How to treat and treat food poisoning

Food poisoning is a digestive disorder which cases are quite common in Indonesia and can be experienced by anyone. The most common cause is consuming unsterile food or drinks that have been contaminated with germs, such as bacteria Salmonella , norovirus, or parasite Giardia. Then, how to deal with food poisoning at home? When to see a doctor to treat food poisoning?

How to treat food poisoning at home

Symptoms of mild to moderate food poisoning can usually be resolved at home. The main goal of home remedies is to prevent the body from progressing to a stage of severe dehydration.

Here are some ways to treat food poisoning at home:

1. Drink lots of water

Food poisoning causes you to experience diarrhea and vomiting, which can cause the body to lose a lot of fluids. This is what makes you dehydrated.

So, drinking more water is the main way to deal with food poisoning at home. Apart from drinking mineral water, you can also increase body fluids by sucking on ice cubes made at home with boiled water, or sipping warm broth.

Another way is to drink ORS. ORS is a solution containing electrolyte minerals such as sodium and potassium. The combination of the two can maintain normal body functions and keep the heart beating normally.

ORS is available over the counter at drugstores or pharmacies. You can also make ORS at home by mixing 6 teaspoons of sugar and ½ teaspoons of salt in 1 liter of boiled drinking water. Spend the ORS ration as a distraction from the water sources above for the day.

2. Eat foods that are easy to digest

An infected gastrointestinal tract should not be put into the hard work for a while. So, don't eat anything "heavy" while treating this digestive problem.

Try eating foods that are easier to digest, such as bananas, toast (without any jam toppings), white rice, and clear spinach. These foods are classified as low in fiber so they are easily digested by the intestines, but they are also high in calories that the body can use as energy.

Eat these small meals every few hours to prevent nutritional deficiencies.

3. Get plenty of sleep

The various symptoms you experience during food poisoning can leave the body feeling weak and limp. So, the best way to deal with this problem while still food poisoning is to get plenty of rest.

Sleep and rest are the best ways for the body to recharge its energy. Rest is also a way for the body to fight infection and repair damaged body tissues and cells, thus making you recover quickly from illness.

4. Stay away from things that can worsen symptoms

Food poisoning can get worse if you eat the following:

Drink alcohol
Drink caffeinated drinks (soda, energy drinks, or coffee)
Eat spicy food
Eat foods high in fiber
Consuming dairy products, especially those that are not pasteurized
Fatty foods such as fried foods
Smoking any kind of cigarette
Also avoid taking diarrhea medications. Diarrhea is the body's way of treating food poisoning infections naturally.

When to see a doctor

Food poisoning generally clears up on its own in 1 to 3 days.

While doing the various home remedies above, keep an eye out for signs of severe food poisoning.

Generally, food poisoning only causes symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. However, these symptoms can progress to severe dehydration. The following are symptoms of food poisoning that have been accompanied by severe dehydration, and must be taken to a doctor immediately:

Dry mouth or extreme thirst
Pee little or no pee at all
The urine that comes out is dark
Fast heart rate and low blood pressure
Body limp and lethargic
Headache or dizziness
Dazed
There is blood in the stool or in the vomit
Fever more than 38 degrees Celsius

Immediately to the doctor also when you do not or have not experienced signs of severe dehydration, but the symptoms of food poisoning (especially diarrhea) have lasted for more than 3 days.

How to treat food poisoning at the doctor

According to the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia number 5 of 2014, medical treatment of food poisoning from a doctor will be carried out when the patient's condition has shown several complications.

Here's how to treat food poisoning that doctors will do:

1. Rehydration

Elderly people and children who experience food poisoning for more than three days are at greatest risk of severe dehydration.

So, the doctor's way of dealing with this problem due to food poisoning is to put in an IV filled with electrolytes. The intravenous fluid usually contains an isotonic sodium chloride solution, and a Ringer's Lactate solution that is administered intravenously to replenish lost body fluids.

In addition to infusions, general doctors will also give ORS containing sodium and glucose. ORS of this type is useful for locking body fluids that are still in the body so that they do not easily pass through feces or vomit.

2. Absorbent drugs

Absorbent drugs containing kaopectate and aluminum hydroxide can be given as a way to treat diarrhea due to food poisoning. Absorbent drugs will be given if the diarrhea does not stop.

3. Antibiotics

Still according to guidelines from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, about 10 percent of food poisoning cases will be treated with antibiotics.

Antibiotics are only intended for cases of severe food poisoning caused by certain bacterial infections, such as Listeria . However, severe cases of poisoning are also usually only experienced by people whose immune systems are weak or who are pregnant.

Doctors also generally give antibiotics if the poisoning you are experiencing is caused by a parasitic infection. Meanwhile, how to treat food poisoning caused by viruses must use other drugs.

4. Fever-lowering drugs

The drug paracetamol is usually given by doctors to children and adults as a way to deal with fever symptoms due to food poisoning. Apart from being taken by mouth, sometimes fever medicine can also be given intravenously for babies and children.