Food poisoning after festive meals: what families need to know – फूड पॉइज़निंग (खाने से ज़हर)

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Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating food or drinking water that carries germs or the toxins they make. In Prayagraj it is common after festivals such as Diwali, Govardhan Puja and Annakut, during the wedding season, and after big family meals, when sweets, khoya, paneer and cooked dishes are made in bulk and left out for hours. Most cases settle in one to three days, but vomiting and loose motions can quickly dry out small children, elderly people and anyone with diabetes, heart or kidney disease. The one thing to remember: keep giving fluids, and come to the emergency without delay if the person cannot keep fluids down or shows warning signs.

24×7 Emergency 📞 Call 91510 10313

What is food poisoning? (Food poisoning kya hai?)

Food poisoning, also called food-borne illness or "khana kharab hone se bimari", happens when harmful bacteria, viruses or toxins enter the body through food. Common sources are milk products that have gone sour, khoya and sweets stored without refrigeration, undercooked meat or eggs, cut fruit and chaat from open stalls, and water that is not clean. Some germs make toxins in the food itself, which is why even reheated food can still cause illness if it was left out too long.

Symptoms usually begin a few hours to a day after eating. When several people who ate the same meal fall ill together, food poisoning is the likely cause.

Symptoms and warning signs

Common symptoms of food poisoning (pet kharab, ulti-dast) include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Loose motions or watery diarrhoea
• Stomach cramps and pain
• Fever and body ache
• Weakness and loss of appetite

Warning signs that suggest dehydration or a more serious infection:

• Vomiting again and again so that no fluid stays down
• Blood in the stool or black stool
• Passing very little urine, or none for many hours
• Dry mouth, sunken eyes, dizziness on standing
• High fever that does not come down
• Severe or constant stomach pain
• Drowsiness, confusion or fainting
• In babies: no tears, a sunken soft spot on the head, very few wet nappies, unusual sleepiness

Causes and who is at risk

Food poisoning is most often caused by:

• Sweets, khoya, paneer and milk products kept at room temperature
• Cooked food left out for more than two hours, especially rice and gravies
• Leftovers reheated many times
• Undercooked chicken, mutton, fish or eggs
• Street food, cut fruit and chutneys exposed to flies and dust
• Unsafe water, ice or juices made with unclean water
• Not washing hands before cooking, serving or eating

People at higher risk of serious illness are infants and young children, people over 60, pregnant women, and people with diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, liver disease or weak immunity. In these groups, dehydration can develop within hours.

First aid: what to do at home

1. Stop eating the suspected food and keep it aside, so others in the family do not eat it.
2. Give small, frequent sips of ORS (oral rehydration solution) or clean fluids such as boiled water, coconut water, thin dal water or rice water. Small sips every few minutes work better than large amounts at once.
3. For babies, continue breastfeeding and give ORS between feeds as your doctor advises.
4. Let the person rest. Once vomiting settles, give light food such as khichdi, curd rice, banana or toast.
5. Wash hands with soap after cleaning up vomit or stool, and after using the toilet, to stop it spreading.
6. Watch for warning signs, count how often the person passes urine, and note when symptoms started and what was eaten. This helps the doctor.

What not to do: common mistakes and myths

• Do not take antibiotics on your own. Many cases are viral or toxin related, and the wrong medicine can do more harm than good.
• Do not take anti-diarrhoea or anti-vomiting medicines without a doctor's advice, especially for children and the elderly.
• Do not stop giving fluids because the person is vomiting. Keep giving small sips.
• Do not rely on home remedies alone if warning signs appear.
• Do not give sugary cold drinks, strong tea or packaged juices as a replacement for ORS.
• Do not wait overnight if a small child or an elderly person is getting weak or drowsy.
• Myth: "Reheating kills everything." Some germs make toxins that heat does not destroy, so food left out too long is unsafe even after heating.

When to go to the emergency

Come to the emergency at once if there is:

• Vomiting so frequent that no fluid stays down
• Blood in the stool or vomit
• Very little or no urine for 8 hours or more
• Drowsiness, confusion, fainting or a fit
• Severe stomach pain or a swollen, hard belly
• High fever with chills
• Signs of dehydration in a baby, a child or an elderly person
• Symptoms in a pregnant woman, or in someone with diabetes, kidney or heart disease
• Weakness of the eyes or face, double vision, difficulty speaking or swallowing, or weakness of the limbs after eating canned or preserved food

If several family members fall ill at once, bring them together and tell the doctor what was eaten.

How doctors diagnose it

Doctors first check the pulse, blood pressure and signs of dehydration. Blood tests may be done to check salts (electrolytes), kidney function and blood sugar. A stool test may be advised if there is blood, high fever or symptoms that last longer. In some cases an ultrasound of the abdomen is done to rule out other causes of stomach pain, such as appendicitis or gallbladder problems.

Treatment options

Most people need only rehydration and rest. If the person cannot drink enough, fluids are given through a drip (IV fluids) to correct dehydration and salt imbalance. Medicines to control vomiting or fever are given as the doctor decides. Antibiotics are used only for certain infections, after the doctor's assessment. Patients with severe dehydration, kidney strain or low blood pressure may need close monitoring in the ICU, especially children and the elderly.

Recovery and care at home

After the illness settles, return to normal food slowly over two to three days. Keep drinking enough fluids until urine is clear and regular. Avoid oily, spicy and heavy food, and milk products if they upset the stomach. Rest well, wash hands often, and do not cook for others until symptoms have fully stopped. See a doctor again if symptoms return or last longer than three days.

Prevention

• Eat freshly cooked food and cook only as much as the family needs.
• Refrigerate leftovers within two hours, and reheat them only once, until steaming hot.
• Buy sweets and khoya from clean, trusted shops and check that they smell fresh.
• Keep raw meat away from cooked food and use separate knives and boards.
• Drink boiled or filtered water, and use clean water for ice and juices.
• Wash hands with soap before cooking, serving and eating.
• Cover food to keep flies away, especially at big family gatherings.

Ayushman Bharat and cashless treatment

If food poisoning leads to hospital admission, Aarogyavaram Critical Care Hospital is empanelled under Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY) and the Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay state employee scheme, and offers cashless treatment with many insurers and TPAs. Bring the Ayushman card or insurance card and Aadhaar at admission; our desk will guide the family.

Frequently asked questions

Aarogyavaram Critical Care Hospital, Prayagraj

Aarogyavaram Critical Care Hospital is on T.B. Sapru Marg, Civil Lines, Prayagraj, with a 24×7 emergency and ICU. We receive patients from across Prayagraj – Civil Lines, George Town, Katra, Allahpur, Tagore Town, Ashok Nagar, Kareli, Dhoomanganj, Teliyarganj, Rajapur, Mumfordganj, Kydganj, Chowk, Naini, Jhunsi, Phaphamau, Jhalwa, Bamrauli, Subedarganj and Preetam Nagar – and referrals from Kaushambi, Pratapgarh, Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Fatehpur, Chitrakoot, Banda, Jaunpur, Sultanpur, Varanasi, Rewa and Satna. 24×7 Emergency: 91510 10313.

This article is general health information, not medical advice. Diagnosis and treatment are decided by the treating doctor after examination. In an emergency, call 91510 10313 or go to the nearest hospital.