Food Poisoning Infection

vs.

Food Poisoning Intoxication

What’s the difference?

There are a number of ways in which food can make you sick. Chemicals, heavy metals, foreign objects, food-infesting insects, parasites, fungi, viruses and bacteria are all possible causes.

The greatest, and by far most common risk of becoming ill or dying from food is from contamination with harmful microorganisms, commonly known as germs. The likelihood of becoming seriously ill by microorganisms is far greater than that of pesticide risks, environmental contaminants, nutritional imbalances, food additives and natural toxicants.

Microorganisms include bacteria, viruses, molds, parasites and more. Of the many types of microorganisms, bacteria and viruses are the majority cause, or source of foodborne illness cases in most of the world.

Microbial food poisonings or foodborne illnesses mainly fall into one of two categories. The first is food infection, where the microorganism itself grows inside your body and is the source of your symptoms. The second is food intoxication, where a chemical or natural toxin (often produced as a by-product of bacteria present in the food - known as an exotoxin) causes your symptoms or illness. Most bacterial food poisonings are actually food infections.

The symptoms of food infection and food intoxication are similar. Both can produce food poisoning related symptoms, such as headaches, vomiting, abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea, dehydration, and so it is not always clear which you are experiencing.

Here Are Some Differences That You Can See in Many Cases:

The most common microorganisms responsible for food infections include Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni, Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Norwalk Viruses, and Hepatitis A

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, or if you are a higher risk person, (i.e. infant, child, elderly person, pregnant woman, or an already ill person with weakened immune system - cancer, kidney disease, diabetes etc.) the treatment for either will be the same – rest, light fluids etc.

If you end up at the doctor’s office or a hospital, the medical treatment will most likely depend on whether you are experiencing intoxication or an infection. The main treatment for severe bacterial infection is antibiotics. For intoxication, the treatment will further depend on the type of source and/or type of toxin and may just involve medications or methods to flush the toxin out of your system.

For an extensive list of natural treatments, remedies and other possible cures, click on the link and read my article at www.FoodPoisoningPrevention.com/Treatements_Remedies.htm