Monsoon maladies: All you need to know about foodborne diseases + preventive measures

 By Dr Vikrant Shah, Internal medicine expert, Zen Multispecialty Hospital

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), foodborne and waterborne diarrhea
diseases are a problem for every country in the world but they can be prevented. Diarrhea is
the acute and most common symptom of foodborne illness, but other serious consequences
are kidney and liver failure, brain and neural disorders, reactive arthritis, cancer and
death. Moreover, the rainy season brings a relief from scorching heat. But, at the same time,
one is also at an increased risk of various health issues. One may suffer from fatal diseases
owing to the unhygienic conditions and not adhering to preventive measures. Here, we brief
you about foodborne diseases and foolproof tricks to keep them at bay.
Facts about foodborne diseases
Speaking about food borne diseases, it can be termed as an infection or irritation of the
gastrointestinal (GI) tract caused by food or beverages which carry harmful bacteria, parasites,
viruses, or chemicals. Did you know? Most foodborne illnesses are acute, which means that
they may happen suddenly and also last for a short duration. Furthermore, most people may
recover by themselves, without taking any treatment. In very few cases, the foodborne illness
can cause serious complications.
The symptoms: If you suffer from it, you may exhibit symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea or
bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and chills.
The treatment: One of the most common ways of tackling foodborne illness can be replacing
lost fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration. Medications prescribed by the doctor can
help in getting rid of diarrhea in adults. However, if you have a bloody diarrhea then you must
avoid using the medicines given to you for diarrhea as this may be a sign of bacterial or parasitic
infection. Your doctor will also ask you to take some antibiotics, if the specific cause of the
foodborne illness is diagnosed, and the treatment varies from person to person.
Preventive measures:
You must refrigerate the food properly: Raw and cooked perishable foods should be
refrigerated or frozen without delay. Not doing so, can invite bacteria and viruses. Now, how to
store vegetarian and non-vegetarian food? These foods items should be stored separately.
Moreover, there are certain foodstuffs like milk, meat and curries which can get spoilt
immediately. So, make it a point to store them at the right temperature. Refrigerate cooked
food as soon as it reaches the room temperature. Leftover food items have to be consumed at
the earliest in to prevent fungus growth.
Maintain good hand hygiene: Following good and proper hand hygiene is the need of the hour.
Firstly, you must wet your hands thoroughly and apply soap. Then, rub the back of your hands
and after that rub both your hands interlocking your fingers. After rubbing your finger and

thumbs, rinse your hands properly. Furthermore, follow this healthy habit after handling food,
visiting the washroom, changing diapers, or touching animals. This will prevent the transmission
of bacteria and viruses. If you have any kind of skin abrasion or infection, then use clean
disposable gloves. Also, to keep your cutting boards clean, you must wash them with soap and
hot water.
Make sure that there is no cross –contamination: Cross-contamination can be defined as the
physical movement or transfer of harmful bacteria from one person, object or place to
another. Make sure that you place raw meat and eggs away from rest of the food items in your
refrigerator because the juices of raw meat can lead to cross contamination. Opt for airtight
containers to store food and those should be of a good quality. Don’t leave your food open for
a longer period of time as it can attract insects and flies. Avoid using same utensils- don’t serve
the same plate which had raw food to serve fresh food. In case, you are eating outside, see to it
that the plates, knives, and spoons you use are clean.
Eat fresh food: Eat properly cooked food at home. Bid adieu to the junk food. Going for fresh
fruits and vegetable salads can improve your immunity. But, make sure that the fruits and
vegetables are freshly cut. Include pepper, garlic, ginger, jeera powder, coriander and turmeric.
Check vegetables before buying as they can be infested with dust and dirt. Also, remember that
hydration is the key. So,