First aid for food poisoning point by point. About first aid for food poisoning

Each of us has probably faced food poisoning. The consequences of the fact that a person has eaten "something wrong" can take different forms. However, in any case, intoxication for a certain period of time "turns off" us from life with various manifestations that we want to quickly cope with. What can you do to help yourself as effectively as possible? Moreover, competent first aid for food poisoning can save the victim from many troubles that he will surely face if he behaves incorrectly when detecting the first signs of intoxication.

Of course, when the poisoned person has lost consciousness, he has convulsions or vomiting and diarrhea does not stop and even increases, then it is very important to hospitalize the patient as soon as possible. The same must be done if you are completely poisoned. small child... It is extremely dangerous to rinse your baby's stomach at home on your own.

It is worth noting that of all the types of poisoning, food intoxication is the most common. These are quite acute conditions arising from the use, for example, of food, which contains toxins of any origin.

Food intoxication is divided into three types:

  • arising from the ingestion of poisonous insects, animals, fish, plants,
  • caused by one or another chemicalsinto the stomach.

Of these three types, the most common is the second option - PTI, caused by pathogenic microbes and their waste products, toxins. Their causative agents are quite often:

  • proteus,
  • klebsiella,
  • staphylococci,
  • clostridia,
  • citrobacters and others.

Sources of these microbes can be sick or healthy peoplethat are carriers of bacteria, as well as animals. Getting on the product, microbes begin to multiply actively, releasing toxins, which often do not change the look and smell of food, especially on early stages her infection.

Symptoms of food poisoning in an adult

Basically, food poisoning in adults manifests itself in this way:

  • spasms, pain in the stomach and along the intestines,
  • constant nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea,
  • gas, a feeling that the intestines are bursting,
  • weakness, dizziness,
  • headache,
  • tachycardia,
  • visual disorder - blurred outlines of objects, double vision, a feeling of fog in the eyes,
  • sometimes there is a subfebrile temperature (up to 38 ° C).

In especially severe cases, there are:

  • loss of consciousness,
  • a sharp drop in blood pressure,
  • convulsions.

In this case, the first aid for food poisoning should be as follows:

  • lay the patient on a flat surface,
  • put his head on one side so that he does not choke on vomit,
  • make sure that he does not hurt himself with convulsions,
  • call an ambulance.

How quickly can food poisoning manifest itself? It all depends on the type of toxins that cause it. If poisonous mushrooms and plants are eaten, then literally in 15 minutes the first signs of intoxication will make themselves felt. When we are dealing with PTI, on average, the most "interesting" begins about a couple of hours after eating spoiled food.

However, these numbers are approximate, because a lot determines:

  • the state of health of the poisoned person,
  • his way of life,
  • what he ate before,
  • what medications did you take
  • whether alcohol or drugs were present.

In any case, the signs of poisoning will still manifest themselves, and the person and / or those around him must determine whether he is able to cope on his own or if he needs qualified medical assistance. So that it doesn't turn out that they called an ambulance, but I don't want to go to the hospital. Then why bother the doctors if they were not going to be treated? This means that the condition is not so bad as to go to the hospital and the home option of first aid for food poisoning will help.

It is quite another matter when a small child is poisoned. Here, parents should definitely call the doctor, but they themselves should take measures to help their baby cope with intoxication.

First aid for a child with food poisoning

How to determine that your baby has acute food poisoning and you need to urgently call the hospital:

  • heat, up to 38 о С, which does not subside for two hours,
  • increasing pain, colic in the abdomen that does not go away after bowel movement and / or vomiting,
  • persistent urge to vomit, diarrhea,
  • no urination for more than 4-5 hours,
  • high salivation,
  • difficulty breathing and swallowing
  • the skin has a bluish tint,
  • fainting.

Even if your child is showing signs of moderately severe food poisoning, it is still worth calling the doctor for advice on what is best to do.

What do we call mild intoxication in a baby?

  • upset stool, urge no more than 3-5 times a day,
  • short-term vomiting,
  • slight and short-term temperature rise.

What should be done in any case, while you are waiting for a doctor or an ambulance?

  • Provide the baby with a plentiful drink, a single volume of which depends on the age of the baby. If the baby is only 1 month old, one teaspoon as a single dose will be sufficient. Older children should be given more fluid.
  • Try it if he is over two years old; at home, you can induce a gag reflex in a baby by pressing on the root of the tongue with a clean finger or a teaspoon. This action must be repeated until the emetic water becomes clear.
  • After the next episode of vomiting, lay the baby on one side so that there is no sudden aspiration (suction) of stomach contents into the lungs.
  • When the stomach is flushed and there is no urge to vomit, it is necessary to prevent dehydration by often giving the baby a drink.
  • Give a sorbent created especially for babies. Older children, 5-6 years old, can be given activated charcoal, crushed and dissolved in water, at the rate of a tablet per kilogram of weight.

After the main symptoms of poisoning in the baby have been stopped - at home or in the hospital - it is necessary to support his digestive tract with a gentle diet. With this question, contact your doctor who will help you create a menu suitable for your child's age.

First aid for an adult with food poisoning

Rendering in this case is reduced, first of all, to gastric lavage. For this purpose, you can use both ordinary water and special solutions. If not in the first aid kit, prepare glucose saline solution at home. For example, mix a teaspoon of salt and sugar in a glass of water.

If vomiting does not come by itself, you need to induce it by pressing on the root of the tongue with two fingers. After the emetic solution is clear, gastric lavage can be stopped.

Now you need to take care to stop the absorption of toxins through the intestinal wall. Sorbents will help with this. The most popular is activated carbon, it is drunk according to the following calculation: for every 10 kg of body weight, 1 tablet.

If, after taking coal, the patient feels vomiting, let him wait 20-30 minutes for the sorbent to begin its effect. Then you can rip everything out, and when everything calms down, take the coal again. Usually, after the second attempt, there is no urge to vomit, and coal actively collects the remains of toxins through the intestines.

After that, lay the patient down, because the poisoning provokes severe weakness. Put a towel dipped in salt water on his forehead, which will additionally "draw out" toxins and give a pleasant coolness, relieving stress.

After removing all the symptoms of poisoning, you need to drink a lot, because sorbents cause dehydration.

At first, it is better to drink just clean warm water, then, if the patient does not get worse, you can switch to herbal anti-inflammatory infusions, tea with honey. On the first day, it is recommended only to drink and completely refuse to eat, even if the appetite has woken up. Such fasting will help the body to quickly recuperate and return a person to shape better than any medication and, moreover, food.

Dos and Don'ts for Food Poisoning

  • Induce a gag reflex in a pregnant woman or when a person has lost consciousness.
  • To flush the stomach for children under two years old.
  • if the person has seizures or heart disease.
  • Put a heating pad on your stomach.
  • Give fixing decoctions or drugs for diarrhea.
  • Induce vomiting if poisoned with oil, acid or alkali.
  • Do an enema on your own, especially for young children, pregnant women and the elderly.
  • Give soda water, milk to drink.
  • Give acidic solutions for alkali poisoning and vice versa.

Prevention of food poisoning

It is impossible to insure 100% against food poisoning, however, there are a number of rules, the observance of which minimizes the possibility of suffering from this kind of intoxication:

  • favor “safe” foods that look and smell like they should,
  • observe the temperature regime when cooking,
  • do not store cooked food for a long time,
  • follow the storage rules for all products,
  • when reheating previously cooked food, bring it to the highest possible temperature,
  • make sure that raw and cooked food does not come into contact with each other,
  • wash your hands often
  • keep your kitchen perfectly clean,
  • keep all products out of the reach of pets and various pests,
  • take care of the purity of the water used.

If food poisoning cannot be avoided, the first thing to take care of is gastric lavage. Then proceed according to the scheme given in this article, and, we hope, recovery will not take long.

Food poisoning is very common among adults and children, especially during the hot season. The source of the disease is poor-quality or stale foods that a person has eaten. Such intoxication develops very quickly and is exhausting. human body ... To minimize unpleasant consequences, it is necessary that the actions in case of food poisoning be coordinated and clear.

The first signs of food poisoning

Any food poisoning manifests itself with similar symptoms, so it is not difficult to recognize such intoxication:

  1. The person feels severe weakness and general malaise.
  2. Disturbed by nausea, which quickly develops into indomitable vomiting.
  3. Diarrhea develops. The stool is watery, offensive, sometimes with mucus and blood.
  4. The temperature rises... This condition is accompanied by severe chills and a feeling of pressure on the skull.
  5. Falls arterial pressure, the person sweats a lot.

Help with food poisoning

All actions aimed at providing first aid for food poisoning are divided into several successive stages.

Gastric lavage

The first step in food intoxication is gastric lavage.... It is washed with a large volume of liquid. For the procedure, you can use the following solutions:

  • soda solution - a teaspoon without a mountain per liter of boiled water;
  • salt solution - a full teaspoon per liter of clean water;
  • slightly pinkish solution of potassium permanganate. Manganese is diluted in a small amount of water, and then added to the total volume for gastric lavage. This prevents burns of the mucous membrane with undissolved crystals.

The procedure is carried out as long as the waste water is clean., without food debris.

Flushing is indicated even if there is vomiting. The gastric mucosa must be well cleaned.

Adsorbents

After gagging has become less frequent, give any adsorbents that are at hand... It can be atoxil, enterosgel, polysorb, smectite or activated carbon at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight. It is more convenient for children to give more modern sorbents, since the required volume activated carbon it will be difficult for the child to swallow. If, after taking these drugs, vomiting again resumed, the reception is repeated at the same dosage.

Adsorbents neutralize the harmful effects of toxins and promote their gentle elimination from the body.

Cleansing enema

Cleansing the intestines with an enema is necessary to prevent the absorption of toxins into the mucous membraneand from there into the bloodstream. For a cleansing enema, you can use different liquids:

  • Starch water - a teaspoon of potato starch is brewed in one liter of water. Such a liquid envelops the intestinal wall well.
  • Chamomile decoction - a tablespoon of chamomile is poured into a liter of water, brought to a boil, infused for 20 minutes and used as directed. The solution has an anti-inflammatory effect.
  • A solution of salt or soda - 0.5 teaspoon of this or that substance is dissolved in a liter of water.

You can use a solution of the pharmaceutical drug Rehydron for a cleansing enema, this remedy helps to cleanse the intestines well and prevents dehydration.

The enema fluid should be at room temperature or slightly warmer. It is unacceptable to use hot water, which will promote the absorption of toxins into the intestinal mucosa.

Normalization of body temperature

Very often, food poisoning occurs with a strong increase in body temperature. This is a defensive reaction immune system organism for the penetration of pathogens. Prolonged hyperthermia adversely affects organs and systems, therefore, urgent steps must be taken to normalize the temperature.

The patient is given pills containing paracetamol, ibuprofen or nimesulide. The dosage of medicines is standard, as indicated in the instructions for use.

The use of antipyretic drugs in syrups, suspensions or soluble powders is not recommended. All of these forms of medicine contain flavors, colors, and flavor enhancers that will not work well on an irritated stomach.

Prevention of dehydration

In case of food poisoning, the victim leaves a lot of fluid, which contributes to the development of dehydration and severe intoxication of the body. In order to prevent dehydration, the patient is often given a drink in small amounts. It can be decoctions of raisins or dried apricots, green apple compote. You can give ordinary clean water, the main thing is that it is without gas... For desoldering, use a rehydron solution. This solution is given with caution, especially for children, it tastes very unpleasant and can provoke vomiting. To replenish fluid in a patient with intoxication, you can use a solution of honey in water, the resulting drink tastes good and allows you to quickly restore electrolyte balance in the body.

Complete rest

The key to a quick recovery from food poisoning is compliance with a calm regimen. The patient is protected from all negative emotions., put in a comfortable bed and cover warmly. You can also draw the curtains on the windows to keep the sunlight from irritating your eyes.

A person with poisoning should lie on his side and constantly be under the supervision of household members - this will avoid choking with vomit.

Organization of dietary meals

The quick recovery of a poisoned person is directly related to a properly organized diet. On the first day after the onset of the acute phase of food poisoning, a person is not given food at allonly offer plenty of drinks. For the victim, the day of fasting is not at all critical, at this time he is not up to lunch, especially since there is absolutely no appetite. On the second day after the normalization of the condition, they begin to gradually introduce products:

  • The first day - crackers or biscuit biscuits with strong sweet tea. Baked apples green varieties, you can give mashed ripe bananas.
  • The second day - viscous porridge in water with a small addition of salt and sugar. Use oatmeal, buckwheat, rice. Before cooking, you can grind cereals a little with a blender, then they will boil better and digest faster.
  • The third day - the second broths from chicken, veal, rabbit. You can cook a low-fat soup without the addition of spices and tomato.
  • The fourth day - mashed potatoes with a small addition of butter, steamed chicken cutlets.

Starting from the fifth day, you can slowly introduce dairy products into the diet - milk, cottage cheese, yoghurts and bifidokefir. Milk is first bred in half with water and porridge and milk soups are boiled. Casseroles are made from cottage cheese.

AT rehabilitation period after poisoning, doctors recommend drinking bifidokefir... This delicious drink allows you not only to quickly recuperate, but also to fill the gastrointestinal tract with beneficial microflora. You can drink up to one liter of bifidokefir per day.

During the recovery period, it is necessary to take drugs that contain bifidobacteria. They will help to quickly populate the stomach and intestines with beneficial microorganisms.

How to prevent food poisoning


Any disease is easier to prevent than to try to cure later.
... This rule is especially true for food intoxication. To protect yourself from poisoning, it is enough to follow the basic rules:

  1. Do not buy products in spontaneous markets and from hands in places not specified for trade.
  2. It is good to thermally process meat and dairy products, fish and eggs.
  3. Do not use expired products and products in which the tightness of the package is broken.
  4. Cook food once or twice, especially in the summer.
  5. Wash your hands often, especially after using the toilet and outside.

By practicing good hygiene, you can protect yourself and your family from severe food poisoning.... But even if trouble happened and someone in the family got poisoned, you need to pull yourself together and quickly provide emergency assistance.

Food poisoning can be bacterial, viral, or chemical.

Food poisoning is an intoxication of the body that occurs when eating stale foods or foods high in toxins. Symptoms develop rapidly within 1-6 hours, and without treatment, the condition worsens. First aid for food poisoning is especially important if the intoxication is caused by meat or fish.

It is necessary to act on the basis of the condition of the patient and the type of food that he ate the day before.

If he has a high body temperature above 39 ˚С, there was metallic taste mouth or tongue numb, call an ambulance immediately. The victim needs urgent medical attention.

When intoxicated with fish, there is a high probability of contracting botulism. The disease is manifested by muscle weakness or muscle paralysis, vomiting, partial loss of speech or vision.

General algorithm of actions

First aid for food poisoning at home for an adult looks like this:

ActAction Description
Gastric lavage removes toxins from the body.
A solution of baking soda is suitable (for 1.5 liters of water, 1 tablespoon of soda).
To induce vomiting, you must press with two fingers on the root of the tongue. Induce vomit until it is clear.
The sorbent intake will remove the remains of toxins from the stomach. Activated carbon or an aqueous solution of it, which acts faster, will do.
Dosage - 1 tablet for every 10 kg of human weight. Crush the charcoal and add 100 ml of water. Using white coal reduce the dosage by 2 times.
After severe vomiting, it is necessary to restore the fluid deficit to prevent dehydration. Drink rehydration solutions such as Rehydron or Oralit.
Calling doctors is necessary if first aid has not yielded visible results and the patient's health condition worsens.

Severe poisoning

Severe poisoning can be accompanied by respiratory and cardiovascular failure. What is the correct way to provide first aid in this case?

Follow the steps described in the instructions with the photo.

ActAction Description
Call an ambulance.
If breathing is impaired, vomiting should not be induced.

If fish poisoning occurs, but there is no urge to vomit, it means that it has already left the stomach.

If you have severe diarrhea, you should not take fixatives

If there is no diarrhea, give a cleansing enema.

Take sorbents such as activated carbon, Enterosgel, Smecta.

When you urgently need a doctor's help

You must immediately call a doctor in such cases:

  • intoxication with fish, there are suspicions of botulism;
  • symptoms of dehydration build up quickly and show signs of damage nervous system;
  • mushroom poisoning or food containing chemical compounds;
  • symptoms of intoxication do not go away after 2 days;
  • a child or an elderly person has been poisoned by food.

Treatment of fish poisoning in children is unacceptable at home.

Preventive measures

Prevention of food poisoning is as follows:

  • Wash your hands before eating.
  • Eat meat and dairy products only after heat treatment.
  • Observe the shelf life, store perishable food only in the refrigerator.
  • Buy meat, fish and seafood in specialized stores, do not trust spontaneous trade.
  • Always look at the timing of food production. If food comes from bad smell, then you shouldn't buy it.
  • Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly before eating.
  • Do not eat at dubious dining establishments.

Learn more about the symptoms and prevention of food poisoning in the video for this article.

Following the algorithm of first aid for food poisoning, these actions are enough to remove toxins from the body. But severe intoxication can cause, and this condition requires immediate resuscitation.

First aid for poisoning - what to do?
Poisoning can be caused by various products and substances. From the article you will learn how to recognize it, and what first aid you need to provide in case of poisoning.

According to official statistics alone, more than 300 poisonings per 100 thousand people are recorded in Russia every year 1. Given the bad tendency towards self-medication, one can easily guess that in fact this figure is much higher. Undoubtedly, mild poisoning can be cured on your own. The problem is that people do not always pay attention to symptoms that signal the need for medical attention.

The main signs and symptoms of poisoning with damage to the gastrointestinal tract

The clinic of poisoning is extremely diverse and depends on what exactly the person ate or drank.

However, there is common features, which will help in time to recognize a malfunction in the gastrointestinal tract. The main symptoms of poisoning are:

1. Sudden weakness, nausea and dizziness. Usually preceded by vomiting.

2. Vomiting is one of the main symptoms of poisoning.

It is caused by two reasons: the body's attempt to remove the poisonous substance from itself and the directly irritating effect of the toxin on the stomach wall. It is because of its "cleansing" properties that you do not need to take antiemetic drugs at the first urge.

3. Pain in the abdomen. May occur both before and after vomiting. They are caused by a number of reasons:

As a rule, it is localized in the epigastric region - in the center of the abdomen under the xiphoid process. Therefore, enveloping drugs and antispasmodics will help relieve pain.

4. Diarrhea may join. However, you should not immediately take antidiarrheal drugs - diarrhea helps to get rid of a mass of toxins, and, by its appearance, color and smell, the doctor will be able to more accurately suggest the diagnosis. The first step is to drink the liquid and take the sorbent.

5. Intoxication

Headache, "Fog" in the head, convulsions - all these are signs of the spread of infection throughout the body. An increase in body temperature and even loss of consciousness is possible. A dangerous symptom is the appearance of delirium, hallucinations, lethargy or visual impairment.

Why does poisoning occur?

The main cause of poisoning is an overdose of drugs, alcohol or poisonous mushrooms. Poisoning can also be caused by food, or rather, microorganisms and their toxins that are in them.

General rules for first aid in case of poisoning

Before providing specialized assistance, you should determine the cause of the condition. Be sure to ask the victim what he has eaten or drank in the past Hours. Look for signs of marked clouding or changes in consciousness and behavior. And provide basic first aid for poisoning:

1) Stop the flow of the provoking factor into the body

2) Induce vomiting

The exception is situations when the patient is unconscious or there is a suspicion of poisoning with acids or alkalis. In this case, monitor his condition before the arrival of the doctor.

3) Call "03" and call a doctor in case of suspicion of serious poisoning. Look for signs of marked clouding or changes in consciousness and behavior.

4) Give the victim a large amount of liquid to drink: first to wash the stomach, then to replenish the lost water.

Important! If you suspect acid or alkali poisoning, drinking water is prohibited.

5) Take enterosorbent

Sorbents absorb toxins, helping to eliminate them from the body. Hydrolytic lignin, active active substance Filtrum drug, recommended by the Ministry of Health for the treatment of food poisoning and intestinal infections in children and adults 2.3

However, it is necessary to know the symptoms of some dangerous diseases, the tactics in which differs from the "classic" poisoning. Eating certain types of mushrooms, excessive amounts of medication, and even certain contaminated foods can be fatal.

So what should you pay attention to?

Acute food poisoning

According to research, food poisoning is most commonly caused by meat and junk food. But if you understand that you have recently eaten canned food, especially homemade ones, and there is a fog in front of your eyes, immediately contact an ambulance: this may be a sign of botulism. The most important treatment for this disease is the administration of toxoid.

Mushroom poisoning

We are not talking about expired mushrooms, but about poisonous ones. With fly agaric poisoning, death is rare, but with a pale toadstool, the situation is more serious. It is known to disguise itself as honey agarics and champignons. And if, after you have eaten mushrooms that look like a pale toadstool, you start vomiting and “fountain” diarrhea, immediately call a doctor.

Poisoning with drugs

Extremely severe poisoning. First of all, you need to provide the standard methods of assistance listed above. And then while driving ambulance, ask the person what medications he was taking. If the patient cannot speak, look around: empty blisters, an open first aid kit can tell you the right direction. Be sure to monitor your breathing and heart rate!

Alcohol poisoning

Alcohol poisoning can occur in two cases: overdose ethyl alcohol and, more formidable, methyl alcohol poisoning, when even small doses are enough. In case of alcohol poisoning, you should not leave a person alone. If possible, you should turn it on its side, since one of the causes of death in alcohol poisoning is choking with vomit in a dream while lying on your back.

The load on the body after taking alcohol can be reduced with the help of a sorbent. The convenient form of release of Filtrum allows you to take it even at a party - the tablets are ready to take, they do not need to be diluted with water.

Sorbents for food poisoning

Enterosorbents are one of the first stages of providing first aid for poisoning of any genesis. These are drugs that bind toxins in the gastrointestinal tract, preventing them from being absorbed into the bloodstream.

According to the recommendations of health care professionals, a high-quality enterosorbent should have a high ability to absorb toxins of any nature and diameter, have a neutral taste and odor, as well as not be toxic or cause allergies 4. Filtrum belongs to this kind of sorbents. The millions of pores of different sizes in each Filtrum tablet make it a “universal soldier” for the first stage of first aid for poisoning of any origin.

Necessary measures after poisoning

After recovery, you need to remember about recovery:

  • The body is weakened, do not overload it with heavy food: the gastrointestinal tract takes a long time to recover.
  • At least for the first time, give up bad habits: tobacco smoke can negatively affect the gastric mucosa, like alcohol.
  • After the acute period subsides, diet comes to the fore in restoring the work of the gastrointestinal tract.

Diet after poisoning

Food after poisoning should be fractional, that is, in small portions and at least 4 times a day.

All food should be carefully processed mechanically (chopped, ground) and thermally (boiled or steamed). In this case, it is necessary to exclude products that cause increased gassingsuch as legumes, cabbage, smoked or spicy foods, milk and even coffee.

Mashed soups, meat broths from low-fat meat (beef), steam cutlets are allowed.

During the period of recovery and recovery, it is gradually allowed to add raw vegetables, cheese.

At the same time, food should be sufficiently high in calories, with a full amount of vitamins to provide the weakened body with the necessary substances.

And - an obligatory item - a large amount of liquid, diluted fruit drinks and mineral waters, since a lot of liquid is lost during diarrhea, vomiting.

Preventive measures

The rules are simple and familiar from childhood:

  • Wash your hands before eating
  • Do not drink tap water
  • Eat in trusted places
  • When traveling, drink bottled water - do not risk tasting the water from the spring or brushing your teeth in hot countries using sewer water.
  • Wash fruits and vegetables with boiled water
  • Carefully monitor the expiration date of products - to treat poisoning is more expensive than a kilogram of fresh meat.
  • Remember the main rule of travelers and hikers: not sure - don't eat!
  • 1. I.P. Levchuk, M.V. Kostyuchenko, E.A. Morosnikova, E.A. Shishkan. First aid in case of poisoning: the use of enterosorption "EFFECTIVE PHARMACOTHERAPY. Gastroenterology" №1 (13) | 2014
  • 2. Order of the Ministry of Health Russian Federation dated November 9, 2012 No. 730n "On approval of the standard of specialized medical care in acute intestinal infections of unknown etiology of moderate to severe severity "
  • 3. Order of the Ministry of Health of Russia dated 09.11.2012 No. 807n "On approval of the standard of specialized medical care for children with acute intestinal infections and moderate food poisoning"
  • 4. M.R. Konorev. Clinical pharmacology of new generation enterosorbents. Pharmacy Bulletin No. 4 (62) 2013

Food poisoning is extremely dangerous for humans. Decay products, toxins, viruses and microbes that enter the body with expired or poorly prepared food attack the gastrointestinal tract, causing indomitable vomiting, upset stools and general malaise. Due to such characteristic symptoms, the body quickly loses the fluid and nutrients necessary for its proper functioning. Therefore, first aid for food poisoning is mandatory, because in its absence, it can even be fatal.

Specificity of food poisoning

In case of food poisoning, intoxication manifestations are classified according to 2 signs:

  1. Bacterial (infectious). They provoke viruses and other protozoa that enter the body through low-quality foods and drinks.
  2. Not bacterial (toxic). Toxic and toxic substances that are not intended for human consumption enter the gastrointestinal tract.

The danger of food poisoning is due to the following factors:

  • The latent (incubation) period is insignificant (no more than 6 hours);
  • The development of the intoxication process is rapid;
  • : all people who have eaten a substandard or unsuitable product will be poisoned;
  • All cooked long-term food items are potentially dangerous to humans;
  • Expired and low-quality products outwardly do not stand out from other food.

Most often, food intoxication is provoked by the following products:

  • Cheeses;
  • Mayonnaise and dishes that contain it;
  • Sweets: pastries, cakes and pies;
  • Sausage.

Methyl alcohol poisoning is extremely dangerous. This substance is a surrogate for ethanol. That is, methanol is a technical alcohol that is added to products household chemicals... It is prohibited for oral administration.

It happens very quickly. Its immediate absorption begins in the stomach. In the process of exposure to gastric juice, alcohol is converted into formic acid and formaldehyde. These substances poison all systems and organs, killing cells and completely blocking their functioning.

The use of methyl alcohol as alcoholic beverage fraught with serious consequences. When taken, kidney damage occurs instantly, even after a low concentration of methanol. Then the functioning of the nervous system, the work of the stomach and intestines is disrupted. If you do not provide first aid in time and do not hospitalize the poisoned person, death will occur.

Typical symptoms

In case of food poisoning, the manifestation of the symptomatic picture begins within 2-5 hours after the ingress of toxins into the human alimentary tract. Without the provision of appropriate assistance, intoxication progresses for another 2-3 days, then irreversible consequences begin in the body.

The manifestation of symptoms depends on several factors:

  • The type of toxic effect;
  • The amount of poisonous substance eaten or drunk;
  • The state of the immune system and the presence of concomitant chronic diseases.

However, the first signs of poisoning are always the same:

  • Increased body temperature (above 38 degrees);
  • Nausea with vomiting
  • Decreased appetite or complete refusal to eat;
  • Prostration;
  • in the form of diarrhea, which is accompanied by paroxysmal pain in the abdomen;
  • Increased gas formation;

Note!

With large doses of toxic substances that have entered the body, symptoms develop in just 2-3 hours. In this case, the person needs urgent medical attention.

If intoxication is caused by neurotoxic poisons, the symptoms are aggravated:

  • Violation, and then complete loss of visual perception;
  • Aggressiveness, excitability, delirium, hallucinations;
  • , paralysis;
  • Involuntary discharge of saliva, feces and urine.

Note!

In pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, elderly people, intoxication caused by poisoning is very difficult. In the absence of appropriate assistance, it can be fatal.

First aid needed

First aid should be started immediately after the appearance of signs of intoxication of the body.

Its main task is to eliminate as quickly as possible toxins that have not yet managed to penetrate into the bloodstream from the gastrointestinal tract. To do this, you need to thoroughly cleanse the stomach and intestines from food debris.

It is important!

Acetic acid poisoning does not involve gastric lavage. Organ cleansing should be done by professionals in a medical facility.

The stomach can be cleansed with potassium permanganate. To prepare the solution, stir several grains of the substance in warm water so that it becomes pale pink. Potassium permanganate can be replaced with baking soda or salt in a ratio of 2 liters per tablespoon. If these substances are not available or the time for rendering assistance is extremely limited, you can use ordinary warm boiled water.

Note!

Using cold water for gastric lavage is prohibited! With hypothermia of the organ, the rate of movement of toxic substances along the esophagus increases.

They drink water in small sips, trying to drink the entire prepared solution without interruption. If gagging does not start on its own, they need to be induced artificially by pressing on the root of the tongue with fingers or a spoon.

The procedure is carried out until the stomach is completely empty. This can be determined by pure water, which will come out instead of vomit.

Note!

If a poisoned person does not have diarrhea, you need to empty his intestines in order to accelerate the elimination of poisons from the body. For these purposes, an enema or drugs with a laxative effect are used.

Note!

After complete cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract, you cannot eat for a day!

During this time, you need to drink a lot. The liquid will replenish the lost moisture and remove the remains of toxic substances in the urine. It is necessary to give preference to boiled salted or mineral water. Strong tea with added sugar will help replenish strength, and chamomile solution disinfects the organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

After the stomach and intestines have got rid of toxins, you need to help the body to remove their compounds that have already penetrated into the tissues. For this, sorbents are used. The drugs have a binding effect, removing poisonous decay products and other harmful substances accumulated in the intestines along with feces.

Among the most popular sorbents is activated carbon, which is taken at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight. For the beneficial effect of white coal on the body, 2-3 tablets are enough.

Note!

The presence of diarrhea does not require the use of activated charcoal. With loose stools, coal slows down the removal of pathogenic microflora from the body.

Required information

If first aid for poisoning is provided correctly, you can continue treatment at home.

After complete cleansing, the poisoned person is provided with complete rest. If chills develop, cover him with a warm blanket with a heating pad on his feet. If the body temperature has increased, you can use antipyretic drugs.

Note!

It is forbidden to prescribe and take antibiotics and analgesics on your own! When possible complications these medicines significantly distort clinical picture, which will complicate the diagnosis.

After improving the condition for 3-4 days, you need to adhere to a strict diet, refusing to eat fried, fatty and other junk food... You need to eat in small portions, chewing food thoroughly.

Emergency medical attention is needed if the patient continues to have the following symptoms:

  • Signs of intoxication do not go away for more than three days;
  • Poisoning symptoms do not diminish, but increase;
  • Severe diarrhea lasting more than 3 days;
  • Blood impurities are present in the feces;
  • Abdominal pains do not subside, and dizziness, pain syndrome in the area of \u200b\u200binternal organs join them;
  • Increased body temperature indicators persist for more than two days;
  • Asthma attacks begin.

Note!

If food intoxication occurs in elderly people or babies under three years old, PMP is necessary.

Prevention measures

Properly provided, timely assistance will prevent dangerous consequences food poisoning.

However, the symptoms of intoxication are extremely unpleasant, and during treatment, a person cannot lead a normal life. It is not difficult to avoid pathological manifestations of intoxication. To do this, you need to follow simple precautions:

  • Hands should be thoroughly washed with soap and water before eating and cooking;
  • Before eating fresh vegetables, fruits or herbs, rinse them under running water;
  • Meat, and do not use without prior heat treatment;
  • Always use separate tools for cutting and cutting fish: knife and board;
  • Defrost meat in the microwave or refrigerator;
  • Before buying food, check the expiration dates;
  • Do not use cooked foods that have been stored for more than two days;
  • Regularly monitor the temperature in the refrigerator: it should not be less than 30 degrees.

The rules of prevention are simple and consist in observing hygiene standards. Do not cook a large number of dishes at once and store them for several days. Cook often and enjoy. Then you will not have to face such a nuisance as food poisoning.

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