Symptoms of food poisoning that you should be aware of

How do you get food poisoning?

Food poisoning is a digestive system disorder. A person is susceptible to poisoning after consuming unsterile food or drinks; for example, food on the roadside whose location and method of processing is not guaranteed to be truly clean.

These foods can be contaminated by germs, whether it's bacteria, viruses, or parasites from the surrounding environment. One example is dirty water which is then used to wash food or cooking utensils.

You can also get poisoned if the food you eat is prepared and processed by the hands of people who carry the germs that cause it. For example, the person has finished defecating but doesn't wash his hands and continues cooking.

The types of food you eat can trigger poisoning if not processed properly.

Some dishes that are prone to causing poisoning include raw vegetable or fruit salads, raw (non-pasteurized) milk, raw meat, and other foods that are undercooked.

What are the symptoms of food poisoning?

After entering the body through the food and drinks you consume, germs will trigger an infection that causes the following symptoms.

1. Diarrhea

Diarrhea is one of the most common features of food poisoning. Diarrhea can appear several hours after eating contaminated food or within 1 - 2 days later.

Diarrhea that is a symptom of food poisoning is usually a soft, watery stool, which sometimes contains food waste; sometimes not or just loose stools.

This symptom appears as an effect of germs infecting the digestive system. The infection makes the intestines work harder, but doesn't properly absorb food and water efficiently. This then makes the intestines draw more body fluids.

The excess water will pool in the intestine, resulting in a soft or shapeless stool texture.

Diarrhea is basically the body's natural attempt to excrete bacteria or viruses that cause poisoning through feces.

2. Vomiting and nausea

Nausea and vomiting are also common symptoms of food poisoning. Just like diarrhea, nausea and vomiting are actually the body's natural reflexes to excrete disease-causing germs.

When germs are detected, the body sends a threat signal to an area of the brain known as the chemoreceptor trigger zone or CTZ. Later CTZ will determine whether the threat is really dangerous.

When this is the case, the CTZ also communicates with other areas of the body to produce reactions in the form of nausea, cold sweats, or an increase in heart rate.

In the midst of this response, the diaphragm, chest wall and abdominal muscles contract at the same time. These contractions put pressure on the stomach, forcing stomach contents up into your throat and out when you vomit.

3. Stomach cramps and cramps

Stomach that feels heartburn or pain, even cramps, often occurs after you eat something that contains germs. Heartburn and twisting sensations appear as the body's natural response to stimulating bowel movements.

When bacteria, viruses, or parasites invade your digestive system, your stomach will signal your brain to tell you something is wrong. In turn, the brain will order the intestinal muscles to spasm and relax repeatedly.

Well, this process is what makes your stomach feel heartburn or cramp. The contraction of the abdominal muscles aims to encourage feces containing germs to quickly leave the body through the anus.

Your stomach can feel sore and heartburn up to 1-3 times before you finally feel the urge to defecate.

4. Fever

Some people with food poisoning sometimes have a mild fever. Fever is basically the effect of inflammation in the body, which occurs when the immune system is active against infection.

On the other hand, fever can also be the body's way of raising its core temperature due to symptoms of food poisoning in the form of vomiting and diarrhea. Vomiting and diarrhea cause the body to lose a lot of fluids (dehydration).

If dehydration persists, loss of large amounts of body fluids can lower your core body temperature. If you don't have a fever, then a drastic drop in body temperature can actually cause you to experience hypothermia.

A high fever is generally a sign that you are experiencing severe dehydration due to food poisoning.

5. Dizziness

You can feel dizziness and headaches as symptoms of food poisoning in addition to severe vomiting or diarrhea. Usually dizziness occurs as a result of losing a lot of fluids due to diarrhea.

When you start to become dehydrated, blood volume will drop, so that blood pressure also drops and makes the supply of flow to the brain insufficient. This is why you will feel dizzy.

Meanwhile, headaches will generally appear if your fever is high. Complications of food poisoning in the form of dehydration are also generally prone to causing headaches.

6. Body limp

The process of infection in the body and all kinds of symptoms you feel during food poisoning can make the body weak.

This is probably caused by the body's electrolyte levels that have been drained away by liquid feces and vomiting fluids. In fact, electrolyte reserves are important in their function to help the body's muscles work so that they can function normally.

If your body lacks electrolyte levels, then chances are you can become weak and weak.

Symptoms of severe food poisoning leading to dehydration

Actually, food poisoning can heal in 1 - 3 days by itself. However, this only applies if you get proper food poisoning first aid.

If you experience symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting, the first step you should take is to drink more water or drink ORS.

You can buy a ready-to-brew ORS solution at a pharmacy without having to redeem a doctor's prescription. Fulfillment of fluids can also be helped by drinking broths that tend to be bland, such as clear vegetable broth.

You should be careful if food poisoning has caused one or more of the following signs.

Unable to hold back vomiting so fluid in the body always comes out.
Vomit or stool until it contains blood.
Diarrhea that is experienced with a duration of more than three days.
Severe pain or severe stomach cramps.
The body temperature has a high fever of 38 ° Celsius.
Excessive thirst, dry mouth.
Little or no urination.
Blurred vision, muscle weakness and tingling in the arms.

If not treated properly, food poisoning can lead to severe dehydration. Therefore, you must immediately go to the doctor so you can get the right medicine.