Food poisoning is often confused with indigestion. But the difference between them is enormous, since in the first case malaise with untimely help can lead to death, and in the second it only causes anxiety and deterioration of well-being. Symptoms and treatment of food poisoning are significantly different from the usual gastrointestinal upset.
Judge for yourself
The difference is that indigestion most often occurs due to improper use of foods, and poisoning is the result of poisons and toxins entering the body. In the first case, the food is not digested or poorly digested due to the fact that, for example, the stomach is too full during feasts. But in the second case, not everything is so simple - there is a danger to life and health. Nevertheless, the symptoms and treatment of food poisoning and
indigestion are often confused, which leads to extreme situations when doctors simply do not have time to save the patient.
Why indigestion occurs
It happens that the foods eaten are poorly combined with each other. Everyone, for example, guesses that pickled cucumbers, fresh fruits and salty bacon cannot be washed down with milk - diarrhea is guaranteed. But is it possible to follow the children in the village that they ate before drinking fresh milk. And adults sometimes boast that, they say, their health is iron.
The disorder can occur if there is hot (only removed from the fire) fish, pies and freshly baked bread. Very fatty, fried, smoked and spicy foods can also cause anxiety in the form of heaviness in the stomach or heartburn. But these symptoms are easily removed with the help of soda water (for heartburn), a dill broth (for diarrhea), a 6-hour fast, or drugs that contain enzymes that facilitate the digestion of food (from flatulence and heaviness in the stomach).
Signs of Food Poisoning
Now consider the symptoms that indicate that there is a danger to life. They can occur both together and separately. It:
- Severe abdominal pain.
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Chills and / or temperature.
- Weakness, dizziness, and even loss of consciousness.
The condition of the patient directly depends on how much poison has entered the body. The stronger the poisoning, the worse the person feels. Sometimes it may seem that the signs do not cause concern, but note that at risk are:
- pregnant women and children (they can even be poisoned by cucumbers);
- those who ate mushrooms (especially forest mushrooms);
- those who mixed alcohol the day before;
- those who drank medicine without a doctor’s prescription;
- those with pets in the house.
First aid for food poisoning
At the slightest suspicion of a serious illness, an ambulance must be called. This is especially necessary if you do not know the cause of the poisoning. It is in the hospital that they can make the necessary tests and prescribe treatment, depending on the result. Only a doctor can determine the symptoms and treatment of food poisoning. At home, it is almost impossible. The only thing you can do before the doctors arrive is to rinse the patient’s stomach and make him drink large quantities of water. In this case, it is impossible to eat an unhealthy person until the condition stabilizes. Any food poisoning only worsens the condition. This, by the way, is the main difference from indigestion, which helps rice, infusion of dill, chamomile, dog rose, as well as jelly, a tablet of "Glycine", "Mezima", "Black coal", etc.
Prevention
Be careful - even preservation can be poisoned if you ignore the swollen cap. What else? Of course, early berries and vegetables: radish, cucumbers, watermelons, eggplant, melon. Also note - you can’t cut products into yesterday’s half-eaten “salad”, especially mayonnaise. You should also not heat food on yesterday's fat left in the pan from frying meat, lard, fish, so that carcinogens do not enter the body.
Keep in mind
You can not suspect that you are seriously ill due to the fact that the symptoms and treatment of food poisoning are similar to liver, stomach and other diseases of the internal organs. But always keep in mind that with chills, sudden weakness and a temperature of over 37.5 degrees, you must call an ambulance. Especially if the child is sick, a pregnant woman or an elderly person.