Abdominal & Urinary Conditions
Self-care treats most cases. Botulism, chemical food poisoning, and severe bacterial food poisoning need immediate care.
Botulism
Cause
Toxin from bacteria usually from eating improperly canned foods. Also found in honey and oils infused with garlic. Grows only in little or no oxygen.
Signs & Symptoms
Blurred vision. Double vision. A hard time speaking and swallowing. Breathing problems. Muscle weakness. Paralysis. Signs occur within 4 to 36 hours.
Prevention
Follow proper canning methods. Boil home-canned food for 10 or more minutes. Don’t eat foods from cans with leaks or bulges. Refrigerate oils infused with garlic or herbs. Don’t give honey to children less than 1 year old.
E. coli
Cause
Bacteria from contaminated water, raw milk, raw or rare ground beef, unpasteurized apple juice or cider, or contact with contaminated animal feces.
Signs & Symptoms
Diarrhea or bloody discharge. Abdominal cramps. Nausea. Signs occur within 2 to 5 days and last about 8 days.
Prevention
Don’t drink unpasteurized milk and apple cider. Wash your hands after using the bathroom and cleaning up animal feces.
Listeria
Cause
Bacteria from unpasteurized milk, uncooked meats, foods contaminated during processing (cold cuts, hot dogs, soft cheeses).
Signs & Symptoms
Fever. Chills. Headache. Backache. Abdominal pain. Diarrhea. Often, signs occur within 48 to 72 hours, but can take up to 3 weeks to occur.
Prevention
Don’t drink unpasteurized milk. Cook beef to an internal temperature of 160ºF.
Salmonella
Cause
Bacteria from raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, and meat and from food that comes in contact with contaminated surfaces.
Signs & Symptoms
Stomach pain. Diarrhea. Nausea. Chills. Fever. Headache. Signs occur within 8 to 12 hours and last up to 1 or 2 days.
Prevention
Don’t have unpasteurized milk, raw and undercooked eggs. Cook eggs to 160ºF (the white and yolk are firm). Use clean utensils and surfaces.
Staphylococcal enterotoxin
Cause
Toxin from bacteria usually from meats, dairy foods, eggs, etc. that are not kept cold (e.g., unrefrigerated, at picnics, etc.) Also spread by human contact.
Signs & Symptoms
Severe nausea. Abdominal cramps. Diarrhea. Vomiting. Signs occur within 1 to 6 hours and last up to 3 days. Signs last longer if severe dehydration occurs.
Prevention
Keep foods that can spoil cold (40ºF or below) or hot (140ºF or higher). Don’t eat foods kept for more than 2 hours between 40ºF and 140ºF. Don’t eat foods that look or smell spoiled. Wash your hands often. Use clean utensils and surfaces.
Chemicals
Cause
From foods with pesticides and eating poisonous mushrooms or poisonous plant leaves or berries.
Signs & Symptoms
Sweating. Dizziness. Mental confusion. Very teary eyes. Watery mouth. Stomach pain. Vomiting. Diarrhea. Signs start to occur within 30 minutes.
Prevention
Wash raw fruits and vegetables before eating them. Don’t store food or liquids in containers with lead- based paints. Don’t store alcohol in lead crystal containers.
Hepatitis A virus
Cause
From contaminated water, raw and undercooked shellfish, oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, etc.
Signs & Symptoms
Appetite loss. Nausea. Vomiting. Fever. Jaundice and dark urine after 3 to 10 days. Liver damage and death from severe infection.
Prevention
Hepatitis A vaccine. Don’t eat raw or undercooked shellfish, oysters, etc.
Norwalk-like viruses
Cause
From food and touching objects contaminated with the virus. Direct contact with an infected person.
Signs & Symptoms
Nausea. Vomiting. Diarrhea. Stomach cramps. Signs occur within 12 to 48 hours and last up to 2 days.
Prevention
Wash your hands often, especially after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before handling food. Disinfect contaminated surfaces.
Mercury
Cause
From eating contaminated fish (e.g., shark, swordfish, tuna, king mackerel, tilefish).
Signs & Symptoms
Numbness and tingling in the lips, fingers, and toes. A hard time walking and speaking. Muscle weakness. Memory loss. Mental changes. Tremors.
Prevention
Check local health department for safety of fish. Limit fish high in mercury. Pregnant women need to follow the advice of their doctor.
Questions to Ask
Self-Care / Prevention
* For chemical food poisoning, call the Poison Control Center (800.222.1222).
* Heed warnings for food products that could be harmful. News reports list these items. So does the FDA atwww.fda.gov.
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine
