How to avoid food borne diseases?

 
01-Apr-2009 by aparna.priya

Food borne diseases are one of the most common types of disease which, if not treated properly on time, can prove to be life threatening. Undercooked chicken or other foods that have been contaminated with juices dripping from raw chicken are the most frequent source of this infection. Some of the most commonly recognized food borne infections is caused by the bacteria campylobacter, salmonella, and a group of viruses called calicivirus, also known as Norwalk-like viruses.

Salmonella bacterium is mainly present in the intestines of birds, reptiles and mammals.  It can spread to humans via a variety of different foods of animal origin. The infection it causes is known as salmonellosis, which includes fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.  In persons with poor underlying health or weakened immune systems, it can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections.
Campylobacter is also a bacterium that causes fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.  These bacteria are mostly present in the intestines of healthy birds, and most of the raw poultry meat.

 

These food borne diseases require different treatments, depending on the symptoms. If the symptoms are primarily diarrhea or vomiting, they can lead to dehydration if the person loses more body fluids and salts (electrolytes) than they take in.  To replace the lost fluids and electrolytes, the person must be provided some oral rehydration solution such as ceralyte, pedialyte or oralyte. But, if these solutions are proved to be insufficient, immediately consult a doctor.
This means that we should always eat fully cooked foods, if there is a little percentage of rawness in the food, it can be fatal for us. 

Comments

Snigdha says :

Salmonella need not necessarily be found in animal products. It can also be found in drinking water and just 2 days ago strains of salmonella have been found on pistachios in a central california farm.
Posted on: 2 April 2009 - 3:06pm

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