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The care we must take with our children is innumerable, no matter their age. It is clear that as they grow, the types of care that we should have are changed, our concerns become different and the dynamics of creation are also getting more and more different.
But when we talk about food, we are talking about a type of care that is a concern from the first day of a baby’s life until when he becomes an adult, as it is the basis for that child’s growth to be healthy. Therefore, one of the issues that most terrify mothers and fathers is food poisoning in babies and children.
After all, how to deal with this problem? Is it possible to avoid? What to do in extreme cases? In order for us to answer these questions more accurately, we must first understand what food poisoning is.
What is Food Poisoning?
By definition, food poisoning is a disease that occurs when we eat foods that may contain organisms such as viruses and bacteria that are harmful to our body. In general, this disease occurs with those who eat food that has been exposed for a long time outdoors outside of any cooling or protection. But this is not a rule, as food can be spoiled in many other ways.
Food poisoning in babies and children may have some effects a little stronger than in adults, due to the fragility of the child’s immune system, which is still developing.
It is possible to affirm the same for the elderly and pregnant women, both already have weakened immune systems. The disease usually lasts 2 to 3 days and is much more common in the summer , when food deteriorates due to high temperatures.
Symptoms of Food Poisoning
This disease usually presents symptoms like those of a virus , so it is very common for these two diseases to be confused. The main difference between the two is that the so-called virus infection is an intestinal infection, which has the same symptoms, but which often needs treatment with medicines and has a slightly longer healing time, about a week.
The main symptoms of food poisoning are:
- Diarrhea
- Sickness
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Cramps
All of these symptoms usually appear in those who develop this disease and gradually decrease until the body expels the bad organisms and returns to stability.
Foods That Cause Food Poisoning
It is not possible to say that a certain food will cause food poisoning in babies and children, but there are certainly foods that are more common to have harmful organisms, much because of the exposure they have to the sun or to external environments. These foods are:
- Seafood
- Raw eggs
- Rare meats
- Various types of sauces
- Canned
- Cheeses
We can conclude, then, that the best way to prevent food poisoning from occurring in babies and children or even adults is to avoid eating this type of food when there is a suspicion that they were not properly kept or within their validity.
How to Treat Food Poisoning?
The treatment of food poisoning is very simple and usually does not require the use of any medication, with rest and fluid intake being the main ways to fight the disease.
Eating light, low-stomach foods will also help your body fight disease more easily. If the person’s condition does not improve in 2 or 3 days, it is necessary to visit a doctor so that he can evaluate possible complications that this disease can bring.
WARNING: Certain foods that help stop diarrhea can be harmful and delay the healing process of the disease, as they prevent the body from expelling organisms.
Possible Complications
Although they are more rare, there are certain cases of food poisoning that require a slightly stronger treatment, usually because they have a stronger bacterium inside their bodies. Symptoms of complications that the disease can usually bring are:
- Bloody stools
- Vomiting with blood
- Fever above 38 °
- Strong diarrhea that does not subside after a few days
- Dehydration
- Weakness
Only a doctor can give the right diagnosis so that these symptoms are alleviated and the disease is cured in the right way. For children and babies, it is always important that a pediatrician is sought so that the specific treatment for them is given accurately. The doctor can refer the child to an infectologist, if necessary.
As we could see, food poisoning in babies and children is something that happens with some ease , but it does not mean that it is something that does not need to be taken seriously or taken care of.
It is always important to be attentive to everything that involves feeding your child, from the food and drinks he eats to how the bowel movement occurs. All of this can influence your growth or indicate a problem.
And although it is not possible to have 100% control and completely prevent intoxication from occurring, there are ways to prevent this from happening and also to treat it if there is a problem of this type. The important thing is to be attentive and know what you are dealing with because, in this way, it is easier to treat the child, in addition to also calming the mother and father.
See also: APLV – Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
