Signs and symptoms of food allergies in children
Food allergy is caused by immune system overreacting to certain types of food.
1mon agoWILLIAM WANYOIKEInfographics
A celebration at St Thomas Aquinas Igumori Secondary School in Embu County, turned tragic when 68 Form Four students ate contaminated beef.
The affected students developed severe stomach pains and diarrhoea, prompting an urgent medical response.
The affected students were rushed to Kiritiri Level Four Hospital where five were referred to Embu Level Five Hospital for specialised treatment. They are in stable condition.
The rest were treated and discharged as Public Health Officials from the county government commenced a probe into the matter.
In a statement on Monday, PS for Public Health Mary Muriuki assured that there is no need to panic as everything is under control.
What to know about Food poisoning: Signs and symptoms
The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) says food poisoning is caused by eating food contaminated with illness-causing pathogens.
Food poisoning is not contagious, and the symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on the cause.
The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, weakness, loss of appetite, fever, aching muscles and chills.
EUFIC states that in severe cases, food poisoning can lead to hospitalisation or even death.
The Council adds that depending on the cause, food poisoning can last from a couple of hours up to several days.
Causes of food poisoning
Food poisoning can be caused by viruses and bacteria where microbes can take time to multiply to levels that cause symptoms.
EUFIC says may take several days for symptoms to appear.
Bacteria such as Campylobacter and salmonella, and viruses such as norovirus are common causes.
It can also be caused by parasites, where, depending on the type of parasites, the onset of symptoms can vary, and some people may be unaware they have been infected.
Toxins are also a major cause of food poisoning. EUFIC points out that cooking kills bacteria but toxins remain in the food and can cause illness.
The symptoms can appear just a few hours after eating contaminated food.
Preventing food poisoning: Steps and strategies
According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should often wash your hands and keep the surfaces clean.
“Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm or cold water before, during, and after preparing food and before eating,” CDC says.
It also advocates for one to separate raw meat, chicken and other poultry, seafood, and eggs, from other foods.
This ensures that there is no cross-contaminate.
CDC also directs cooking to the right temperature, saying food is safely cooked when the internal temperature gets high enough to kill germs that can make you sick.
The centre adds that one should microwave food thoroughly.
“Letting food sit for a few minutes after microwaving allows cold spots to absorb heat from hotter areas and cook more completely,” it explains.
It also emphasises on refrigerating promptly as food gets contaminated in some temperatures.
“Microorganisms can multiply quickly, make sure to slow down the process by storing below 5°C or heating over 60°C,” EUFIC affirms.
Another strategy is to beware of expiry dates, and use of safe water and raw ingredients.
This is where one is supposed to use safe water for washing food and cooking, and wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.
One should know their food sources and only buy food from reputable sources and ensure that it is stored and handled properly at the store.
