Food Poisoning and Blood

Source : Amarand Agasi

Are you or do you know someone who has suffered food poisoning with bloody diarrhoea? This can be a startling occurrence for someone suffering from food poisoning, but is it as dangerous as it seems?

Most cases of food poisoning begin in the gastrointestinal tract and cause symptoms similar to that of gastritis. The poisons from the food which have been digested are absorbed by the blood and begin to cause other symptoms. Bloody diarrhoea is a common symptom of Salmonella, Shigella and Campylobacter bacteria poisoning. The release of toxins into the bloodstream causes blood to be present in the diarrhoea. An E.coli infection is associated with bloody stool called haemorrhagic colitis. The occurrence of blood in the stools should go away with the bacteria but if the illness persists medical attention should be sought.

The best defence for food poisoning is to stay hydrated. By replacing the water and electrolytes lost during the diarrhoea and vomiting you are helping your body rid itself of the bacteria.

The old saying, “Prevention is better than cure” is especially true when it comes to food poisoning. Most often careless handling of food results in food poisoning so by being more hygienic and paying better attention to cleanliness in the kitchen, you can avoid food poisoning. Wash your hands and utensils when preparing food. Keep meat, poultry and seafood away from ready-to-eat foods. Cook all food to proper temperatures, and refrigerate food that will not be eaten right away.