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How To Avoid Stomach Infections?
Question: I had severe bloating, gut pain and felt close to vomiting throughout the night after eating a takeaway meal of chicken kebab. My bowel movements are liquid and explosive this morning and I still feel quite sick. I had a similar experience 6 weeks ago. Last time I vomited during the first night and was on the toilet with liquid bowel movements every hour for seven hours on the second night. It was horrible. After two days of eating almost nothing, I recovered and have been fine since. I did take a course of probiotics for three weeks, as I believe this helps me. Last time the only thing I could think may have caused it was a chicken salad sandwich I bought for lunch that day. I normally eat only very healthily. Home cooked meals with lots of vegetables. I am wondering if there might be something in the takeaway food that I am allergic to. Or perhaps I am sensitive to bacteria that might form in chicken that had been left sitting warm. As I noticed the symptoms only 4 hours after eating the kebab, I am guessing that this is unlikely to be a reaction to an accumulation of high fodmap foods that I may have eaten over previous days. Or should I be attending to a low fodmap diet? I have experienced mild sensitivity to wheat and dairy in the past, and have cut right back on those foods. Generally my bowel seem very healthy these days. My husband ate exactly the same food as me both times, and he was fine. How can I best avoid a repeat in the future? Thank you. Regards, XXXX
Brief Answer:
infective gastroenteritis
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to Healthcare-Magic
Greetings of the day
Dear Ms
The most likely culprit could be Chicken Kebab. Presence of certain bacteria have a short incubation period for development of symptoms which could be 4 to 6 hours. Some individuals are more susceptible to the preformed toxin produced by bacteria as compared to others. Perhaps that's the reason why your husband was alright.
I would suggest you to avoid eating the food from particular source of place or type of food which has caused you symptoms previously.
I would suggest you the following medication for symptomatic treatment
1. Probiotics
2. Antacid and antiemetics :Pantoprozole and Domperidone will provide much needed relief from symptoms
3. Ensure good intake of fluid and soft diet preferably home made
Do get back to me if you need any further assistance, will be glad to assist you.
Take care
Best Regards
Dr Shobha Deepak
MBBS, MD
infective gastroenteritis
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to Healthcare-Magic
Greetings of the day
Dear Ms
The most likely culprit could be Chicken Kebab. Presence of certain bacteria have a short incubation period for development of symptoms which could be 4 to 6 hours. Some individuals are more susceptible to the preformed toxin produced by bacteria as compared to others. Perhaps that's the reason why your husband was alright.
I would suggest you to avoid eating the food from particular source of place or type of food which has caused you symptoms previously.
I would suggest you the following medication for symptomatic treatment
1. Probiotics
2. Antacid and antiemetics :Pantoprozole and Domperidone will provide much needed relief from symptoms
3. Ensure good intake of fluid and soft diet preferably home made
Do get back to me if you need any further assistance, will be glad to assist you.
Take care
Best Regards
Dr Shobha Deepak
MBBS, MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you. Does that mean food poisoning?
If I am particularly susceptible, then what foods should I be wary of in the future?
When eating take out? I am guessing no chicken if it's possible it may have been sitting for a while. What about other meats? What about vegetarian? What about sushi? The food that caused this in the past was from completely different outlets. How might I be able to assess if an outlet may be safe for me to purchase food from?
And when cooking at home? Do I need to take special care when preparing chicken? How might I do that safely? I often cook up big pots of lentils or beans. Do I need to be super careful to put them in the fridge when cooling? And perhaps make sure I reheat them to boiling point. Or is that a different issue?
If I do get it sometime in the future, is there some medication I can get from my chemist to alleviate symptoms - that I can keep in my cupboard? What about homeopathic or natural remedies?
Is there any particular food I can be eating to build up my immunity to this kind of bacteria, in the future?
As you can see I am very keen to stay healthy and avoid any reoccurrence. I would appreciate any advice.
Thank you
Regards,XXXX
If I am particularly susceptible, then what foods should I be wary of in the future?
When eating take out? I am guessing no chicken if it's possible it may have been sitting for a while. What about other meats? What about vegetarian? What about sushi? The food that caused this in the past was from completely different outlets. How might I be able to assess if an outlet may be safe for me to purchase food from?
And when cooking at home? Do I need to take special care when preparing chicken? How might I do that safely? I often cook up big pots of lentils or beans. Do I need to be super careful to put them in the fridge when cooling? And perhaps make sure I reheat them to boiling point. Or is that a different issue?
If I do get it sometime in the future, is there some medication I can get from my chemist to alleviate symptoms - that I can keep in my cupboard? What about homeopathic or natural remedies?
Is there any particular food I can be eating to build up my immunity to this kind of bacteria, in the future?
As you can see I am very keen to stay healthy and avoid any reoccurrence. I would appreciate any advice.
Thank you
Regards,XXXX
Brief Answer:
Explained
Detailed Answer:
Dear Ms,
Apologies for the late reply.
Majority of the times its Non vegetarian food which is the culprit, especially frozen and ones stored in refrigerators for longer time after cooking.
I would suggest you the following tips
1. Non vegetarian food: Prepare small quantity of food, just sufficient for given meal, avoid roll over to next meals. If possible try to avoid frozen foods.
2. Vegetarian food: It is better tolerated and less likely to cause issues. Big pots of lentils and beans are perfectly fine. They are less likely to undergo degradation
3. Avoid eating red meat especially from outside eateries.
4. Thoroughly marinated and cook the food well.
Its nice to know you believe in Ayurveda - XXXXXXX Medicine System.
I would suggest you the following
1. ! cup of curds/yoghurt everyday: It is natural probiotic and will help prevent recurrent loose stools.
2. A glass of fresh lemon juice with 2 spoons of forest honey added : To be consumed early morning on empty stomach
3. XXXXXXX gooseberry are very effective: Chyawanprash( jam like preparation of XXXXXXX gosseberry ) will be helpful
Do get back to me if you need any further assistance, will be glad to assist you.
Take Care
Regards
Dr Shobha
Explained
Detailed Answer:
Dear Ms,
Apologies for the late reply.
Majority of the times its Non vegetarian food which is the culprit, especially frozen and ones stored in refrigerators for longer time after cooking.
I would suggest you the following tips
1. Non vegetarian food: Prepare small quantity of food, just sufficient for given meal, avoid roll over to next meals. If possible try to avoid frozen foods.
2. Vegetarian food: It is better tolerated and less likely to cause issues. Big pots of lentils and beans are perfectly fine. They are less likely to undergo degradation
3. Avoid eating red meat especially from outside eateries.
4. Thoroughly marinated and cook the food well.
Its nice to know you believe in Ayurveda - XXXXXXX Medicine System.
I would suggest you the following
1. ! cup of curds/yoghurt everyday: It is natural probiotic and will help prevent recurrent loose stools.
2. A glass of fresh lemon juice with 2 spoons of forest honey added : To be consumed early morning on empty stomach
3. XXXXXXX gooseberry are very effective: Chyawanprash( jam like preparation of XXXXXXX gosseberry ) will be helpful
Do get back to me if you need any further assistance, will be glad to assist you.
Take Care
Regards
Dr Shobha
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Dr XXXXXXX
Can you confirm that I had food poisoning? Is that the ordinary term for it?
In terms of non vegetarian takeout food, do you know if chicken is more risky that other meats? Do you know if Japanese sushi can also be a problem? Would the bacteria be killed if the food was fully cooked at a high heat just before serving? For example in a pizza. Or does that make no difference.
You state that big pots of lentil are less likely to undergo degradation. How would I know if the food was to become contaminated? Is reheating back to boiling point a preventative measure?
Thank you for your Ayurveda suggestions. I have practiced similar methods in the past. (We have a good, natural probiotic made locally in New Zealand. It's called Phloe.). Do you know if they are practices for general bowel health? Or are they specifically to increase my immunity to the bacteria that caused my illness?
Do you have any suggestions as to what I can keep on hand, as a natural remedy, if symptoms were to reoccur at some time in the future?
Thank you for your attention to my questions.
Regards
XXXX
Can you confirm that I had food poisoning? Is that the ordinary term for it?
In terms of non vegetarian takeout food, do you know if chicken is more risky that other meats? Do you know if Japanese sushi can also be a problem? Would the bacteria be killed if the food was fully cooked at a high heat just before serving? For example in a pizza. Or does that make no difference.
You state that big pots of lentil are less likely to undergo degradation. How would I know if the food was to become contaminated? Is reheating back to boiling point a preventative measure?
Thank you for your Ayurveda suggestions. I have practiced similar methods in the past. (We have a good, natural probiotic made locally in New Zealand. It's called Phloe.). Do you know if they are practices for general bowel health? Or are they specifically to increase my immunity to the bacteria that caused my illness?
Do you have any suggestions as to what I can keep on hand, as a natural remedy, if symptoms were to reoccur at some time in the future?
Thank you for your attention to my questions.
Regards
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Apologies for late reply
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Greetings
The symptoms you had following intake of food fit into the diagnosis of food poisoning. Food poisoning usually presents with explosive stools, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating and sometimes mild fever.
Chicken is less risky compared to pork and beef. Cooking the food fully at high temperature will definitely help reduce the risk Food which have been stored in refrigerators, its very important to heat them on open flame instead of using microwave or alternatives.
The ayurvedic advise is both for gut and also general immunity booster.
I would advise you to keep handy following medicines next time you have any issues
1. Tablet Pantoprozole: Will be helpful for acidity
2. Tablet Domperidone: For nausea and vomiting
3. Tablet Drotavarine: To relieve intestinal spasm
4. Tablet Loperamide: Its antimotility drug which helps reduce severity of explosive bowel movements.
Do get back to me anytime for any further assistance, take care.
Wishing you great Health
Regards
Shobha
Vegetarian food is less likely to harbor harmful bacteria( meat provides a good culture media for growth of bacteria). Its also safe and better to stick on to vegetarian food. There are many other health benefits in individuals who predominantly consume vegetarian food apart from less incidence of food poisoning. Apologies, I have no idea about Japanese Sushi
Apologies for late reply
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Greetings
The symptoms you had following intake of food fit into the diagnosis of food poisoning. Food poisoning usually presents with explosive stools, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating and sometimes mild fever.
Chicken is less risky compared to pork and beef. Cooking the food fully at high temperature will definitely help reduce the risk Food which have been stored in refrigerators, its very important to heat them on open flame instead of using microwave or alternatives.
The ayurvedic advise is both for gut and also general immunity booster.
I would advise you to keep handy following medicines next time you have any issues
1. Tablet Pantoprozole: Will be helpful for acidity
2. Tablet Domperidone: For nausea and vomiting
3. Tablet Drotavarine: To relieve intestinal spasm
4. Tablet Loperamide: Its antimotility drug which helps reduce severity of explosive bowel movements.
Do get back to me anytime for any further assistance, take care.
Wishing you great Health
Regards
Shobha
Vegetarian food is less likely to harbor harmful bacteria( meat provides a good culture media for growth of bacteria). Its also safe and better to stick on to vegetarian food. There are many other health benefits in individuals who predominantly consume vegetarian food apart from less incidence of food poisoning. Apologies, I have no idea about Japanese Sushi
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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