Most of us are familiar, "joy" of food poisoning. Sometimes we do not even have time to pack up after a picnic and immerse them in the car as just eaten a salad already asked out. Adults quickly realize what is happening and know that the next day they do not expect anything pleasant. They are trying to take a horizontal position to take the strategically important area close to the toilet, stocking drinking and waiting for the symptoms go away after a couple of days. Most often what happens: the symptoms disappear, and we return to a normal life.

And what do in this situation for children? Kids are much more than adults, are subject to all sorts of infections, especially food. The immune system of children under three years, is not yet fully formed, so the health of children largely depends on the individual characteristics of the organism and risk factors. The worst thing is that young children still talk bad and can not express their thoughts, so it is difficult to explain what they have hurt. In addition, children spend much time outside the home, in kindergarten, my friends, that also complicates timely diagnosis of intestinal infection.

First of all, be sure to contact your doctor - to distinguish acute intestinal infection by functional disorders of their own hard and lost time can turn into big problems. Prior to joining the doctor persuade the child to go to bed and try to distract him. The less he moves, the lower the likelihood of complications.

The causative agents of food poisoning

Depending on the type of agent, tanned two types of food poisoning: bacterial and viral. Viruses transmitted pathogens of food poisoning from poorly cooked food and in contact with the carrier, especially in the hands. Among adults, the most common norovirus, which is also called "intestinal flu" (because of the similarity of symptoms). Norovirus can be infected and children. Symptoms of norovirus infection include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever.

Listeria

For pregnant women and children under five years of special danger is listeriosis - food poisoning caused by bacteria Listeria. Listeria found in poorly cooked food: meat, vegetables, and soft cheeses (feta and blue cheese), unpasteurized milk and meat products Cold smoked. Listeria is destroyed during pasteurization and heat treatment, so to prevent infection should carefully prepare the food, especially the meat dishes. Listeria can cause great harm to a small child or lead to serious complications during pregnancy, so doctors recommend expectant mothers reheated meat dishes and products before use and to abandon the consumption of soft cheeses and unpasteurized milk.

Key listeriosis symptoms: fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. After contact with listeria in the nervous system (brain and spinal cord), a headache Headache , Stiffness of the neck muscles, dizziness and cramps. If you suspect listeriosis in pregnant women or young child as soon as possible to consult a doctor to avoid complications. For the treatment of listeriosis prescribe antibiotics, but according to statistics 20% of cases the fetus dies in the womb with a strong infection of Listeria.

E. coli E. Coli

In addition, there are Listeria and other harmful bacteria which are transmitted through food, such as E. coli E. Coli. Intestinal infection caused by sticks E. coli, most likely to occur because of the poor quality of dairy products - yogurt Kefir: a unique drink for health and harmony , Yogurts, unpasteurized milk, and fresh juice or dirty water. It is also possible spread of infection through dirty dishes (cross-contamination), which prepared poorly washed vegetables or fruit. Transmission of pathogenic strains of E. coli often occurs fecal-oral route, ie, when bathing in polluted waters and accidental hit in the mouth with water.

Symptoms of intestinal infection chopsticks E. Coli children do not appear immediately, within a few days after eating contaminated food or contact with carriers of infection (unfortunately, this infection is transmitted through contact with other people). So when you realize that your child is sick, he could no longer infect other children. Delayed symptoms also prevents determine what is the source of the infection. Most often, parents are "suspect" foods eaten a child the day before the onset of symptoms, when in fact the infection could have occurred a few days before.

Symptoms of E. Coli intestinal infection in children are diarrhea with impurities (mucus, green, blood-streaked). Vomiting may occur simultaneously with the rise in temperature, or precede it (thus the child's body tries to get rid of the infection). The kids feel bad, there is lethargy, weakness, headache, refuse to eat - all of these symptoms are caused by the action of microbes in the organs and tissues of the body (intoxication). When one or more of these symptoms should immediately seek medical attention. If the baby is observed only lethargy, nausea, and diarrhea, food poisoning can be treated at home. To do this, the child should be put to bed and give drink to 1 teaspoon or 1 tablespoon (depending on age) every 5-10 minutes. Otpaivat child can be glucose-saline solution, compote, juice, tea, a five per cent solution of glucose.

If a child is infected with E. coli E. Coli, it is a carrier of the infection and can infect you, so in the early days, wear a gauze bandage when caring for a child, and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after contact with the baby and the things to which he touched.

Salmonellosis in children

Salmonella - another type of bacteria that cause food poisoning. The most common infection occurs through the consumption of unpasteurized milk, poorly cooked poultry meat and eggs. Transfer of salmonella bacteria also occurs through contaminated surfaces (eg, utensils or cutting board). Salmonellosis is particularly dangerous for children with weakened or immature immune systems. The main symptoms of salmonellosis include fever, stomach pain, severe diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Children Salmonellosis occurs more acutely than adults.

In most cases of food poisoning a child is accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Sometimes these unpleasant symptoms added as fever, headache, severe muscle spasms and pain. If you suspect a child of food poisoning, and you believe that rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking good care of the time will not help him recover, call "ambulance." Some types of food poisoning in the absence of timely treatment can lead to damage to the nervous system or even meningitis. Such infections can not be cured at home, they require drug therapy (including treatment with antibiotics).

Prevention of food poisoning in children

Prevention of food poisoning is to observe basic hygienic rules. Teach your child to always wash your hands before eating and after using the toilet, drink only boiled water. It is also necessary to comply with sanitary norms in the preparation and storage of food: thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables with boiling water, boil the milk, store cooked food only in the refrigerator and no more than 2 days, thoroughly wash the dishes after cooking meat and fish. Before serving, be sure to warm up food, and if in doubt about its suitability for use, throw away!

It should also be careful when bathing children in the reservoirs. Pathogens some intestinal infections (eg dysentery) live there up to 50 days. A child who is ill with dysentery during the month is a carrier of infection: in this period, it should not be allowed contact with other children.

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