Man Dies After Eating Shawarma From A Roadside Stall; Ways To Protect Yourself From Food Poisoning

09/05/2024

man dies after eating shawarma from a roadside stall; ways to protect yourself from food poisoning

A 19-year-old man died after eating chicken shawarma he bought from a roadside stall in Mumbai, officials said. Prathamesh Bhokse thereafter suffered severe stomachache and vomiting and went to a nearby hospital for treatment.

However, according to Bhokse’s family, his ordeal did not end, and he continued feeling ill. He was then taken to another hospital and treated for food poisoning. Then for the third time, he had to be rushed again for medical treatment since he continued vomiting and complained of stomach problems. He was then admitted to a government-run hospital in Trombay, where he passed away.

What is food poisoning?

Food poisoning is a foodborne illness that occurs when you eat contaminated food infected with a toxic organism like bacteria, fungus, parasite, or virus. Sometimes the toxic byproducts of these organisms can also cause food poisoning. Doctors say when you eat something toxic, your body reacts through vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, or all of these. The uncomfortable symptoms of food poisoning are your body’s way of working to return to health in a day or two.

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Sometimes, food poisoning can also be life-threatening, due to extreme loss of water from your body. According to statistics, every year, across the world, unsafe food causes 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and 4,20,000 deaths. More than 30 per cent of foodborne deaths occur among children under five years of age.

Who is most at risk from food poisoning?

According to doctors, you may more likely get sick from food poisoning, or have a more severe reaction to the condition if your immune system is not strong. A few things that can impact your immunity levels include:

Age

Children under the age of five have immature immune systems

Pregnancy

Pregnancy makes your immunity go down

Chronic illnesses

Many chronic conditions like infections, cancer, immunodeficiency diseases, and autoimmune diseases can affect your immunity

Medications

Corticosteroids and immunosuppressants repress your immune system and make you more prone to illness

Signs and symptoms of food poisoning

A few signs and symptoms of this condition include:

Diarrhoea
Nausea and vomiting
Stomachache and cramps
Fever
Headache
Weakness

Ways to protect yourself

It is important to make sure that the food you consume is clean and fresh to avoid any health issues. A few of these are:

Clean

Make sure to wash raw produce well in clean, sanitary water, and always wash your utensils before using them to prepare food.

Separate

Avoid cross-contamination by separating raw meats and eggs from fresh produce or other food items as meat products carry germs that get destroyed when cooked at proper temperatures.

Cook

Always take care while cooking meats and seafood thoroughly to the proper temperatures to kill germs

Refrigerate

Make sure to refrigerate or freeze prepared foods within two hours of cooking to keep bacteria from breeding

What should I eat and drink when I am down with food poisoning?To help your stomach settle for a while try sucking on ice chips to stay hydrated along with some fruit juice popsicles for energy. You can start with small bites of bland foods like broth and crackers or toast.
How do you treat food poisoning?In most cases, you can manage food poisoning at home by simply staying hydrated. You lose a lot of fluids through diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Staying hydrated is the most important thing you can do to support your body while it does its work.
How long does food poisoning last?Doctors say mostly, food poisoning passes within 12-48 hours. However, it may last longer if you have a weakened immune system or a parasite that needs to be treated with antiparasitic drugs.