Thursday, May 7, 2015
Food is Pain
We just finished reading the first part of Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential, in which one of the sections was entitled Food is Pain. This is extremely true if you get food poisoning. Check out the comments below for information on some different types of food poisoning and how to prevent them from happening to you.
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Legionella is a disease that can be found usually in water. You can get the disease by breathing in mist or vapor from a hot bath or a cooling tank. It feels like a regular fever but can lead to Pneumonia. People who are more likely to get Legionnaire's disease are people who are:
ReplyDeleteOver the age of 50
Current or former smokers
People who suffer from Chronic Lung Disease
& people with a weak immune system
Giardia lamblia is a microorganism found in water, soil, or on any surface or item contaminated with the feces of a person or animal who has Giardia. People ingest cysts of Giardia and then start to show symptoms in 1-3 weeks. Symptoms last 2-6 weeks and include intestinal issues (diarrhea, etc.) as well as upset stomach; you can become dehydrated due to symptoms as well. There are some drugs available to treat the infection. You can avoid Giardia by practicing good hygiene (wash your hands!) and avoiding potentially contaminated water or food (such as not drinking stream water when on a hike or swallowing lake water while swimming).
ReplyDeleteSource: cdc.gov
Listeria is a bacteria that is found in unpasteurized dairy products, raw or uncooked foods, hot dogs and milk. When listeria gets in your system, it takes around 7 to 10 days for you to feel the effects. Some symptoms are headaches, fevers, weakness, stiff neck, confusion, vomiting and diarrhea. To treat this illness one has to take antibiotics and see ones doctor to get other prescribed drugs. To avoid this, one has to
ReplyDeletewash ones hands, knives, countertops, and cutting boards. The meat has to be washed before cooking and also has to be heated to the correct temperature to kill the bacteria.
Source:http://www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/causes/bacteriaviruses/listeria/
DeleteCambylobacter is a common cause of diarrheal illness. According to the CDC, most people who become ill from the baceria get diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever within two or five days after exposure. There have been cases reported of the diarrhea having blood in it. It is also possible to have the organism in your system if you have no symptoms at all. The illness usually lasts around one week. According FoodNet about 14 cases are reported each year for every 100,000 people. There are no specific treatments to recover from the illness but it is recommended that the sick people drink a lot of fluids.
ReplyDeleteHaving E.coli is about as fun as eating glass. The most common source of E.coli is uncooked meat. Other sources are unpasteurized milk, feces, raw fruits and vegetables, and everyone's favorite snack raw cookie dough. It takes between 1 -10 days for symptoms to develop. Symptoms include severe diarrhea, abdominal pain,and vomiting. 5-10 days are needed to let the symptoms pass snd the best thing to do is to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and get plenty of rest. To prevent getting E.coli avoid eating high ridk foods, use a thermometer when cooking meats, and thoroughly wash your hands before cooking.
ReplyDeleteSource:http://www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/causes/bacteriaviruses/ecoli/
Shigella infection is an intestinal disease caused by a bacteria known as shigella. It gets its name from Kiyoshi Shiga who discovered it in 1897.
ReplyDeleteSigns and symptoms may include Diarrhea (often containing blood), Abdominal cramps, and 100°+ Fever.
Infection occurs when you swallow the shigella bacteria. This can happen when you:
Touch your mouth. Direct person-to-person contact is the most common way the disease is spread.
Eat contaminated food. Infected people who handle food can transmit the bacteria to people who eat the food.
The best way to avoid getting Shigella and many other infections is to wash your hands often with warm water and to be aware of your surroundings. Make sure you know where your food came from as well as who prepared it.
Salmonella was discovered 125 years ago by Dr. Salmon. Most people affected by this virus can recive extreme diarrhea and cramps 72 hours after the infection. This virus lasts between 4 - 7 days. It can even cause death in smaller children and the elderly. About 1.2 million cases are found in the U.S every year with about 450 deaths. The only lasting side effect is arthritis in joints which can last as long as a few months, to a few years. The only real way to prevent Salmonella is to thouroughly cook your food.
ReplyDeleteBotulism is a rare but paralytic. There are fewer than 20k cases a year in the United States. There are five main kinds of botulism. Foodborne, Wound, Infant, Adult Intestinal toxemia, and iatrogenic. The common symptoms of botulism are double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slured speech, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness. To get rid of botulism you can remove it from the wounds or doctors/physicians will have you throw up to try and remove the contaminated food. To prevent botulism you can watch what foods you eat or seek medical attention for infected wounds.
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