Posted: 4/16/2009 8:20:13 PM EDT
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I got it. At work, of all places, on the mess deck. I am pissed about that. Three weeks eating out in town in the Philippines and I catch the creeping crud on the ship I work on.
Be that as it may, I had access to medical facilities and treatment and am on the mend. What, however, would I do if I did NOT have access to medical care, say an SHTF scenario, and I got E. Coli or salmonella, etc. I know prevention is far easier than treatment and I have never been sick from eating at home or while camping etc, but sometimes these things can happen. What actions would you take to self-treat for something like this? |
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I got it. At work, of all places, on the mess deck. I am pissed about that. Three weeks eating out in town in the Philippines and I catch the creeping crud on the ship I work on. Be that as it may, I had access to medical facilities and treatment and am on the mend. What, however, would I do if I did NOT have access to medical care, say an SHTF scenario, and I got E. Coli or salmonella, etc. I know prevention is far easier than treatment and I have never been sick from eating at home or while camping etc, but sometimes these things can happen. What actions would you take to self-treat for something like this? You'll need antibiotics to treat either E. Coli, or Salmonella.. If not you will become severely dehydrated with very high fevers; it can be deadly if left untreated... |
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Food poisoning is rarely treated with antibiotics. Food poisoning is usually self limiting and treatment is usually focused upon controlling the symptoms and dehydration.
There is a diet that is often times recommended known as the BRAT diet. BRAT stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. You are not supposed to replace your normal diet but incorporate these items into it. Avoid spicy foods, alcohol, caffiene, carbonated beverages, and sugary liquids. Another diet modification during this time is to eat unpasturized yogurt. Danactive is a good source of the "good" bacteria. "Active culture" foods have been shown to be somewhat effective in treating salmonella and Ecoli and will help with settling down your GI tract and help the diahrrea. The thing you have to understand about your GI tract is it is FULL of bacteria and normally each type of bacteria is kept in check by all the others. Now when you eat something contaminated you ingest a large number of 1 type of bacteria that allows it to overcome everything else. Well the body reacts to this with the well known symptoms of fever, nausea, and diarrhea. The problem is you NEED the balance of bacteria in your GI tract. Antibiotics have the tendency to kill everything allowing bad bugs to again take over like Clostridium Difficule which is a whole other bag of bad. Probiotics is kind of the opposite of antibiotics. It introduces good beneficial bacteria back into your body. These good bacteria will fight and crowd out the bad bacteria and bring your GI tract back into a normal state. Yogurt can be a great source for that good bacteria. Drink plenty, plenty, plenty of fluids. Gatorade and other drinks with electrolytes can be a real life saver here. Dehydration is the major concern here as your body should fight off the infection within a few days, hence the diahrrea and vomit. Your body is basically flushing the pipes out. Food poisoning (non botulinum) is a very nasty thing but rarely requires medical treatment and if it does like I said it focuses upon the symptoms... Let your body work itself out, keep eating those good bacteria foods and keep yourself hydrated. |
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You need to take antibiotics for several days. SHTF without antibiotics=die rather soon FerFAL E. coli enteritis usually lasts 1-3 days without treatment. Salmonellosis usually lasts 4-7 days without treatment. So what antibiotics specifically is everyone saying is needed? I have never heard of using antibiotics to treat food poisoning until today and I have had alot of patients come in with dehydration r/t food poisoning... |
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This has some info on it. Link left cold.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/foodborneinfections_g.htm#howtreated Had it a few years ago. Projectiling from both ends about every hour and a half for 2 1/2 days, also had severe chills/shivering and a fever around 102.3. Took Immodium , when I went to the Dr., she told me never take that if you think you are dealing w/ foodborne illness. She recommended Pepto for it. She also gave me a prescription for Cipro. Stopped for 12 hours or so then to severe hershey squirts/stomach cramps for another 2 days. Severe stomach cramps for a week afterwards. I prayed that God quit torturing me and just take me. At my check up the Dr told me if I wasn't as healthy as I was, I would've been hospitalized. She also told me now I know why it can kill people if it is left untreated. Without IVs I would have been in trouble. |
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You need to take antibiotics for several days. SHTF without antibiotics=die rather soon FerFAL E. coli enteritis usually lasts 1-3 days without treatment. Salmonellosis usually lasts 4-7 days without treatment. So what antibiotics specifically is everyone saying is needed? I have never heard of using antibiotics to treat food poisoning until today and I have had alot of patients come in with dehydration r/t food poisoning... This is from the CDC website about foodborne illness i posted above: When should I consult my doctor about a diarrheal illness? A health care provider should be consulted for a diarrheal illness is accompanied by high fever (temperature over 101.5 F, measured orally) blood in the stools prolonged vomiting that prevents keeping liquids down (which can lead to dehydration) signs of dehydration, including a decrease in urination, a dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up. diarrheal illness that lasts more than 3 days Do not be surprised if your doctor does not prescribe an antibiotic. Many diarrheal illnesses are caused by viruses and will improve in 2 or 3 days without antibiotic therapy. In fact, antibiotics have no effect on viruses, and using an antibiotic to treat a viral infection could cause more harm than good It is often not necessary to take an antibiotic even in the case of a mild bacterial infection. Other treatments can help the symptoms, and careful handwashing can prevent the spread of infection to other people. Overuse of antibiotics is the principal reason many bacteria are becoming resistant. Resistant bacteria are no longer killed by the antibiotic. This means that it is important to use antibiotics only when they are really needed. Partial treatment can also cause bacteria to become resistant. If an antibiotic is prescribed, it is important to take all of the medication as prescribed, and not stop early just because the symptoms seem to be improving. |
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Thanks for all of the replies. In this case, the doctor and I KNOW it is E. Coli because I submitted a stool sample to the laboratory and that's what popped up. The hospital I used is St. Jude's Family Hospital in Olongapo, Philippines. I was prescribed "metronidazole" which is a "antiprotozoal" according to the wrapper.
Based upon what is posted here, practicing safe food handling techniques seems to the answer. While I have no control over food handling here, I CAN and will start sticking my head in the galley much more frequently while "inspecting machinery for being in good working order" and be very vocal if I happen to find a practice I don't think is good. A couple of days ago, some other people told me they felt a little sick around the same time I did but they never came down with the full blown E. Coli. |
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Food Poisoning here when I was a teenager.
I agree, I actually prayed that i would die. Overwhelming cramps that would double me over, to the floor, in 2 seconds. They didn't every say whether it was Salmonella or E Coli or whatever. but it was BAD. I had apendicitis, and thought those cramps were bad....they did not compare to food poisoning. Side note about water borne parasites: I read a study by some doctors that have concluded the campers and hikers who say they have gotten Crypto or Giardia , many have in fact, most likely, gotten a food borne illness from lack of hygene. Less than sanitary conditions while hiking, along with questionable food prep, along with not thoroughly cooking/ heating = food borne illness. I fully agree, prevention should be put way ahead of treatment. You just want to avoid it at all costs. Which means more sanitation, which means more need for water. In SHTF / TEOTWAWKI times, focus on hygene and by all means make sure you cook the living crap out of your food. High heat. Meat doesn't taste as good, vegetables get hard, but it's not worth the pain and agony and possible death from Food poisoning. if rasiing your own veggies or tending your own animals it starts in the dirt, or where the animals live. Cleanliness all the way through the food chain. Sick animals would have to be quarantined from the others upon discovery (SHTF assumes shortage of veternary supplies too.) We all [me included] talk about the lengths we will go to to filter and treat our drinking water, but probably should spend some time discussing food prep, hygene, and cooking methods to ensure we don't get the dreaded food borne illnesses. They SUCK!! If SHTF and in ultra-primitive mode, about the only thing you can do is boil some water and add ground up charcoal. drink up. mmmmm, good. 
Thanks to the OP for bringing up the topic. Sorry you got it, Hope you are feeling better!! I've been there, i know, it SUCKS. |