Food poisoning, Food poisoning treatment, signs of food poisoning » germs

Food Poisoning Germs: Bacteria – Vibrio Cholerae

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:23:28 +0000

Food Poisoning Bacterium: Vibrio Cholerae

Vibrio Cholerae: This bacterium is responsible for Asiatic or epidemic cholera. Though anybody may become the target of this bacterium, the people who have damaged or weak immunity, or the people suffering from malnutrition, or reduced gastric acidity are very much prone to this type of food poisoning sickness. This bacterium releases cholera toxin when it enters into small intestine. This toxin causes the cholera disease.

This bacterium thrives where there is a lack of proper sanitation system. Eventually, this will contaminate water supplies and hence, outbreak of this type of food poisoning sickness. Another cause for this food poisoning sickness is the consumption of shellfish which are caught from polluted coastal waters.

The common symptoms of this food poisoning sickness include watery diarrhea, nausea, dehydration, stomach pain, vomiting, and shock, that happens due to the severe fluid and electrolyte loss. The symptoms may show up in between 6 hours – 5 days. In severe condition, an affected individual will experience acute diarrhea and heavy loss of electrolytes. In this type of food poisoning case, that person will die if the proper treatment is not provided immediately.

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Food Poisoning Germs: Bacteria – Clostridium Botulinum

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:13:31 +0000

Food Poisoning Bacterium: Clostridium Botulinum

Clostridium Botulinum: This bacterium is an anaerobic, Gram-positive, spore-forming rod that releases a deadliest neurotoxin. There are seven types of this bacterium and four of them are capable of causing food poisoning. Though the occurrence rate of this food poisoning type is low, the death rate can be high if proper treatment is not given immediately. This bacterium is found everywhere like soil, water, air, animals etc.

This bacterium can be found in variety of foods which are less acidic. However, any food that supports the growth and toxin production of this bacterium causes the food poisoning sickness. Usually, this bacterium releases the toxin in many types of food like canned corn, mushrooms, beets, chicken, spinach, peppers, ham, lobster, asparagus, chicken livers and liver pate, green beans, sausage, ripe olives, smoked and salted fish, tuna fish, soups, stuffed eggplant, and luncheon meats.

Normally, the symptoms of this food poisoning type occur in between 18 – 36 hours after the consumption of the contaminated food. However, in some cases, they can occur in between 4 hours – 8 days. The symptoms of this food poisoning type at the beginning include weakness, dizziness and lethargy. Then the affected individual experiences blurred vision and difficulty in speaking as well as swallowing. That person may also experience stomach pain, constipation, fatigue of muscles, and difficulty in breathing. The treatment should be provided immediately when the food poisoning occurs caused by this bacterium.

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Food Poisoning Germs: Bacteria – Shigella

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:01:05 +0000

Food Poisoning Bacterium: Shigella

Shigella: This food poisoning sickness is also known as Traveler’s diarrhea. Shigella is a Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore forming rod-shaped bacterium. This food poisoning sickness mainly occurs in humans rather than animals. The water contaminated with human feces is the breeding ground for this bacterium. For infants, the elderly and the individuals having weak immune system or suffering from diseases like AIDS, this food poisoning sickness can be very deadly.

This bacterium can be found in varieties of salad like potato, chicken, tuna, macaroni, and shrimp, raw vegetables, milk and dairy products, and poultry products. The most common causes for this food poisoning type are the contaminated water with human feces and unhygienic conditions during food handling.

The common symptoms of this food poisoning type consist of vomiting, stools with blood or pus or both, stomach pain, tenesmus, fever and diarrhea. Usually the symptoms begin to show up in between 12 – 50 hours after the contaminated food consumed. An individual with severe Shigella illness will experience mucosal ulceration, rectal bleeding, and extreme dehydration. Hence, immediate medical treatment should be provided when this type of food poisoning occurs.

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Food Poisoning Germs: Bacteria – Bacillus Cereus

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:22:45 +0000

Food Poisoning Bacterium: Bacillus Cereus

Bacillus Cereus: These bacteria are gram-positives like Staphylococcus Aureus. Normally, they cause two types of food poisoning sickness. One is diarrheal type and other one is vomiting type. In some cases, food poisoning caused by these bacteria can lead to gangrene, lung swelling, septic meningitis, pyogenic infections and resulting into death.

The contaminated meat, dairy products, vegetables, and seafood can cause diarrheal type of food poisoning. On the other hand, rice products, potato, cheese products and pasta can cause vomiting type of food poisoning. The food items like sauces, puddings, soups, casseroles, pastries, and salads can also act as a platform for this Bacillus Cereus food poisoning.

An individual suffering from diarrheal type of food poisoning experiences the symptoms like watery diarrhea, stomach pain and nausea which last for 24 hours. Normally, the symptoms begin to show up in between 6 – 15 hours after the contaminated food eaten.

In case of vomiting type of food poisoning, an individual may experience nausea and vomiting which occur within 1 – 6 hours once the contaminated food is eaten. In some cases, that person may even experience stomach pain and diarrhea too. Normally, the symptoms do not last for more than 24 hours. Although in this food poisoning case, the treatment should be given immediately.

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Food Poisoning Germs: Bacteria – Staphylococcus Aureus

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:13:26 +0000

Food Poisoning Bacterium: Staphylococcus Aureus

Staphylococcus Aureus: This is a spherical bacterium which causes food poisoning appears in pairs, short chains, or bunched, grape-like clusters. They are gram positive. This bacterium is normally found in meat and its products, poultry products, salads like potato, egg, macaroni, chicken, and tuna. It is even found in bakery products like cream-filled pastries, cream pies, and chocolate eclairs, and milk and dairy products.

This bacterium is present in air, dust, sewage, water, milk, and food or on food equipment, environmental surfaces, humans, and animals. However, humans and animals are the main carriers of this bacterium. This bacterium can be found in nasal passages, throats, hair and skin of a healthy individual.

In most cases of food poisoning, this bacterium is not life threatening. However, for the elderly persons, infants, and the individuals who have weak immune systems this can be deadly. Normally, a victim of food poisoning shows the symptoms like vomiting, stomach pain, nausea and prostration. If that person is badly affected then he may experience headache, fluctuation in pulse rate and blood pressure, muscle pain.

In this food poisoning type, the severity and duration of the symptoms depend on an individual’s immune system, the amount of the toxins present in the contaminated food and the amount of contaminated food consumed. The recovery from this food poisoning illness may take 2 – 4 days depending on the severity of an individual case.