What are the Foodborne illnesses?
1. Foodborne Pathogens
Foodborne illnesses or food poisoning are diseases caused by bacteria or germs or viruses, Or fungus of various kinds, or Remnants of pesticides or toxic chemicals that contaminate food and caused disease. Thus, Food poisoning occurs by eating contaminated food.
2. Foodborne illnesses symptoms
Food poisoning symptoms begin immediately after a few hours to a few days after eating contaminated food. Typically that starts with nausea and vomiting and stomach pains or vomiting and diarrhea without fever, followed by other symptoms such as headache and fatigue, loss of consciousness, shortness of breath and dizziness, no appetite, and gastroenteritis. And Depending on the body's immunity and the type of toxin and its quantity in the food may appear, cold chills and sweating, foggy vision, malar rash, and often accompanied by an increase in temperature in 50% of patients. and coma in severe cases.
3. Types of foodborne illness
There are several foodborne illnesses transmitted through food, and their severity varies from one type to another. The most serious of these conditions may lead to long-term health syndromes or inevitable death.
We mention the most important foodborne illnesses according to the frequency of their occurrence and the seriousness of their health repercussions.
4. Bacterial
Campylobacteriosis
Campylobacteriosis is a bacterial infection caused by the Campylobacter bacterium. It causes diarrhea, cramps, abdominal pain, fever, and inflammatory, and sometimes can be bloody.
Infection occurs by ingestion of the bacteria via contaminated food, Like eating raw or undercooked poultry or eating something that touched it, including seafood, meat, drinking untreated water, or raw milk. And by contact with animals.
Clostridium perfringens
The bacteria Colostridium perfrigens causes intestinal illness.
Symptoms of Clostridium perfringens include diarrhea and stomach pain within 6 to 24 hours after eating contaminated food. The sickness generally starts abruptly and lasts less than 24 hours. Diarrhea can cause dehydration, so staying hydrated is essential. Typically, this illness does not produce fever or vomiting, and It is not contagious.
Often found in raw meat and poultry. It can reproduce very quickly in conditions with very little or no oxygen.
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli is a large and diverse group of bacteria. Most strains of E. coli are harmless. Some may cause diarrhea, while others cause pneumonia, respiratory diseases, urinary tract infections, and other illnesses.
‘‘Shiga toxin’’ Escherichia coli or (STEC). One of the most dangerous types of E, They often cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. It can potentially lead to renal failure. Most patients get better in less than a week, with some infections very mild, but others severe or even life-threatening.
Escherichia coli can infect any age group, from young children to the elderly, with severe disease. And even healthy people can get a severe illness.
Listeria
What is Listeria? Listeria bacteria may be present in untreated water or some animals. Eating food contaminated with this bacterium results in an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
Listeriosis is one of the most dangerous types of food poisoning, especially for pregnant women, newborns. And adults with weakened immune systems and may cause gastroenteritis in seriously harmed cases.
The symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes differ. However, symptoms involve headache, stiff neck, tiredness, disorientation, loss of balance, and convulsions are common symptoms, in addition to fever, and muscular pains.
Salmonella
Some raw food products from animal sources, such as eggs, meat, and unpasteurized milk, contain bacteria known as salmonella.
Salmonella causes fever and stomach pains, as well as diarrhea, and most people recover without therapy.
In the event that salmonella reaches the bloodstream, and then other areas of the body, this may lead to death without prompt treatment. and especially those with impaired immune systems.
5. Viral
Norovirus Gastroenteritis
Is a very contagious virus that can receive from an infectious individual to a healthy person, contaminated food, or untreated water. This viral infection can occasionally cause Post Infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a functional gastrointestinal disease.
Low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscular pains, and tiredness are characteristic norovirus symptoms. And it frequently causes nausea in toddlers, watery diarrhea in adults, and stomach cramps.