FOOD POISONING. WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW.

Food poisoning is not just one of the most common pathologies in the United Kingdom but it is also worldwide.

Toxins, parasites or bacteria are the common causes of food poisoning, frequently produced by Salmonella, E.Coli, Clostridium Difficile, Staphylococci, etc.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms are vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and in the most severe cases, fever.

Fever is the sign which will indicate that a much more aggressive bacteria is present within the body and can range from causing a slight fever in mild cases of food poisoning to a high fever in severe ones; the more severe cases can require antibiotics prior to a stool culture.

PREVENTION

Prevention is key when it comes to food poisoning:

• Keeping meats, fish, vegetables and all types of food in the fridge.
• Not disrupting the freezing chain of foods, in other words, do not refreeze something that has already been defrosted.
• Cook all food thoroughly, especially meat and fish.
• Hands must always be thoroughly washed prior to touching all food as well as before eating.
• Fresh vegetables should be washed thoroughly.
• All utensils must be washed meticulously, especially if they have been previously used to cut meat or fish.

TREATMENT

The treatment will delve into the importance of hydration and the replacement of ions in order to have a quick and effective recovery.

Hydration takes place through the use of Oral Rehydration Solutions, which usually come prepared in packets and is essential for children; nevertheless, we will provide a very simple and easy way to prepare it, for those that do not have access to them:

• A knife end of salt, bicarbonate of soda, a squeezed lemon and sugar (to taste) are added to a litre of bottled water (or boiled water in its absence). 

It is to be drunk cold so that it is tolerated better; it should be drunk throughout the day, in small doses every ten minutes, which are to be increased steadily.

A soft diet can be put in place after 24 hours based on potato or carrot puree, boiled rice, grilled chicken breast, hake (either boiled or in a broth) toast with olive oil, apple, etc.

The Oral Rehydration Solution would be administered to children in the following way: a teaspoon of the solution is to given every five minutes during the first hour, a tablespoon should then be given every ten minutes during the second hour and larger quantities will be then applied within longer time intervals when the child is able to tolerate more. Their soft diet will be based on rice as a cereal and chicken and hake given in the form of purees along with other foods, however the topic of food poisoning in children will be discussed further in a future article.

Lastly, I would like to state that we live surrounded by microorganisms and it is our duty to find the best way to defend ourselves against them.

Dr J. Hurtado Martínez

Medical Director of HealthSalus 

INTOXICACIÓN ALIMENTARIA. LO QUE DEBEMOS SABER.

La intoxicación alimentaria es una de las patologías más frecuentes en el Reino Unido así como en el resto del mundo.

Generalmente la contaminación de los alimentos es debida a toxinas, parásitos o bacterias; las más comunes son las producidas por la Salmonella, E. Coli, Clostridium Difficile, Estafilococos, etc.

SÍNTOMAS

Los síntomas son diarreas, vómitos, dolor abdominal y en casos más graves, fiebre.

La fiebre es el signo que nos indicará la presencia de una bacteria más agresiva, dando décimas en intoxicaciones leves, a fiebre alta en intoxicaciones más graves; estas últimas requerían incluso tratamiento antibiótico, previo cultivo  de las heces.

PREVENCIÓN

La prevención en las infecciones alimentarias es clave:

• El mantenimiento en frigorífico de carnes, pescados, verduras y alimentos.

• No cortar la cadena de congelación de los alimentos, es decir no volver a congelar lo previamente descongelado.

• Cocinar bien los alimentos, sobre todo pescados y carnes.

• Lavarse bien las manos siempre antes de tocar cualquier alimento y antes de comer.

• Lavar la verdura fresca meticulosamente.

• Lavar bien los utensilios, sobre todo si han sido previamente utilizados para cortar carne o pescado.

TRATAMIENTO

En el tratamiento destacaremos para una recuperación rápida y efectiva la hidratación y reposición de iones.

La hidratación es realizada a través de suero oral; normalmente viene preparado en sobres y es fundamental para los niños, no obstante aquí detallamos una forma sencilla y fácil para prepararlo, para los que no tengan acceso a ellos:

• Se le añade a un litro de agua embotellada (o en su defecto agua bien hervida) una punta de cuchillo de sal, otra de bicarbonato, un limón escurrido y azúcar al gusto.

Se toma frío para ser mejor tolerado; debe de ser tomado a lo largo del día, en pequeñas cantidades, y cada diez minutos, aumentando la dosis paulatinamente. A las 24 horas se podrá comenzar una dieta blanda, basada en puré de patata o zanahoria, arroz cocido, pechuga de pollo a la plancha, caldo de pollo, merluza cocida o en caldo, tostada de pan con aceite, manzana, etc.

En los niños pequeños el suero se dará de la siguiente manera: una cucharada pequeña cada cinco minutos en la primera hora, una cucharada grande cada diez minutos en la segunda hora, y cuando tolere más, se les dará mayor cantidad y más espaciada en el tiempo. Su dieta blanda será basada en arroz como cereal, pollo y merluza en forma de puré como otros alimentos, aunque los niños serán un capitulo aparte.

Por último decir que los microorganismos viven siempre con nosotros, nos compete buscar la mejor forma de defendernos de ellos.

Dra J. Hurtado Martínez

Directora Médica de HealthSalus

HEALTH NEWS

Benefits of Eating Dark Chocolate

According to ‘The American Heart Association’, regularly eating 2 ounces of dark chocolate, in other words, containing more than 75% of Cocoa, reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, angina pectoris, thrombosis and blood pressure.

Other important benefits include:

• Facilitating digestion.

• Reducing mental fatigue.

• Reducing resistance to insulin, aiding in the prevention of diabetes. 

• Improving renal function, reducing the production of kidney stones.

• Improving intestinal function. 

• Aiding in the treatment of anaemia.

NOTICIAS DE SALUD

Beneficios de Comer Chocolate Negro

Según ‘The American Heart Association’, comer regularmente 2 onzas de chocolate negro, es decir, con más de 75% de Cacao, reduce el riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares, como infartos, angina de pecho, trombosis y tensión arterial.

Otros beneficios importantes son:

• Facilita la digestión. 

• Disminuye la fatiga mental.

• Disminuye la resistencia a la insulina, ayudando a prevenir la diabetes.

• Mejora la función renal, disminuyendo la producción de cálculos.

• Mejora la función intestinal.

• Ayuda en el tratamiento de la anemia.

MEDITERRANEAN DIET. MIXED SALAD.

Mixed salad is a dish with high quantities of Fibre, Antioxidants, Vitamins and Minerals.

It can be used as a starter prior to a main course or as an only dish for a light dinner.

Its components make it ideal to prevent aging, cardiovascular and degenerative diseases.

INGREDIENTS:

• Lettuce (all types can be used).

• Watercress.

• Tomatoes.

• Carrots.

• Cucumber.

• Beetroot.

• Black olives.

• Tinned asparagus.

• Onion.

• Egg.

• Tinned Tuna.

• Radish.

• Virgin Olive Oil.

• Salt.

• Vinegar.

METHOD

All the ingredients are chopped, placed on a bowl or plate and garnished with virgin olive oil, vinegar and a pinch of salt.

Enjoy it!!

DIETA MEDITERRÁNEA. ENSALADA MIXTA.

La ensalada mixta es un plato con altas cantidades de Fibra, Antioxidantes, Vitaminas y Minerales.

Puede ser utilizado como primer plato antes de la comida principal o como plato único para una cena ligera.

Sus componentes la hacen ideal para prevenir enfermedades cardiovasculares, degenerativas y del envejecimiento.

INGREDIENTES:

• Lechuga (de cualquier variedad).

• Berros.

• Tomates.

• Zanahoria.

• Pepino.

• Remolacha.

• Olivas negras.

• Espárragos en conserva.

• Cebolla.

• Huevo.

• Atún en conserva.

• Rábanos.

• Aceite de oliva virgen.

• Sal.

• Vinagre.

MÉTODO

Se trocean y se colocan todos los ingredientes en un plato o fuente, y se aliñan con aceite de oliva virgen, vinagre y un poco de sal.

A disfrutarla!!

Iron-deficiency anaemia. When we are left without Iron.

This is the most frequent type of anaemia in the world, due to deficiency or when no absorption has taken place. This precious mineral aids in the production of haemoglobin and in the transportation of oxygen to all body tissues.

A simple blood test will give a diagnosis.

The most frequent symptoms are:

• Tiredness.

• Pale skin.

• Intolerance to exercise or to minimum effort.

• Hair loss.

• Nail fragility.

• Rhagades or fissures on the skin around the mouth.

• Tachycardia in extreme cases.

• Etc. 

It should always be taken into account that chronic anaemia can sometimes produce organismal adaptation and hardly produces any symptoms.

I want to highlight that an important symptom that sometimes goes unnoticed and would have a diagnostic of Iron-deficiency anaemia, is a disproportionate yearning to eat ice, without being in a hot climate, with it even taking place in room or cold temperatures. This phenomenon is called ‘Pica’, and sometimes it is not just reduced to a yearning of eating ice but also to wanting to eat soil, wood, inorganic objects, etc. It is sometimes diagnosed as a psychological disorder however; the levels of minerals in the blood should always be studied including Iron and it should always be taken into account, especially in children.

In the majority of cases, patients that tend to suffer from this pathology are:

• Women with abundant menstruations or with gynaecological problems whereby abundant losses of blood are produced.

• Pregnant and lactating women, as they require a larger quantity of this mineral.

• Patients with gastric problems, which makes absorption more difficult.

• Intestinal parasites have to also be taken into account fundamentally in children.

• A lack of adequate food can also lead to Iron deficiency.

The treatment for Iron-deficiency anaemia is Iron in the form of capsules, syrups, etc. These treatments have to have a minimum duration of three months in order to sufficiently fill Iron deposits, and a minimum of dose of maintenance would be necessary in a lot of cases especially those of women that have continuous blood losses.

The diet would consist in foods that are rich in iron such as:

• Meats such as beef.

• Shellfish such as clams, mussels and cockles.

• Vegetables such as watercress, swiss chard, spinach, etc.

• Nuts such as almonds, pistachios, etc.

• Legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, peas, broad beans, etc.

And never forget that when taking iron as a treatment or foods that are rich in it if it is not accompanied by vitamin C, it will not be absorbed.

Therefore orange juice, grapefruit, lemon, strawberries or stews where there is tomato, peppers, broccoli, etc. should always accompany Iron.

Let us remember that a simple blood count would easily detect Iron-deficiency Anaemia and that by it being accessible to everybody, it would allow people to experience a better life.

Dr J. Hurtado Martínez

Medical Director of HealthSalus