Illness by Ingestion

Bacteria can be found everywhere. It surrounds us and even lives in symbiotic relationships with others in our own bodies. These are friendly to the body for normal processes and should not be cause for concern. Now and again one out-balances the other but the body responds with maintaining order and balance is restored.

Other illnesses associated with food and water caused by bacterium and spores that people must be aware of are ;

– Botulism, rare but serious poisoning from the clostiridium botulinum bacterium from improperly canned or preserved food. Toxins cause progressive muscular paralysis of the central and peripheral nervous system. Spores resist boiling, salting, smoking and some pickling methods. Cannot multiply exposed to air. Symptoms appear 8-36 hours after ingestion. Antitoxin is used for treatment.

– Staphylococcal & Clostridial food poisoning, deposit toxins in contaminated food and bring on mild to moderate bout of diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Incubation is short. No available treatment.

– Typhoid fever, bacterium invades the tissue and then severe intestinal ulcerations followed by invasion of the bloodstream. Incubation is longer since growth must take place before the onset of symptoms. Chloramphenicol is used for treatment. Vaccine available. Spread by carriers.

– Salmonellosis, considered less dangerous and causes several days of fever, cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Remains active for long periods of time in water, sewage and certain foods. High resistance to environmental conditions. Transmitted by the 5 F’s – fingers, feces, flies, food and fomites. Humans and animals. No known treatment.

– Shigellosis, there is some corrosion of intestinal tissue and small bloody stools aka dysentry. Ingested through eggs, vegetables, contaminated water, shellfish and dairy products. Circulatory collapse may lead to death. Rehydration therapy and antibiotics for treatment.

– Cholera, massive and often fatal diarrhea causing a imbalance of fluid electrolytes. Infected persons can not hold fluids. Blood thickens, urination ceases, and the sluggish blood flow to the brain leads to shock and coma. Untreated, mortality is 70%. Tetracyclines and rehydration are key treatments. Vaccine available but short lived.

– Traveler’s diarrhea & Campylobacteriosis, symptoms of varied intestinal upset. No treatment.

– Brucellosis, high and low fever aka undulating fever but more of a blood disease with few intestinal symptoms. Tetracyclines for treatment. No vaccine.

Health organizations will require modern institutions to comply to high standards and enforce strict rules and regulations to prevent spread of disease in our communities. Our daycares must follow strict guidelines to prevent diseases and includes restaurants as raw foods can still carry resistant bacteria picked up from fecal fertilizers or contaminated water.

The best tip for us is the same as that health professionals practice daily, universal precautions. Prevention in transmitting a disease is to keep our hands clean from one activity to the next and pay attention to the origins of our foods. Read more --> here.

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