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Food poisoning. Food poisoning - what to do at home

Treatment of poisoning depends on the type of intoxication. There are 2 categories of disease - toxic infection and non-infectious. Infection occurs when consuming products with pathogenic bacteria. Violation of the thermal processing of food and failure to comply with personal hygiene rules contribute to the proliferation of microbes in the gastrointestinal tract with subsequent symptoms of intestinal disorder.

Non-infectious poisoning develops from the consumption of inedible mushrooms, chemicals, and poisons. Laboratory tests do not identify pathogenic flora in the intestines, but symptoms may be acute. Majority toxic syndromes for infections and non-infectious intoxications, they are cured at home, only severe ones require inpatient care. It is difficult to assess the severity of the pathology on your own, so it is recommended that if intestinal disorders appear after consuming alcohol quality products seek help from a doctor.

Symptoms of food poisoning

Before talking about therapy, you need to know the first signs of pathology:

  • obsessive nausea and repeated vomiting;
  • change in complexion;
  • malaise, weakness, chills;
  • diarrhea;
  • temperature rise.

Food poisoning is characterized by a short latent period. The first symptoms appear 2-3 hours after intoxication and progress quickly.

Treatment procedures for toxic infections

Effective methods have been developed for therapy:

  • To remove toxins from the stomach - lavage. The essence of the manipulation is the administration of liquids followed by vomiting to dissolve and get rid of toxic compounds. Popular recipes for washing at home are soda, potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate). To prepare the drug, add a spoonful of calcium bicarbonate to 1-1.5 liters of water. Induce a gag reflex by pressing your fingers on the root of the tongue after drinking a small amount of liquid. The procedure is repeated until the vomit is cleared.
  • To remove sorbents they are used medicines , helping to remove toxic compounds from the body. Activated carbon is a popular and affordable drug for treatment food poisoning. Dose per 10 kg of weight – 1 tablet. On average, 7-8 tablets are crushed into powder for an adult and given to drink a small amount water. In case of severe intoxication syndrome, the dose is increased.

If selective sorbents are needed, white coal can be used. The product acts in a targeted manner: it binds poisons, but does not remove vitamins from the intestines. Dosage white coal– 3-4 tablets at a time. More expensive sorbents are “Enterosgel”, “Lactofiltrum”, “Smecta”. Their use does not require pre-grinding. The drug is supplied ready-to-use.

If some time after eating they appear discomfort in the stomach or mild nausea is noted, then know that the most common reason such signs are household food poisoning. It develops after food contaminated with food enters the stomach. harmful bacteria or their toxins, or contaminated with impurities of any chemicals.

This pathology develops very quickly, and in some cases, delay in treatment can be fraught with serious complications. Let's consider what other signs of food poisoning in humans are and what needs to be done to help the patient.

Food poisoning or food intoxication is a condition that represents acute disorder in the functioning of the digestive system as a result of eating food contaminated with pathogenic microbes or their toxins, and sometimes with other toxic substances of a non-microbial nature.

It is important to know what food can cause poisoning. In this regard, there is a rating of products that most often cause pathology:

  1. Mushrooms (see).
  2. Canned food.
  3. Dried and smoked fish.
  4. Semi-finished meat products.
  5. Salad Olivier.
  6. Eggs.
  7. Pastries and cream pies.
  8. Green.

Before consuming products from these categories, you need to be more careful in their selection and processing.

Important: Even if a product appears normal in appearance and taste, it can still cause poisoning, since sometimes contamination with dangerous microbes occurs during the process of preparing food from a sick person.

How many hours does it take for food poisoning to appear?

The first signs of intoxication can become apparent within half an hour after ingesting the “dubious” product. The short incubation period, i.e. the time from the entry of the toxic agent into the body until the first symptoms of the disease appear, is precisely the main distinctive characteristic food toxic infections.

They develop quite rapidly and usually reach their peak after 2-6 hours. Therefore, first aid for food poisoning should be provided correctly and without delay.

Important: If you manage to identify the dish that caused the gastrointestinal tract disorder, you need to save part of this product for medical research. This will help to quickly identify the pathogen and prescribe the correct treatment.

Main clinical signs

Symptoms of food poisoning depend on a number of conditions: the type of microorganism and toxin, the amount of poison ingested, general condition body health, etc.

But at the same time, a number of standard signs of poisoning can be identified, which are observed in 95% of cases:

  • nausea is usually the body’s first signal that a toxin has entered it;
  • vomiting – follows nausea, aimed at elimination toxic substance through the mouth to prevent its absorption into the blood and further spread throughout the body;
  • painful abdominal cramps - localized in the stomach area, below the navel or in the upper abdomen;
  • diarrhea - appears due to irritation of the gastrointestinal mucosa under the influence of toxins;
  • low-grade body temperature – inhibits the activity and reproduction of bacteria and viruses, triggers immune defense mechanisms;
  • general weakness;
  • lack of appetite.

All these processes have a cleansing function and are aimed at quick release body from ingested toxins and poisons. There is no need to hinder them, but you also cannot do nothing. Therefore, everyone should know what to do when food poisoning occurs. This is discussed in more detail in the video in this article.

Rare symptoms

But the clinical picture of food poisoning does not always fit into the framework of the listed signs; in some cases, for example, when confronted with neurotoxic poisons, other symptoms appear:

  • visual impairment;
  • diplopia (split objects);
  • violation of muscle tone;
  • fainting;
  • increased salivation (hypersalivation);
  • neurological disorders (hallucinations, delirium, coma, etc.);
  • paresis or paralysis.

Important: These diseases often cause death, so treatment for food poisoning in this case should be started as early as possible.

Signs of salmonellosis

Salmonellosis is an acute intestinal food infection, which is caused by microbes of the genus Salmonella. Its symptoms usually begin within a few hours after ingestion of contaminated food, but in in some cases the disease can begin only after 1-2 days.

Poisoning develops quickly and can manifest itself in different ways, depending on the form of intoxication:

  1. Gastrointestinal - the most common, characterized by standard signs of food poisoning (nausea, vomiting, pain and bloating in the abdomen), and is also accompanied by hyperthermia and the presence of blood or mucus in the stool. In some cases, severe headaches, delirium, seizures and loss of consciousness may occur.
  2. Typhoid - rare, first appears as usual eating disorder with elevated temperature, after which hepatomegaly (enlarged liver) and splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) develop, cough and sore throat, sometimes mild pink rash over the body.
  3. Septic – the rarest and dangerous option, is characterized by prolonged fever, which is complicated by the development of purulent foci in various organs and tissues.

With timely diagnosis, salmonellosis can be treated quite quickly. The difficulty is that this toxic infection is often mistaken for a mild eating disorder and medical help is sought when the disease has already reached its peak and becomes dangerous.

Signs of listeriosis

Listeria food poisoning differs from all others in that these microbes can infect lymphoid tissue and the nervous system. This effect gradually disrupts the functioning of many organs, and, if left untreated, can lead to disability or even death.

Listeriosis is characterized by a long incubation period; from the moment the pathogen enters the body until the first signs of the disease appear, it can take from several days to 1.5 months.

Symptoms of listeria poisoning depend on the form of the infection:

  • anginal-septic

    – when the tonsils are primarily affected, which is accompanied by their enlargement, redness, general hyperthermia, pain when swallowing and enlargement lymph nodes. If left untreated, sepsis may develop;

    • - manifests itself in neurological symptoms: headaches, delirium, confusion, vomiting, hallucinations, convulsions and seizures. in the form of meningitis, meningoencephalitis or brain abscess. Provokes the development of brain abscess, meningoencephalitis and meningitis;

  • septic-granulomatous

    – occurs mainly in children, first manifests itself in damage to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. It develops rapidly and ultimately invades the central nervous system.

Listeriosis can only be treated with antibiotic therapy. The specific drug and its dosage are prescribed by the doctor. Therefore, at the first symptoms of such poisoning, you should immediately seek medical help, because the mortality rate from listeriosis is quite high and amounts to 30% of cases.

Signs of botulism

Botulism is deadly dangerous poisoning, which is characterized by rapid defeat nervous system botulinum toxin. This is one of the most dangerous natural poisons; it is synthesized by bacteria of the genus Clostridium botulinum. The first symptoms of botulism begin to appear within a few hours after the toxin enters the body, but sometimes the incubation period reaches 10 days.

Symptoms appear in this order:

  • visual impairment: double vision, loss of clarity;
  • muscle weakness;
  • decreased reflexes;
  • breathing problems;
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • stool disorder;
  • neurological disorders: dizziness, insomnia, headache.

The final symptoms boil down to the development of paralysis, which affects the muscle layers internal organs and often leads to death.

Treatment

The effectiveness of treatment for any ailment largely depends on how quickly first aid was provided to the victim. Therefore, let’s get acquainted with the basic recommendations on what to do if you are poisoned by food.

Gastric lavage

If less than half an hour has passed since the ingestion of the poisoned product, then treatment should begin with gastric lavage. In this way, it will be possible to remove toxins that have entered inside, and they will not have time to be absorbed into the blood.

After this procedure, attacks of vomiting usually stop, so it makes sense to take medications.

Taking enterosorbents

The main treatment for food poisoning at home is the use of enterosorbents. Such drugs are usually completely harmless, they do not require a doctor’s prescription, and most of them can be used even in children from the first month of life.

Important: Before taking any drug yourself, be sure to read the list of contraindications, which always contains instructions for use.

Currently, there are a lot of sorbent drugs, but their main effect boils down to one thing: these drugs sorb toxic substances on their surface and remove them from the body.

Rehydration

The next stage in the treatment of poisoning is the restoration of water electrolyte balance. Vomiting and diarrhea contribute to the development of dehydration, so fluid restoration is vital.

But what should you drink if you have food poisoning?

The best way to restore fluid is to take special rehydration medications. These medications help quickly and effectively replenish not only the loss of water, but also electrolytes. Their price is low, so it is better to take care of their availability in your home medicine cabinet in advance.

Restoration of microflora

Another important component of the treatment of food poisoning is taking medications to restore the microflora, since any eating disorder contributes to the development of dysbiosis. Disruption of microflora always causes discomfort and delays recovery. And special preparations, prebiotics and probiotics can speed up this process. They have a natural composition and most of them are used even in children from birth.

Typically, the groups of drugs listed above are sufficient to treat most food intoxications. In combination with them it is prescribed special diet in case of food poisoning, which allows you to recover much faster and return to full life. The following table shows photos of the most popular drugs from each category.

Therapeutic group Trade names
Enterosorbents

Rehydrants

Probiotics

Prebiotics

You should always have at least one drug from each group of medications listed in your home medicine cabinet. This will allow you not to waste time and provide assistance to a poisoning victim much faster.

Food poisoning in children

Since the young body is still developing, and all its organs and systems have not reached maturity, almost any infection in a baby is much more severe than in an adult. That is why any food poisoning in a child requires mandatory medical supervision.

Important: Treat poisoning yourself in children under one year of age, even if minor violations health conditions is strictly unacceptable.

What are the signs of food intoxication in a child? It manifests itself primarily as symptoms of irritation of the gastric and intestinal mucosa.

This is accompanied by discomfort in the abdominal area, weakness and lethargy, drowsiness and nausea are noted. The temperature almost always rises, sometimes up to 39.5˚ C. After which vomiting and diarrhea begin.

The most dangerous thing in case of poisoning in children is the development of dehydration. Its symptoms are:

  • pallor;
  • dry skin and mucous membranes;
  • convulsions;
  • anuria (lack of urine);
  • hypotension (low blood pressure).

Dehydration gradually leads to disruption of all systems and organs, so this condition requires immediate medical intervention.

Signs of food poisoning usually appear immediately; they increase rapidly, with a rapid deterioration in the victim’s condition. Therefore, you should always remember what to do when signs of intoxication appear and what to take to alleviate the condition.

Every person has experienced food poisoning at least once in their life. Doctors distinguish between two types of poisoning. The first type is the consumption of poisonous mushrooms, plants, and berries that are not suitable for ingestion. The second group is the ingestion of spoiled, contaminated or dirty products, which lead to intoxication of the body. This is the type of poisoning we encounter most often. Food poisoning often awaits us if we dine at questionable catering establishments. Poisoning often occurs when hygiene rules are not followed - unwashed fruits and vegetables can be dangerous. The risk of developing food poisoning also depends on the condition digestive tract. If the intestines are weak, they react to the slightest changes in diet. In addition, the type of infection is distinguished - poisoning with simple bacteria goes away in a few days, but, for example, salmonellosis is much more difficult to treat. In this article, we will try to understand food poisoning - consider its symptoms, learn how to act in case of poisoning and how to treat it at home.

Symptoms of food poisoning

Symptoms of food intoxication may not always be characteristic; sometimes the absence of vomiting and diarrhea leads a person to other diagnoses; the patient may associate weakness and poor health with a cold and other pathologies. Let's try to figure out how poisoning can manifest itself.

Most often, poisoning is accompanied by pain in the gastrointestinal tract of various localizations - in the stomach or intestines, it can even stab the side.

A feeling of nausea appears, and in some cases vomiting occurs.

In most cases, a person develops diarrhea, but this does not always happen. By the way, the absence of vomiting and diarrhea is much more dangerous, because toxins do not leave the body, their concentration increases more and more.

Often the patient’s abdomen becomes bloated, severe gas formation and flatulence develop.

Intoxication makes itself felt - weakness, poor health, and dizziness appear. In children this manifests itself especially clearly - the baby constantly lies down, even if by nature he is very active and mobile.

In case of severe poisoning, the temperature may rise, fever, chills, aching joints may occur, and fog may appear before the eyes.

With obvious dehydration, when a person suffers from diarrhea and vomiting, the smell of acetone appears from the mouth. In such a situation, you need to urgently consult a doctor.

Poisoning can occur within an hour after consuming a spoiled product. Maximum time It takes 24 hours for signs of food poisoning to appear.

First aid for food poisoning

If you are poisoned by low-quality, dirty or spoiled products, it is very important to act wisely in the first hours. As soon as you suspect you are poisoned, analyze what you ate lately. If you are not sure about the freshness or sterility of the prepared dishes, it is better to do a gastric lavage. This will help cleanse the body of the remnants of spoiled food that has not yet been absorbed into the walls. Remember, the fewer toxins in the body, the faster you will recover. The remnants of these toxins can be removed using a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Make pale pink water, drink at least two glasses of the solution, after which the body itself will experience the urge to vomit. Once you have emptied your stomach, you need to drink and vomit again. This should be done until food stops coming out of the stomach and the water remains clean. If there is no urge to vomit, drink more water and press your fingers on the root of the tongue - the contents of the stomach will come out very quickly.

In difficult cases, in a hospital setting, not only the stomach, but also the intestines are washed. To do this, they do a cleansing enema to rid the intestinal walls of toxins that have penetrated beyond the stomach. After washing the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to take sorbents. The simplest option is activated carbon, which should be taken in a dosage of one tablet per 10 kg of weight. That is, if your weight is 60 kg, you need to drink at least 6 tablets of coal at a time. Instead of this sorbent, you can drink what you have on hand - Filtrum, Polysorb, Enterosgel, Smecta, etc. If vomiting occurs after taking the sorbent, repeat the procedure after half an hour, do not be afraid of an overdose. Try to hold back vomiting at least a little, after a few minutes the sorbent will begin to act and the nausea will pass.

The best cure for food poisoning is fasting. Under no circumstances should you eat in the first hours after intoxication, even if you want to. Doctors say that fasting is much more beneficial, even than dieting, although not everyone can handle it. If you don’t eat anything for 24 hours, the body will be able to cope with the poisoning faster, and there will be no trace of the disease left. But eating is an additional burden. Compassionate mothers who are trying to feed their baby during the period of poisoning should know about this, with the words “He will not have the strength to fight the disease.”

You can’t eat, but you can and even need to drink. Excessive vomiting and diarrhea lead to dehydration, which is very dangerous, especially for young children. The fact is that a baby can have physiological stool 10-12 times a day, this is normal. In such a situation, the mother does not immediately notice that the baby has diarrhea. Mucus or blood in stool unusual color bowel movements should alert the mother. Dehydration is very dangerous condition, in a child it can occur in an unrealistically short time. Therefore, you need to solder the baby. In order not to induce vomiting, it is necessary to give the baby a teaspoon of water every 5 minutes; large portions of liquid will cause the baby to vomit. Helps a lot during poisoning breast-feeding- This natural protection from dehydration. However, do not allow prolonged latching - a large portion of milk can lead to the baby vomiting again. It is better to put the baby to the breast more often, but not for long.

You can restore the water-salt balance in adults and children using a special solution called Regidron. If you don’t have it on hand, you can prepare the composition yourself - add half a teaspoon of salt per liter of water and the same amount baking soda. Drink as often as possible - liquid flushes out the remaining toxins from the body. After all the above measures, you can lie down to rest, because the patient feels weakened.

As noted, best diet- this is fasting. However, not many people can stand it daily fasting, especially if your health has already returned to normal. But this does not mean that you need to again eat questionable foods, fatty dishes and stale fruits. In the first days after poisoning, only lean and light meals are allowed. This includes steamed chicken and rabbit meat, simple cereals, crackers, dried bread, bananas, baked apples, biscuits. Rice has a very good effect - it perfectly strengthens and relieves diarrhea. Oatmeal is recommended for stomach pain - it gently envelops its walls, relieves spasms, this light food which will not cause discomfort. It’s very good to drink jelly, tea, herbal infusions. Light vegetarian dishes are acceptable, without a lot of salt and spices. You should exclude baked goods, heavy meat, fatty, smoked, spicy and fried foods from your diet.

After acute period the disease has passed, some patients note that their stool has still not recovered. This occurs against the background of a violation normal microflora intestines. To correct the situation, you should take a course of probiotics - Linex, Hilak Forte, Acipol, etc. You can improve your gut health by drinking fermented milk products with live bacteria.

Folk remedies in the fight against poisoning

In the collection of recipes home medicine There are a lot of recommendations that will help get rid of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Cinnamon. Cinnamon powder perfectly absorbs everything unnecessary; it is an excellent natural sorbent. Pour boiling water over a teaspoon of spice, let it brew and cool, drink in small sips throughout the day.

  1. Ginger. This excellent remedy in the fight against nausea. Grate the root and add it to the teapot along with the tea leaves. But remember, nausea can only be suppressed if the stomach is completely cleansed.
  2. Althea. The root of this plant perfectly removes toxins and stops diarrhea. Pour a tablespoon of crushed root into a glass of boiling water, let it brew and drink 50 ml three times a day.
  3. Dill. You need to prepare a decoction from dill seeds - this is an excellent remedy in the fight against flatulence, bloating and increased gas formation.
  4. Rose hip. Rose hip decoction contains a lot of acids and vitamin C, which is so necessary for poisoning and dehydration. You should drink the decoction in small portions half an hour before meals.

Recipes home treatment They perfectly restore the body after poisoning, but you should not always rely only on yourself. Some categories of patients should never stay at home if poisoned - only stay in a hospital under the supervision of doctors. Such patients include children under three years of age, pregnant women, and the elderly. If poisoning does not go away, and the symptoms only get worse, you should definitely consult a doctor at any age. You should also consult a general practitioner or infectious disease specialist if you have a high fever during poisoning, a rash on the skin, blood in your stool, vomiting that doesn’t stop, or the patient loses consciousness. If you ingest poisonous mushrooms or plants, you should immediately call an ambulance.

How to protect yourself from poisoning

We all know that we need to wash our hands after using the toilet and before eating anything. But, unfortunately, this rule is not always followed, especially if we are talking about children. Here are some more tips to help you protect yourself from poisoning.

You need to eat only in trusted places. Questionable food service outlets, where the seller takes money with one hand and holds a hamburger bun with the other, can be dangerous.

You need to wash your hands before and after preparing food, especially if you handled raw meat or poultry.

Every 2-3 days, check the refrigerator, do not allow food to stagnate. Do not use products with expired suitability. If you notice that a product is about to expire, cook something from it for dinner. For example, sausage can be added to pizza, a cupcake can be baked from sour kefir, etc.

Do not leave food open on the table - cockroaches and flies can crawl on it, after which you eat contaminated food.

Keep a separate cutting board in the household for raw meat, fish and birds.

Fry meat, fish and eggs thoroughly.

Carefully inspect the cans for integrity. Any product, even good timing It should be thrown away if it has an unpleasant, sour or unusual odor.

After opening condensed milk or other canned food, you need to transfer the contents into glass or porcelain containers; food in a metal container oxidizes when exposed to air.

Do not leave cooked soups on the stove overnight; be sure to put all prepared food in the refrigerator. If you didn’t eat the soup right away, but left it for tomorrow, when you eat again, try to warm it up thoroughly, i.e. boil.

And, of course, buy only fresh and high-quality products, use filtered or boiled water for drinking and cooking.

We can say that food poisoning is a minor disorder that passes quickly, the body recovers in a few days. But sometimes food poisoning can be hiding something more serious, such as salmonellosis or botulism. Therefore, if you cannot cope with poisoning on your own, do not experiment, go to the hospital as soon as possible. After all, any disease can be treated more successfully if you seek help in time!

Video: what to do if a child has food poisoning

In case of intoxication, it is important to begin taking measures aimed at eliminating it as early as possible. harmful substances from the body, so the question of what drugs can be taken in case of poisoning at home is very relevant.

Why you can get food poisoning

Food intoxication is generally understood as a dysfunction of organs and systems caused by the ingestion of toxins or poisons. By severity There are three types of poisoning: severe, moderate severity and lung.

The most common pathogens include:

  • Clostridium perfringens, enters the body as a result of poor-quality processing of meat, poultry, and fish;
  • Stophylococcus aureus actively reproduces at room temperature. The most likely habitats are salads, fermented milk products, cakes, pates, sauces;
  • Bacillus cereus, all perishable products that have not been stored at temperatures up to 6 ° C are susceptible.

Particularly dangerous natural and chemical toxins that can cause food poisoning at home are found in poisonous mushrooms and berries, low-quality, expired food products. Poisoning can also be caused by carelessly washed fruits and vegetables that have previously been treated with pesticides used to fertilize plants. Alcohol and surrogates can also be included in this category. Yes, there are known cases deaths from methyl alcohol poisoning. Food chemical intoxication occurs when vinegar enters the stomach.

Symptoms of food poisoning:

  1. Bacterial: vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and colic, diarrhea.
  2. Viral: fever, chills, trembling, stomach pain, vomiting, fever.
  3. Chemical: increased sweating, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, pain in the eye area.
  4. Botulism: the central nervous system is affected, vomiting, dry mouth, and weakness appear.

If you suspect food poisoning, you should immediately consult a doctor, especially if it concerns children. However, the opportunity to receive medical care is not always available.

At acute pathology must be accepted emergency measures, including gastric lavage, taking sorbent drugs and restoring water-salt balance. Organizing proper dietary nutrition is of great importance. Final stage treatment – restorative procedures, including taking multivitamin complexes. As a rule, recovery occurs within 3-5 days.

Clinical picture of food poisoning

The first symptoms of the disease appear during the first 2-6 hours after eating contaminated or low-quality food. At severe poisoning food clinical signs may develop in the first hours.

Please note that in the case of botulism, the first signs of the disease may develop within 1-2 days.

In case of food poisoning, the following symptoms develop:

  • nausea followed by vomiting. Vomit may consist of food debris, bile, gastric juice. Vomiting brings temporary relief, but then nausea returns;
  • abdominal pain can be localized in the stomach or be like intestinal colic;
  • an increase in body temperature is possible with intestinal infection or with the development of inflammatory complications such as gastritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis. With salmonellosis it can rise to 39.5 degrees;
  • diarrhea develops in the first hours of the disease. With salmonellosis, the stool is foamy and greenish, and with dysentery, the stool is watery and streaked with blood. Diarrhea may be accompanied by abdominal cramps. profuse diarrhea leads to a rapid increase in dehydration;
  • flatulence and increased discharge of gases are accompanied by pain in the intestinal area;
  • general weakness and dizziness accompany intoxication syndrome. The patient becomes lethargic and drowsy;
  • tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), hypotension (decreased blood pressure) – signs toxic influence on the body food and fluid loss. In case of poisoning with certain types of mushrooms, an increase in blood pressure. With severe dehydration, the pulse becomes weak and arrhythmic;
  • breathing problems develop when the body is intoxicated. The person breathes quickly, shallowly, complains of shortness of breath;
  • cramps throughout the body, similar to epileptic seizure, are characteristic of damage to the nervous system by toxins. This is possible due to intoxication with mushrooms, fish, alcohol;
  • disturbance of consciousness, deep coma– signs serious condition sick. They develop when acute poisoning, infectious-toxic shock.

Please note that in small children the condition worsens faster than in adults. It is very difficult for their body to cope with toxins and loss of fluid and electrolytes.

Why is food poisoning dangerous?

Many people are accustomed to considering food poisoning as a non-dangerous and trivial condition for which there is no need to seek medical help. Indeed, mild poisoning in most cases does not pose a danger to human life, But only a doctor, after examining the patient, can specifically assess the severity of the disease and the patient's condition.

The following are conditions that often develop against the background of severe food poisoning:

  • Infectious-toxic shock is a condition caused by severe intoxication and excessive loss of fluid. Shock is accompanied by disruption cardiovascular system, breathing, brain and kidneys.
  • Acute gastritis develops with severe stomach poisoning by toxins. The mucous membrane of this organ becomes inflamed. The patient's temperature rises and his condition worsens.
  • Acute pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The patient feels unbearable girdle pain in the abdomen, he experiences uncontrollable vomiting, the level of glucose in the blood may decrease and bruises may appear on the skin near the navel. The temperature rises above 38 degrees. This condition requires urgent surgical intervention.
  • Acute renal dysfunction is accompanied by a decrease in the amount of urine, swelling, and lower back pain.
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding is a complication of food poisoning that often occurs in patients chronic gastritis And peptic ulcer. Black vomiting and stool develop, severe weakness, pale skin, tachycardia.

Cleansing the body

These procedures are necessary, and it is with them that treatment for food poisoning should begin. The purpose of the manipulation is to help the stomach get rid of food debris that has caused intoxication and harmful toxins.

Even if poisoning is accompanied severe vomiting, this is not enough to completely cleanse the body. She'll have to be called naturally using a special solution.

Washing should take place in the following order:

  1. Prepare a solution of potassium permanganate (the water should be pale pink). In the absence of potassium permanganate, you can use regular baking soda (1 tablespoon per 2 liters boiled water room temperature).
  2. Drink 300-400 ml of solution.
  3. Induce vomiting artificially by pressing your fingers on the root of the tongue.
  4. Repeat the procedure several more times. The number of doses of the solution drunk at one time should be at least 500 ml.

During the first vomiting, the bulk of the food will be released, but gastric lavage can be stopped only when the liquid ejected from the stomach becomes absolutely clean and transparent.

The absence of the urge to vomit means that the product that caused the poisoning has moved from the stomach to the intestines. In this case, the washing procedure is no longer effective and pointless.

Diarrhea, like vomiting, is nothing more than defensive reaction body to toxins entering the gastrointestinal tract intestinal tract. Some patients make a common mistake - they try to stop this phenomenon with the help of medications, for example, Imodium and its analogues. It should be understood that diarrhea is the fastest and most effective way get rid of harmful substances. Retention of feces will lead to the fact that the processes of absorption of toxic poisons and their decay will continue, therefore, the patient’s condition will worsen. The question of taking antidiarrheal medications can only be decided by the attending physician.

If the patient does not have diarrhea, it must be induced with laxatives or an enema. But it is better not to use folk remedies that can provoke diarrhea, so as not to aggravate the course of the disease.

Reception of sorbents

The next step in the treatment of food poisoning is the introduction of sorbent drugs into the body. The action of these products is aimed at absorbing harmful elements., contained in the stomach, and their rapid elimination.

The most common sorbent used for intoxication is activated carbon. This medicine in the form of standard black tablets can be found in any home medicine cabinet and is an excellent remedy for poisoning. Coal should be used at the rate of one tablet per 10 kilograms of weight. The medicine can be taken in two ways: chewed and washed down with plenty of liquid or diluted in boiled water.

In case of poisoning, you can also take white activated carbon, available in tablets or powder. It is believed that, unlike black, it removes toxins, but does not affect the beneficial elements found in the body.

Another advantage of the white sorbent is the dosage: 2-3 tablets are enough (depending on the age and individual characteristics of the patient, the degree of poisoning).

  • smecta;
  • enterosgel;
  • lactofiltrum;
  • attapulgite;
  • polysorb;
  • polyphepan.

These drugs help rapid elimination toxic substances by adsorption. They should be used in the interval between doses of other drugs, during the absence of vomiting. Contraindications for use similar drugs include high fever, stomach ulcer. Elderly people and young children should use it with caution, after consulting a doctor.

Restoring water-salt balance

Vomiting and diarrhea, being a natural reaction of the body to toxins, nevertheless contribute to the elimination useful substances and liquids. Its volume should be replenished. During illness the patient should drink a lot to maintain fluid balance. Mineral water without gas is best suited for this purpose.

To maintain electrolyte balance, it is recommended to drink water with a small addition table salt(not sea). The solution is prepared from 1 liter of water and 1 tsp. salt. You should drink at least 2-2.5 liters of salted water per day. In this case, you need to follow a certain rule: a glass of water an hour before a meal, and after a meal you cannot drink for an hour. This way the stomach will be prepared for next appointment food and will begin to secrete gastric juice correctly.

To restore mineral balance, the use of the drugs rehydron and oralite is indicated(contain microelements, glucose and salts).

In case of poisoning, you can also drink weak sweet black or green tea, decoction of chamomile or rose hips.

Drug treatment for poisoning

After cleansing the body for recovery intestinal microflora Restorative therapy with probiotics is indicated. The normal intestinal biocenosis after intoxication is almost always disrupted, therefore After recovery, it is recommended to take medications containing beneficial bacteria . These include “Hilak Forte”, “Linex”, “Bionorm”, “Bioflor”.

If food poisoning is accompanied by fever, you should take antipyretic drugs (ibuprofen, paracetamol).

Self-medication is dangerous! Antibiotics, painkillers, as well as specific drugs (antiemetics and antidiarrheals, etc.) are prescribed by a doctor!

Therapeutic diet

During the period of acute intoxication, the patient, as a rule, does not feel the desire to eat. However, this does not mean that he should refuse to eat. A weakened body needs strength to fight the disease. Besides the stomach and intestines cannot fully restore the epithelium, without food it is problematic. Of course, neither an adult nor a child who does not want to eat should be forced, but especially in medicinal purposes They don't practice hunger.

During poisoning, you should adhere to a strict diet, since the gastrointestinal tract does not work properly and cannot cope with large volumes of food.

During the period of poisoning, the following are prohibited:

  • fatty, salty, heavy foods;
  • fermented milk products, including milk;
  • instant products, semi-finished products;
  • alcohol;
  • sauces, ketchup, mayonnaise;
  • raw fruits, vegetables, berries;
  • sweet.


You need to eat 5 times a day, in small portions. Food must be boiled or steamed. Fried foods are excluded.

The patient's diet should consist of:

  • mashed potatoes with water, without oil;
  • boiled rice;
  • oatmeal, semolina porridge (with water);
  • chicken meat;
  • crackers, biscuits;
  • low-fat broths.

It is allowed to eat bananas, as fruits enriched with nutrients, and watermelons, which have a diuretic effect.

In what cases is hospitalization necessary?

Food poisoning can be successfully treated at home, but in some cases a qualified professional is needed medical care. Hospitalization is indicated for children under three years of age. In children, treatment of intoxication should be carried out only under supervision medical personnel , since diarrhea and vomiting will very quickly lead to dehydration. small child It is almost impossible to force him to drink, and in the hospital he will be given intravenous rehydration solutions. Pregnant women and elderly people are also hospitalized.

Treatment in a hospital setting is indicated for:

  • intoxication caused by poisonous plants and mushrooms;
  • severe form of poisoning;
  • diarrhea (more than 10-12 times a day);
  • high temperature;
  • diarrhea with blood;
  • persistent vomiting;
  • increasing symptoms of the disease;
  • bloating;
  • loss of consciousness;
  • excessive weakness.

If any of these signs occur, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Rehabilitation period after poisoning

Any poisoning is stressful for all organs and systems. It is important to know what to do after poisoning. When discharged from the hospital, the doctor will give you recommendations on proper nutrition and outpatient treatment.


In the first 2 weeks, the patient should adhere to a diet, stop smoking, drinking alcohol, fried, smoked, fatty and spicy foods.

To restore the intestinal microflora, probiotics are prescribed - preparations that contain beneficial bacteria. If complications develop (gastritis, cholecystitis), they are treated.

Traditional methods of treating food poisoning

Folk methods of combating intoxication have not been canceled, however You should resort to them after consulting a doctor and only when mild degree poisoning.

Cinnamon infusion

Cinnamon is a natural antispasmodic and natural absorbent. Cinnamon infusion is prepared as follows: pour a pinch of dried and crushed bark into 250 ml hot water, let it brew for 15-20 minutes. Drink the strained broth in small doses throughout the day. Recommended volume is 1.5 liters.

Decoction of yarrow and wormwood

Brew 1 tablespoon of medicinal plants that effectively cleanse the stomach of toxins and pour a liter of boiling water. Let it brew for 15 minutes, strain. Divide the decoction into 5 equal parts and drink throughout the day.


You can use all types of plants - roots, flowers, leaves, as they contribute to speedy recovery. Marshmallow (1 teaspoon of roots or 2 tablespoons of flowers and leaves) pour a glass of boiling water and leave for 4 hours. Drink 3 times a day. You can add half a teaspoon of honey.

Dill decoction with honey

Honey helps retain potassium, which is excreted during diarrhea and vomiting.. Dill reduces abdominal pain, facilitates vomiting, and promotes the rapid elimination of toxins. Brew a teaspoon of dill seeds with 1.5 cups of boiling water, boil for 3 minutes. Cool, strain, add a teaspoon of beekeeping product to the warm broth. In case of food poisoning at home, the infusion should be taken at least 1 liter per day.

How to Avoid Food Poisoning

Preventive measures to prevent intoxication come down to compliance with the necessary hygiene procedures, eating only high-quality products that have the correct shelf life.

  1. Maintain personal hygiene.
  2. Subject vegetables and fruits to careful processing.
  3. Do not buy products with damaged sealed packaging.
  4. Do not eat expired food.
  5. Do not hesitate to throw away cloudy drinks with sediment, food with unpleasant smell and taste, as well as ready-made dishes that have been in the refrigerator for more than three days.
  6. Eat only those mushrooms and berries that you are confident in.
  7. When preparing food, follow the rules of heat treatment.
  8. Boil homemade milk first.
  9. Drink boiled water.
  10. Eliminate cockroaches, flies, and rodents in your home - they are carriers of bacteria.
  11. Store raw and cooked meats on separate shelves in the refrigerator.

Follow these simple precautions and you will never experience food poisoning.

This is a standard “traveler” set that should be in the luggage of all those who like to relax in the summer in warm regions or hot countries. In principle, such a kit will help cope with the first symptoms of intoxication both on hiking trips and in the country. It should be remembered that a “home first aid kit” is not an alternative to a professional one. medical treatment. Medicines for food poisoning that should be in every home as emergency home aid medications:

  1. Packaging of activated carbon. Why packaging? Because the calculation for taking the drug is 1 tablet for every 10 kilograms of body weight, and you need to take it 3-4 times a day. This is old reliable way adsorb toxins and remove them from the body.
  2. Entoban or Intetrix, which help with intestinal intoxication caused by Escherichia coli. This bactericidal drugs, have a good effect on amoebas, candida and other types of microorganisms, but they are contraindicated for pregnant women and children.
  3. Polysorb or Enterosgel are excellent medicines for food poisoning. These drugs correct microbiocenosis (dysbacteriosis), absorb and remove toxins, restore the structure of mucous membranes gastrointestinal tract. Smecta is also effective - one sachet of dissolved contents three times a day and light form intoxication will be defeated.
  4. Linex is a drug that fights dysbiosis, as it contains three types of natural microflora components - lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and enterococcus.
  5. Regidron is a drug that restores normal water-salt metabolism in the body and neutralizes dehydration. Regidron helps relieve acidosis (increased acidity).
  6. No-spa as a safe antispasmodic will help relieve pain due to colic.

Antibiotics for food poisoning

This is the prerogative of the doctor, since only a professional, that is, a doctor, can determine the root cause of poisoning and prescribe an adequate drug. In addition, many antibiotics have no effect on bacterial toxins at all and may even worsen bowel problems (diarrhea). This is explained by the fact that antibacterial therapy can destroy useful and necessary microbes along with harmful ones. Antibiotics for food poisoning are indicated only in extreme cases, when the exact cause of the disease is identified, indicating the targeted effect of the drug, and the benefits of its use outweigh the risk of complications.

Levomycetin for food poisoning is indicated only for intoxication with pathogens identified in the laboratory. Just like therapy with other antibiotics, treatment with chloramphenicol should only be prescribed by a doctor. In addition, statistics say that only 10% of intoxications require the use of serious antibacterial agents. Therefore, Levomycetin for food poisoning, as well as taking Furadonin, Furazolidone and other so-called “folk” drugs not only does not help, but often harms. Such amateur activities can aggravate the severity of intoxication and lead to irreversible consequences. It should also be taken into account that the uncontrolled use of pharmaceutical prescription drugs greatly distorts clinical picture and makes it difficult to diagnose intoxication.

Enterosgel for food poisoning

This is the most safe way quickly relieve intoxication and protect the body from the spread of intestinal infection. The drug is suitable for all age categories and has no contraindications. Enterosgel is available in a very convenient form for use - a paste, which can be slightly sweetened, which allows it to be used for small children.

Thanks to its composition, Enterosgel helps remove toxins and allergens from the body, and taking the drug in the first hours after intoxication significantly increases its effectiveness. If you take Enterosgel in a timely manner for food poisoning, you can avoid the prescription and use of more serious medications, including antibiotics. The drug adsorbs and removes almost all external and internal toxins, including bacteria, allergens, heavy metal salts, poisons, and radionuclides.

Scheme for using the sorbent:

  • A tablespoon three times a day for adults.
  • A teaspoon three times a day for children under five years of age.
  • A dessert spoon three times a day - children aged 5 to 14-15 years.
  • If the condition is determined to be severe, Enterosgel for food poisoning is taken in a double dose.

Activated carbon for food poisoning

This is a drug that has long been tested by many patients. Activated charcoal for food poisoning is often the first remedy that the affected person begins to take. Coal reduces the level of intoxication, as it absorbs toxins; in addition, the drug can reduce or normalize the level of creatinine and urea. In victims of poisoning, activated charcoal reduces feelings of nausea and helps cope with temporary diarrhea. The calculation for Prim is quite simple - 1 tablet for every ten kilograms of a person’s weight. You should take charcoal 2-3 times, possibly more often, it all depends on the severity of the poisoning. Don’t forget to take the drug with you, you need to drink as much as possible: dehydration will be eliminated and the charcoal will begin to act faster.

There are also contraindications - this is pronounced swelling, suspicion of gastrointestinal bleeding, pregnancy.

Gastric lavage for food poisoning

This treatment of food poisoning is indicated in the absence of vomiting or intensifying it. If the poisoning is determined to be severe, then emergency medical assistance should be called. Before her arrival, you can try to reduce the severity of intoxication by rinsing. Let’s make a reservation right away that a solution of potassium permanganate is not suitable, since crystals invisible to the eye that have not dissolved can seriously damage the already irritated mucous membranes of the esophagus. The basic rule, which involves gastric lavage during intoxication, is to drink and induce vomiting until the vomit becomes relatively clean, without any admixture of any food debris. Suitable as a liquid mineral waters still, plain purified water, water with added salt (per liter of water - 1 tablespoon of salt).

You also need to remember who is contraindicated for washing:

  • If the victim has lost consciousness. Drink liquid, let alone vomit in similar condition a person will not be able to, moreover, there is a risk of asphyxia.
  • Children under two years of age. Washing in small patients is hardly possible at home; rather, inpatient procedures are indicated for them.
  • All those who have previously been diagnosed with cardiac diseases, or those who have suffered a heart attack or stroke. Vomiting can overload the heart and worsen the patient's condition.
  • Pregnant women.

Gastric lavage for food poisoning also involves taking laxatives if the victim shows obvious symptoms of poisoning and does not have diarrhea.

Enema for food poisoning

A highly controversial method of treating food poisoning from the point of view modern medicine, since the absorption of toxins most often occurs in the upper zone of the intestinal tract, and only a siphon procedure is considered cleansing in the sense of removing intoxication, which is practically not used at home. The siphon method of cleansing is contraindicated, as are other enemas, for the following diseases and conditions:

  • Suspicion of volvulus.
  • Symptoms that are characterized as an “acute abdomen” picture.
  • Strangulated hernia.
  • Hemorrhoidal or intestinal bleeding.
  • Acute inflammation of the appendix.

An enema is dangerous for food poisoning because the symptoms of intoxication are often similar to the conditions described above, in which diarrhea, colic, fever, and vomiting are possible. Also, during an enema, gases should escape; if this does not happen, it is possible intestinal obstruction, which can be eliminated only in stationary conditions.

What to do if you have food poisoning?

Diarrhea that lasts an hour and a half should not be stopped. An exception is stool disorder in children under two years of age, since their body weight is small and intense diarrhea can cause severe dehydration. Bowel disorder in adults is natural way, which the body uses to remove toxins.

You can activate the gag reflex by drinking plenty of fluids and pressing on the root of the tongue. But this method is only possible for adults: unconscious victims, small children, patients with chronic internal diseases, pregnant women are a group of people for whom artificially induced vomiting is contraindicated.

To prevent dehydration (dehydration) and help the body cope with intoxication, you need to drink a lot. Drinking should be done in small portions, but often. Sweet compotes and teas are not allowed. The water can be salted or sweetened, but it is best to use special pharmaceutical drugs, designed to restore water-salt balance.

In the first day after poisoning, it is better not to eat at all, so as not to provoke a new stomach upset.

The question of what to do in case of food poisoning becomes very relevant in case of severe symptoms of intoxication. In such cases, immediate medical attention is needed, especially if we're talking about about intoxication with mushrooms, canned food, poisonous berries or plants.

First aid for food poisoning

First aid helps reduce the rate of absorption of toxins into the intestinal tract and slows down their spread through the bloodstream throughout the body. Therefore, immediate action often saves not only the health, but also the life of the victims.

First aid for food poisoning is provided in ways that depend on what the person was poisoned with - mushrooms, food or poisonous plants: 1.

  1. Poisoning by mushrooms, which are often sources of intoxication.

Symptoms are abdominal pain, nausea, upset stool, dizziness and increasing headache, pale complexion, cyanosis near the lips. Signs of mushroom poisoning do not always appear on the first day; they can “start” only on the second day after eating poisonous mushrooms.

Treatment for food poisoning is only inpatient; before the doctor arrives, you can try to rinse the stomach and induce reflex vomiting. The injured person should be put to bed and his feet should be warmed (with a warm heating pad). Neither milk nor laxatives should be taken on your own, since the origin and type of poison is unknown.

  1. Intoxication caused by low quality products, appears in the first two hours. Nausea, cramping pain and colic in the abdomen, increased body temperature, chills, vomiting and diarrhea are symptoms of toxic infection.

First aid for this type of food poisoning is to drink frequently and intensify vomiting. After induced reflex vomiting, you can try to take activated charcoal or Enterosgel. It is better to use sorbents in the first 2 hours after intoxication. If the symptoms do not subside within 5-6 hours, vomiting and diarrhea become uncontrollable (mixed with blood and yellow-green mucus), blood pressure drops, you should call an ambulance.

  1. Poisoning by poisonous plants is characterized by the following symptoms:
    • Uncontrollable vomiting.
    • Loss of coordination, dizziness.
    • Abdominal pain.
    • Weakness and drop in blood pressure.
    • Vomiting foam.
    • Profuse drooling.
    • Pupil dilation.

Symptoms increase very quickly, so help with plant intoxication should be immediate. Need to call urgently emergency assistance, before her arrival, give her 300-400 milliliters of purified salted water to drink and induce vomiting. You can take sorbents, but their effectiveness is unlikely, since plant poison is rapidly absorbed. It is best to use pharmaceutical preparations that should be in every home medicine cabinet - Enterosgel, Smecta, Regidron, Gastrolit. At the same time, it is necessary to place mustard plasters on the area of ​​the shoulder blades and shoulder area, and put them on the forehead cold compress. If appears convulsive syndrome, you need to make sure that your tongue doesn’t stick.

Folk remedies for food poisoning

This is the use of methods that are approved not by neighbors or relatives, but by doctors. Unfortunately, sometimes it is the intake of all kinds of infusions, warm milk or other supposedly effective remedies on the recommendation of all-knowing friends or a recipe read in a dubious newspaper that leads to sad consequences. Of really safe methods, approved by medicine, we can recommend the following folk remedies for food poisoning:

  • In the drink you are supposed to take during intoxication, you need to add a soluble form of vitamin C. In addition to the fact that ascorbic acid helps remove toxins, it activates the immune system. Vitamin C is especially effective in the first 3-4 hours after intoxication.
  • Cinnamon infusion, which is prepared in this way: 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon is poured into a glass of boiling water, infused for 15 minutes, filtered. The infusion should be drunk warm in small sips, the volume is up to 1.5 liters per day. Cinnamon is a good natural antispasmodic; it is able to utilize certain types of toxins, that is, it helps with mild toxic infections.
  • You can prepare a decoction of dill and honey. Dill removes toxins well and reduces the severity of vomiting without stopping it. Honey will help your heart function and reduce the level of potassium excretion when you are dehydrated. The decoction is prepared as follows: a teaspoon of dill seeds (or chopped fresh plant) pour 300 ml of boiling water, leave for 3-5 minutes, then boil for another 2-3 minutes. Strain and add a teaspoon of honey. It is convenient to make 1 liter of infusion at once, since it must be taken throughout the first day after intoxication.

Treatment of food poisoning folk remedies does not involve taking a decoction of oak bark, pomegranate peel, that is, fixatives, since diarrhea during intoxication in some sense helps the body remove toxins faster. If diarrhea and other symptoms develop rapidly, traditional methods they cannot help, professional medical assistance is needed.