Posted on April 24, 2023 in Food Poisoning

Hepatitis A is a contagious infection that affects the liver and spreads through the consumption of contaminated food and water. Hep A Virus (HAV) can cause swelling and inflammation in the liver, resulting in a build-up of waste products in your tissues and bloodstream.

According to a report, approximately 1.5 million Hepatitis A cases occur worldwide every year, with an increasing annual rate in the United States. HAV is usually found in the blood and stool of infected people and can transmit to others with a simple touch. Keep reading to learn about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment for the Hepatitis A virus.

The Causes of Hepatitis A | How Is Hep A Contracted?

Hepatitis A virus can be transmitted between people via the "fecal-oral route." Once the Hep A Virus comes in contact with a new host, it infects the bloodstream and spreads to the liver, causing swelling and inflammation. A person can contract the Hep A Virus in the following cases:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 20, 2023 in Food Poisoning

Over 1.5 million campylobacter infection cases are reported in the United States every year, making it one of the most common causes of intestinal infection and diarrhea worldwide. While typically only a small number of people are infected with Campylobacter infection at a time, it can also occur as an outbreak, infecting hundreds and thousands of people at once.

Campylobacter is a kind of bacterial infection that can cause typical stomach flu symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. The biggest cause of Campylobacter infection is contaminated food and water. However, the Campylobacter infection is treatable, and you will start feeling better within seven to ten days of getting infected. Other names for the Campylobacter infection are Campylobacteriosis, Campylobacter, and Campylobacter Gastroenteritis. Keep reading the article to learn about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Campylobacter infection.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 17, 2023 in Food Poisoning

A foodborne illness outbreak is when two or more people experience a similar illness after ingesting a common meal or food. According to a report by the CDC, every 1 in 6 Americans is a victim of a foodborne illness annually, accounting for 3000 deaths and 128,000 hospitalizations. You can easily get food poisoning by consuming food with pathogens due to unsafe handling practices, contaminants that stay on food during the production process or as a result of being stored in dirty warehouses. Read on to learn about the worst foodborne illness outbreaks in the history of the United States.

Salmonella Outbreak

Salmonella is a bacteria that kills the cells in your intestinal walls, causing severe food poisoning. The symptoms of Salmonella (abdominal cramp, fever, and diarrhea) appear within 12 hours to 3 days after eating the contaminated food and automatically disappear within 4 to 7 days. Treatment for Salmonella includes electrolytes, antibiotics, fluids, and medications.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 13, 2023 in Food Poisoning

Still considered a rare infection by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Listeria is the third most common cause of food poisoning fatalities in the United States. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 people are infected by Listeria annually, out of which 260 die, making up 1 in 6 Americans. Listeria Monocytogenes is a germ that contaminates food and causes a serious infection in people of all ages, especially older adults, pregnant women, newborns, and people with weak immune systems. The foodborne illness can last from days to weeks, and the symptoms can vary from mild to severe, depending on the severity of the infection. Keep reading to learn more about Listeria Monocytogenes food poisoning.

What Is the Listeria Infection?

Listeriosis is a foodborne illness caused by the germ Listeria Monocytogenes, usually found in groundwater, soil, animal feces, and rotting vegetation. People get Listeria from eating contaminated food like hotdogs, deli meals, fresh vegetables, soft cheeses, cantaloupes, fresh fruits, and unpasteurized dairy products. L. monocytogenes is a rare form of bacteria that can reproduce even in low temperatures. Not only this, but the strangest part is that the food contaminated with the bacteria doesn't develop a strange taste, smell, or changes texture, making it impossible to know if the food or beverage is safe to consume or not.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 10, 2023 in Salmonella

Salmonellosis is a common foodborne illness caused by a group of bacteria called Salmonella. You get the infection by eating contaminated food products such as unpasteurized dairy, eggs, beef, and dirty vegetables and fruits or by handling pets, particularly reptiles and birds. Salmonella destroys the cells lining your intestine, making it difficult for your body to absorb water. This can cause typhoid-like fever, stomach pains, and diarrhea. Keep reading to learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of Salmonellosis.

How Can a Person Contract Salmonellosis?

Did you know that the Salmonella bacteria live in the guts of almost every human and animal? However, transmitting the bacteria in higher quantities can cause Salmonella poisoning, leading to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues. A person can get Salmonellosis by eating, touching, or drinking:

- Untreated water

- Unpasteurized cheese or milk

- Contaminated Vegetables or fruits

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 06, 2023 in Food Poisoning

First identified in 1977, Legionnaires' disease was a result of the pneumonia outbreak in a US convention center in 1976. Caused by bacteria called Legionella, Legionellosis is a severe form of pneumonia. Most patients of Legionnaires' disease become sick by inhaling the bacteria from soil or water bodies like showers, swimming pools, and hot tubs. Legionella bacteria can also cause Pontiac fever which has flu-like symptoms and can be easily treated. However, if left untreated, Legionnaires' disease can be life-threatening, especially for people with a weak immune system. According to studies, one in ten people with Legionellosis is expected to die.

In this article, we will discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatment for Legionnaires' disease. Keep reading to protect yourself and your loved ones from the rarest form of pneumonia.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 03, 2023 in E. Coli

Belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, Escherichia Coli is a rod-shaped bacterium that thrives in all kinds of environments, with or without air. Commonly known as E. coli, the bacteria love to live in the intestine of warm-blooded animals and humans. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a total of 265,000 E. coli cases are reported in the United States annually, resulting in 30 fatalities and 3,600 hospitalizations. The majority of these cases (around 36%) are caused by the STEC O157 E. coli strain, whereas the non-O157 STEC strains cause 64%. Read on to learn more about the E. coli bacteria infection.

What Is E. coli Bacteria Infection?

Found in the intestines of both animals and healthy people, E. coli is a bacteria that helps in the digestion of food. Even though harmless, some Escherichia Coli strains cause life-threatening bacterial infections. When an E. coli strain infects your body, it produces a toxin that damages the internal lining of the small intestine, causing diarrhea. There are primarily six strains of Escherichia Coli:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 30, 2023 in Food Poisoning

Foodborne illness, otherwise known as a food outbreak, occurs when two or more people fall sick from consuming the same contaminated beverage or food. Food outbreaks can cause severe illness, hospitalization, and death of hundreds of people if not dealt with immediately. From all-natural vegetables and fruits to processed food and drink, food outbreaks can occur in any food product made or handled with negligence.

Foodborne illnesses are usually caused by parasites, viruses, bacteria, and toxins and can affect people of all ages. Here is a summary of recent food outbreaks.

2023 – Hepatitis A | Frozen Strawberries

Found in the blood or stool of infected people, Hepatitis A is a virus that causes a contagious liver infection. Symptoms of Hepatitis A include yellow eyes or skin, joint pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and loss of appetite.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 27, 2023 in Food Allergies

Did you know that food allergies affect over 50 million Americans? In fact, food allergy affects approximately 8% of children and 6% of adults every year, and the numbers keep rising. Another study states that around 11% of adults in the United States have food allergies. While any kind of food can cause an allergic reaction, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 90% of food allergy reactions are caused by these eight foods: eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, shellfish, wheat, soy, and tree nuts. In this article, we will teach you everything you need to know about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of common food allergies.

What Is a Food Allergy?

Food allergy is your immune system’s reaction to certain food types. The immune system recognizes the food protein as a threat and signals your brain to release chemicals like histamine, which can cause inflammation. Similar to genetic disorders, food allergies run in families. Thus if you have inherited an allergic condition like eczema, asthma, or hay fever, there is a high chance that you might have a food allergy.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 24, 2023 in Food Poisoning

Do you feel a sharp pain in your lower abdomen and stomach and have the urge to use the bathroom 10 to 20 times a day? You might have Shigellosis, a severe intestinal infection caused by a bacterium called Shigella. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 450,000 people are diagnosed with Shigellosis every year. Causing bloody diarrhea, fever, nausea, cramps, and abdominal pain, this foodborne illness can infect anyone with poor sanitation habits. While there is no proper treatment for Shigellosis, researchers are still working on vaccines to prevent the spread of the bacteria. Keep reading to learn more about Shigella.

What Is Shigella?

Shigella is a bacteria that causes a severe infection in the digestive tract called Shigellosis. This contagious sickness can easily spread by eating or drinking contaminated food and water. Also known as Bacillary Dysentery, the four species of Shigella include:

Continue Reading ››