As parents, we must always take care of the food and nutrition of our children. But now that the heat is coming, we must be even more attentive to the quality and condition of foodWell, in the summer it is when the amount of food poisoning increases.
We share you what are the symptoms of food poisoning in children and what can you do to prevent it.
What is food poisoning?
Food poisoning occurs when a food or drink is ingested that contains a virus, bacteria, parasites or toxins that are produced by these organisms, as well as harmful chemicals that may have contaminated the food.
Most cases of food poisoning or the most common are caused by Salmonella, E. Coli, Staphylococcus, Shigella or Cholera. According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, 48 million people get sick every year from a foodborne condition.
Among the most vulnerable groups to have food poisoning, there are young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, so it is very important to be careful with food and drinks, as well as identify the symptoms so that if they become intoxicated, they can receive medical attention on time.
Symptoms of food poisoning in children
The symptoms of food poisoning regularly occur a few hours after eating contaminated or spoiled food, and the time may vary depending on the cause.
Between the symptoms of food poisoning in children they find each other:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever and chills
- Abdominal pain
- Headache
- General weakness
Most cases of food poisoning do not require medical attention, but it is important to follow up on the symptoms that the child presents, and take it to the doctor in case the following occurs:
- You have vomiting for more than 12 hours
- You have diarrhea with fever (temperature above 38 ° C)
- Complains of severe abdominal pain that does not seem to improve after using the bathroom
- You have stool or vomit with blood
- You look agitated or with fast heartbeat
It is also important be attentive to signs of dehydration as: dry lips, sunken eyes, intense thirst, dizziness or weakness, little or no urine output.
If you think your child feels very bad or doesn't seem to improve, it is best not to wait and call or see a doctor so that it values it and it can be attended on time.
Measures to prevent food poisoning
What can we do to prevent our children from suffering food poisoning? We share some steps and steps to follow to ensure that your children do not receive contaminated food or drinks.
- Maintain proper hygiene. This means washing our hands before handling food and after using the bathroom.
- Clean the space where we cook. We must keep all surfaces and utensils we use clean when preparing, handling and cooking food.
- Let's separate raw food from cooked food. This also means keeping them in different containers, not using the same utensils, such as knives or cutting board.
- Let's cook food completely. Let's avoid that foods such as chicken, meat or fish are raw inside, and that soups and stews reach the boiling point.
- Let's keep food at safe temperatures. Let's review the indications that come in the packaging of the foods we buy, and avoid defrosting those that we will not cook at the moment.
- Beware of drinks. We drink only drinking water and only consume pasteurized or sterilized milk.
Following these measures we can help reduce the possibility that we or our children suffer from food poisoning and know the symptoms to know how to identify them and take them to the doctor if necessary.
Photos | iStock
More information | MedlinePlus (United States), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (United States), Management of children with suspected food allergy (Spanish Association of Pediatrics)
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