Feeling uncomfortable tummy? Do you experienced nausea, vomitting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramp, loss appetite, mild fever, having blood, mucus or pus in the stools, and dehydrated? Sort of causes expained to these symptoms you have.
Food poisoning
The most common cause is infection by Staphylococci bacteria which transmitted via wound or skin infection in someone handling food. It thrives in cream, processed meat, custard, and mayonnaise, especially if not well chilled. It is caused by the toxin produced by the bacteria itself. Staphylococcus is the fastest appearing, fastest clearing bacterial infection, with symptoms usually appearing in two to four hours of eating and clearing in a day.
Another culprit is Salmonella. It is more potentially serious than staphylococcus as the bacteria can enter your bloodstream, leading to abcesses and can hang around for months even if you think it’s gone. The danger is that you can be an unwittingly carrier. Other carriers include flies and badly washed cooking utensils. Symptoms take 6-48 hours to appear and at least three days to clear.
Other bacterial causes include shigella, E.coli, campylobacter, and vibrio parahaemolyticus (germ found in seawater).
Traveller’s tummy
Delhi belly, Montezuma’s revenge, Turista – it has hundred of names but its target is tourists. It is caused by various viruses and bacteria found in contaminated food, milk and water. It often hit tourist because their stomach are not used to the bugs the locals tolerate. Most attacks last one to three days, but when it comes to dysentry, can be result in violent bowel movement, cramps, vomiting, fever and severe dehydration.
Take some precaution to avoid this – using water-sterilizing tablets or bottled mineral water only and try to avoid all high-risk foods. This include shellfish, undercooked or raw meat, fish or poultry, dairy and egg products, and raw, unpeeled fruits and vegetables. Don’t use ice cube in your drinks unless you know they have been made from boiling water.
Chronic diarrhea
They may have other causes too such as:
a) Gastrocolic relfex – it tell your body to remove wastes because more food is coming down.
b) Lactose intolerance – your body have problem in digesting sugar (lactose) in milk.
c) Small tumours – too much fluid pouring into gut.
d) Malabsorption – body cannot absorb all the available nutrients.
Chronic diarrhoea can also be a symptomof laxative abuse, for instance in people who are aneroxic or bulimic and who may conceal their use of laxative to purge themselves.
Botulism
The most lethal disease, whereby powerful toxins produced in food by a germ that can live without oxygen. Usually it is rare, most occur during eating food that is not been preserved or canned properly, so never eat from rusted or misshapen tins. In at least 10% of cases, it is fatal within 24 hours, so seek immediately treatment if the following symptoms occur:
a) Acute vomiting and diarrhoea
b) Double vision
c) Difficulty in swallowing
d) Extreme weakness
When you face upset tummies, you are recommended to seek a doctor for more precaution as the effects may become worse if leave it in a prolonged time.
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