Recognizing signs and first aid when having food poisoning

The article is professionally consulted by Master. BSCK II Phan Thi Minh Huong - Gastroenterologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.

Food poisoning usually manifests through symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, muscle pain, cyanosis of the skin, difficulty breathing, apnea, convulsions, pulse collapse, and unconsciousness.

When in the following situations, the risk of food poisoning can be thought of:
The person has just finished eating and the onset of illness immediately follows. Two or more people show similar symptoms after eating the same food, while those who don't do not get sick. Signs suggestive of food poisoning are abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Observe the food for suspicious signs, such as rancidity, strange smell, and worms.

Specific symptoms of food poisoning depend on the cause:
If the cause is caused by microorganisms (bacteria, viruses) or toxins from microorganisms (bacterial toxins secreted): The patient usually only presents with gastrointestinal disease (eg, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea), may be accompanied by manifestations of dehydration (eg, thirst, dry lips), infection (usually fever, sweating). . If the cause is caused by food contaminated with chemicals, without natural toxins: The patient has complicated manifestations, not only in the gastrointestinal tract but also in other organs, eg nervous system (headache, dizziness, headache, dizziness). facial), cardiovascular (tachycardia, collapse). If the cause is these foods themselves, which are inherently toxic: The disease appears immediately after eating certain foods that are known in nature to contain toxins, for example cassava, bamboo shoots, etc. Puffer fish, toad,... Food poisoning will be very dangerous if the patient has severe signs in the gastrointestinal tract or is dehydrated, infected, or has additional symptoms:
Nervous disorders: Especially blurred vision, double vision, difficulty speaking, slurred voice, muscle paralysis, convulsions, headache, dizziness. Cardiovascular disorders: Hypotension, arrhythmia, dyspnea. There is blood or mucus in the stool, little urine, pain in places other than the abdomen (such as chest, neck, jaw, or throat pain). Poor resistance of the body: Especially in children under 2 years old, the elderly, people who are taking immunosuppressive drugs (usually used in joint diseases, cancer, allergies), people malnutrition, gastroduodenal disease, liver disease, pigment disorder. Usually, acute symptoms of food poisoning will appear within minutes, hours or within 1-2 days after poisoning from food. Severe food poisoning can lead to death, mild also causes fatigue, both physical and mental exhaustion for the sick person. Therefore, self-protection is the first necessary measure to think about, in which equipping with some important knowledge about first aid steps when suffering from food poisoning is extremely necessary.

When you see yourself or a loved one or someone around you having the above symptoms of food poisoning, you need to calmly perform the following first aid steps in sequence:
Induce vomiting (if the patient does not have vomiting). ): To limit toxins from food infiltrating into the body, the first first aid measure for food poisoning is to stimulate the poisoned person to vomit the food that is in the stomach to go out. Hands can be washed and then placed on the patient's tongue to induce vomiting. The patient should vomit as much of the stomach contents as possible. During the induction of vomiting, the patient should be placed on his or her side, with the head slightly elevated so that the vomited waste will not be regurgitated into the lungs, and not overstimulated to cause aspiration for the patient. In the case of food poisoning who is already comatose, do not induce vomiting because it will easily cause choking and suffocation. Give the patient a lot of water to drink and rest: After the patient vomits and has a continuous bowel movement, the body will lose a lot of water. Therefore, it is time to rehydrate the patient. For the problem of "what to drink food poisoning", you can use filtered water, oresol solution or drink roasted rice water to make up for lost water. Call 911 or take the patient to the nearest medical facility right away: Because even though first aid has been performed, the patient can still be in danger and complications at any time. Therefore, people with poisoning need help and monitoring from medical staff.

Other actions to take when detecting and providing first aid for food poisoning:
Retain suspected food samples, including information on labels, even vomit samples from the patient to help prevent food poisoning. determining the cause of poisoning. In case many people suffer from food poisoning: It is necessary to notify the nearest medical facility, preventive medicine agency or local government where the incident occurs so that medical facilities can promptly prepare for food poisoning. With adequate human resources to deal with in case of mass food poisoning, the authorities can promptly notify and prevent further poisoning. Doctor Phan Thi Minh Huong has over 30 years of experience in the field of Gastroenterology, in which with nearly 20 years holding the position of Deputy Department, Head of Department of Hue Central Hospital. Currently, he is a Doctor of Gastroenterology - Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - General Internal Medicine Department of Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.

With areas near the hospital of Vinmec Health System, patients can be transferred immediately to Vinmec hospital, the hospital always prepares enough human resources to deal with food poisoning and prevent poisoning. continue.
Vinmec International Hospital's Emergency Resuscitation Department operates 24/24 on all days of the week, including Saturdays and Sundays as well as holidays of the year. With diagnostic imaging equipment and Modern testing, especially specialized heavy-duty ambulances with a full range of machines to support serious patients traveling long distances in the subclinical field as well as in transporting serious patients on demand. . The team of emergency doctors and nurses at the Emergency and Resuscitation Department of Vinmec International General Hospital are intensively and professionally trained, able to receive and handle urgent cases of patients, and at the same time always has coordinated with all specialties of the Hospital in a methodical and quick manner. At Vinmec Emergency and Resuscitation Department, patients will be examined, diagnosed, quickly, accurately and treated according to the priority of emergency until the critical condition is over.