In France, nearly 2 million people suffer from food poisoning each year, according to franceinfo. “According to the latest figures, they have caused between 232 and 358 deaths per year since 2008“, reports the media.
What is food poisoning?
Foodborne illnesses, also called food poisoning, are caused by eating undercooked, contaminated, spoiled or toxic food. It is caused by more than 250 bacteria, virus and parasites. These pathogens can be found in food at the growing, packaging, shipping, storage or cooking stages.
Some foods are more likely than others to contain these disease-causing organisms. Foods like raw eggs, milk and unpasteurized juice, cheeses Soft, raw or undercooked meat or seafood can increase the risk of food poisoning. Other risk factors are fresh products and bulk prepared foods.
The risk of food poisoning is higher in summer, because the heat affects the food. This does not lead to hospitalization, but it can cause serious illness or even death. dead.
Food poisoning symptoms
Symptoms of food poisoning often appear shortly after eating the infected food. However, the first symptoms may also not be detected until several days later, which makes it difficult to determine the responsible food.
The most common symptoms are nauseavomiting, cramps upset stomach and diarrhea. Others are loss of appetite, headache, fever, and weakness. These symptoms often disappear within a few days or even hours, but you should be concerned when:
- Your diarrhea lasts longer than three days
- You have a fever above 38.9 degrees Celsius
- You have difficulty speaking or seeing
- You begin to experience symptoms of severe dehydration, such as dry mouth and difficulty keeping fluids down.
- You see blood in your urine.
If you think your food poisoning is due to seafood or wild mushrooms, call 999 immediately.
How to treat?
Here is what to do according to Doctissimo: