
- Being touched by someone with diarrhoea, vomiting or norovirus
- Being past the ‘use by’ date
- Cross-contamination, where harmful bacteria are spread between food, surfaces and equipment
Recognition
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pains
- Diarrhoea
- Fever
- Headache
Treatment
- Encourage the casualty to rest
- Offer them plenty of bland fluids to drink
- Try to establish the source of the poisoning in case medical assistance is required
- Call for an ambulance if their condition deteriorates