Melon Poisoning

Fruits, berries, of course, are of great benefit to the body. They saturate the body with vitamins, nutrients. Melon is very useful for the body: it is a rich source of vitamin, carbohydrates. Central Asia, especially Khorasan and Persia (Iran), is considered a country of origin and development, where sweet melons appeared. [1]It cleanses the blood, internal environment, biological fluids, saturates with fluid, promotes absorption and further elimination of toxins. But in certain situations, it can bring irreparable harm to health. For example, quite often, doctors have to diagnose melon poisoning.

What is dangerous melon?

Many, having heard that it is possible to poison melon, are very surprised. Indeed, at first glance, this is not just a safe, but even a useful product. Naturally, a logical question arises: what could be a melon dangerous? It turns out that the melon contains a large amount of natural oils, fats, amino acids, which affect the metabolic processes in the body. In addition, the danger lies in the fact that it contains flavonoids, phytoncides, glycerides, which can cause intoxication symptoms. This occurs if the melon is spoiled (in this case, the level of these substances increases sharply, as a result of which they can cause poisoning). [2]

It should also be borne in mind that an allergic reaction can develop for all these substances, cases of individual intolerance to individual components are possible. Moreover, at present, manufacturers prick melons with special substances, including antibiotics, in order to ensure higher preservation, facilitate transportation, and give a more attractive presentation. All this increases individual sensitivity, sensitization of the body, and can cause adverse effects on the body. [3]A similar picture is observed during pregnancy: against the background of hormonal and metabolic changes, hypersensitivity and toxicosis, the individual reaction to individual components can significantly change, as a result of which symptoms of poisoning and other pathological conditions develop.

What does a spoiled melon look like?

Naturally, in order to avoid poisoning, you need to know what a spoiled melon looks like. So, it can have a clearly spoiled, rotten look, then its non-quality is obvious. But sometimes a melon looks no different from a good, high-quality one. In this case, it must be felt. Avoid eating too hard, springy melon. It may contain antibiotics and preservatives that are administered in order to ensure longer storage.

Also, you should not buy melons, soft to the touch, too juicy, which are easily broken and literally “melt” in the mouth. This may indicate that they have been stored for quite some time, and accordingly, the level of flavonoids, phytoncides, and other components that, under certain circumstances, can cause poisoning, has significantly increased.

You should not buy greenish melons (if when cutting you see immature, green patches, especially at the base, near the skin). This suggests that the melon is not ripe, and may contain natural phytoncides in high, excessive concentrations. These substances are poorly tolerated by the human body. Also, such immature melons can be pricked with special substances that accelerate ripening and adversely affect a person’s health.

Epidemiology

According to statistics, every second person on the planet has been exposed to food poisoning at least once in a lifetime. Foodborne diseases are a serious public health problem worldwide. [4] About 76 million diseases, 325,000 hospital admissions, and 5,000 deaths are caused by foodborne illnesses in the United States each year. [5] Moreover, every tenth poisoning was due to melon. Of all the poisonings caused by the melon, approximately 70% is due to its natural composition (low-quality, overripe melon, which contains a large amount of volatile and causes poisoning). About 25% of all poisoning is due to the artificial introduction of various substances, including antibiotics, into the melon. Approximately 3% of poisoning occurs as a result of individual intolerance to the individual components that make up the composition, develops against the background of increased sensitization, body reactivity, allergies, asthma. The remaining 2% develop in women during pregnancy.

Causes of the melon poisoning

The main cause of poisoning is the ingestion of substances that cause intoxication, and which are hardly processed by the liver (or not processed at all). This can be both natural substances that make up spoiled or unripe melons, and artificial substances, antibiotics that are introduced into the melon by the manufacturer, supplier for the purpose of longer storage, giving the product an attractive presentation. [6] It should also be borne in mind that a person may have individual intolerance, increased sensitivity of the body, impaired digestive system, liver, and kidneys, as a result of which the body is not able to process the substances that make up the melon. Do not forget about possible allergic reactions. An unpredictable reaction can occur in children, especially if they are the first to try melons. The reactivity of the body changes in women during pregnancy. Against the background of general toxicosis and those changes that occur in the body in connection with a new condition, a clinical picture of poisoning may develop.

Risk factors

The risk group includes people who are characterized by increased sensitivity and reactivity of the body, who have pathologies of the digestive and excretory systems. People suffering from bronchial asthma, cholecystitis, pancreatitis also fall here. Risk factors are also considered a tendency to allergic reactions, asthma attacks, individual intolerance of individual components, pregnancy, intoxication.

Pathogenesis

The basis of pathogenesis is a violation of metabolic processes in the body that occur as a result of exposure to the body of various toxic substances. Poisoning is accompanied by violations of the basic metabolic processes at the cellular, tissue, and body levels. First of all, digestion processes are disturbed, increased irritation and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the digestive tract develops. In further pathology, tissues, mucous membranes are exposed. So, against the background of inflammation, dehydration develops, that is, a large amount of water is removed from the body, the destruction of cells, and subsequently of tissues, occurs. More and more cells and tissues are involved in the pathological process.

Symptoms of the melon poisoning

Melon poisoning is no different from the classic symptoms of food poisoning. So, the characteristic features of poisoning is vomiting, diarrhea. There is pain in the abdomen, as well as headache, dizziness. General weakness appears, decreased activity, appetite, sweating increases, palpitations increase. Pupils almost always dilate, impaired coordination of movements. Sometimes, with severe and severe poisoning, the possibility of swallowing is impaired, ptosis and collapse appear. Choking may develop, disturbance of smooth muscle activity may occur, which entails a violation of the process of respiration, digestion, and swallowing.

The first signs are nausea, confusion, trembling, weakness, sweating, palpitations, general deterioration of health, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, cramping in the stomach. [7] Gradually, the symptoms increase, intensify.

One of the main manifestations of melon poisoning is abdominal pain. As a rule, the stomach hurts quite badly. The pain of a sharp nature, acute, which quite intensively spreads throughout the stomach, intestines, radiates to the sub-odor region, or areas under the ribs. As a rule, the pain intensifies in the evening, you may need to take painkillers.

One of the symptoms of poisoning is diarrhea, which occurs after taking melon. Diarrhea can last several days, from eating melon, it only intensifies. If taking antidiarrheal drugs is ineffective, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible, complex treatment may be required.

Melon poisoning in a child

Children are poisoned by melon much more often than adults. Poisoning in a child proceeds much harder, develops faster and more intensively. It is worth noting that the most dangerous condition is diarrhea and vomiting, in which dehydration of the body occurs very quickly, fluid is lost, and its irreversible loss occurs. This very quickly leads to the development of irreversible consequences, a violation of the structure and functional state of the child's body. It is worth noting that self-medication is not worth it, so you need to call a doctor and provide your child with qualified medical care.

Melon poisoning during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a natural physiological stage of life, one of the important life cycles of a woman. This is not a disease, as many believe, however, the body is functioning in a state of increased stress, the body is undergoing restructuring, adapting it in accordance with the new functions and needs of the body. During pregnancy, the state and needs of the body change. Poisoning can occur much faster, even from a simple melon. This is due to the fact that the body is already in a state of increased sensitivity, sensitization, toxicosis and increased adaptability of the body.

Complications and consequences

The effects of melon poisoning are no different from other food poisoning. These can be various complications: a violation of the functional state of the body, which manifests itself primarily in the form of a violation of the kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. There is also a violation of the functional state of cardiovascular activity. The liver ceases to cope with toxic substances that penetrate the blood. It is worth noting that the reason is that the liver ceases to cope with the processing of toxins, and they do not get out, but remain in the body, begin to have a toxic effect on the body.

In addition, poisoning can provoke an allergic reaction of varying severity. The greatest danger is that a person may develop anaphylactic shock. The condition may be accompanied by loss of consciousness, a drop in heart rate, and a decrease in blood pressure. The peak of complications is that a person may fall into a coma, or die. But this is an extreme degree of intoxication and its consequences.

Diagnostics of the melon poisoning

The basis of diagnosis is the definition of the main symptoms of pathology (poisoning). It is worth noting that there are no specific qualities that determine melon poisoning. Signs are entirely consistent with a typical foodborne poisoning. Therefore, during the examination, the doctor must definitely find out the diet, consider all the main products that could cause intoxication. In order to diagnose poisoning, when its first signs appear, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. He will conduct an inspection. Typically, the doctor first interviews the patient, collects general information about him, a history of life. Here the cause of the pathology may be hidden.

It is important to remember in detail all the day before the poisoning. Every detail can be important, especially when it comes to diet. Be sure to list with the doctor all the foods and dishes that were consumed on the day of poisoning. This can play a significant role in the diagnosis, it can become an important criterion by which the doctor will diagnose, and in the future, determine the features of treatment.

Be sure to tell the doctor if any treatment has been carried out, what is its effectiveness. Then the doctor examines the patient (usually used classic research methods, such as palpation, percussion, auscultation). The doctor probes certain areas, abdomen, liver - this can be a source of important information and will identify the source of the pathology. Percussion is mandatory - tapping in the abdominal cavity. In the event that it is impossible to make a precise diagnosis, and additional information is required, laboratory and instrumental methods of research can be prescribed.

Analyzes

The basis of the diagnosis is the determination of the exact cause of intoxication, as well as the determination of the consequences that were the result of poisoning. In order to determine the origin and degree of the threat of poisoning, it is necessary to conduct a series of studies. In particular, the main method of following is a toxicological study. The object of study may be blood, urine. The essence of the analysis consists primarily in identifying those substances that caused poisoning. In addition, quantitative indicators of the toxic substance that caused the poisoning are determined. In the future, a determination is made of those changes that have occurred in the body. For example, melon poisoning in most cases is accompanied by a violation of the normal functioning of the liver and kidneys. The gastrointestinal tract and the cardiovascular system also suffer. It is worth noting that often poisoning provokes a bacterial and viral infection, a violation of local, and subsequently systemic immunity.

For example, if there is a suspicion of dysbiosis, or a violation of the normal bacterial state, it is necessary to conduct an analysis of dysbiosis, bacteriological examination, microbiological screening. It may also require an analysis to determine the viral load, a virological study. It is also necessary to assign an immunological study, an immunogram, an analysis of the level of immunoglobulins and interferons in the blood.

Even a clinical blood test, or a biochemical blood test, urinalysis, and feces can provide some information. They allow you to evaluate the general orientation of the processes occurring in the body. For example, clinical tests may show which process is taking place in the body: an inflammatory, infectious, or allergic process. This will allow us to at least roughly suggest in which system of organs the main pathological process occurs, what is its severity. Based on these general data, it is possible to determine in which direction to move and what other studies to conduct. Sometimes an increased level of eosinophils indicates the development of a parasitic infection, which can also lead to the development of warts, including on the nose.

With a disease of unclear etiology, consultation with other specialists, as well as instrumental studies, may be required.

Instrumental diagnostics

If it was not possible to find out the cause of the poisoning and make a diagnosis on the basis of an examination (general clinical manifestations and laboratory tests), instrumental research methods are performed. The selection of methods depends on which pathologies are suspected. So, instrumental diagnostics may be required. Appointed by specialist doctors who provide treatment of pathology. The essence of instrumental diagnostics is the study of various systems and organs, and is aimed at identifying those pathologies that could not be diagnosed using laboratory tests and a standard examination by a doctor.

For example, if there is a need to consult a gastroenterologist, he may need additional information. In particular, such research methods as gastrocopy, gastroduodenoscopy, ultrasound are often prescribed. If you suspect heart and circulatory diseases (myocarditis, functional disorders, arrhythmias, hypertension, hypotension), an electrocardiogram, ultrasound of the heart and other studies may be required.

Often, computer or magnetic resonance imaging is used, which allows you to assess the condition of the body as a whole, to identify possible pathologies.

Differential diagnosis

The essence of differential diagnosis is that it is necessary to clearly differentiate among themselves the types of poisoning (food poisoning, cholera, dysentery). [8] It is also necessary to clearly determine which substance caused the poisoning. This is very important, since the correctness and effectiveness of further treatment depends on the correctness of the diagnosis. The main diagnostic method is a toxicological study, which is based on the determination of the substance that caused the poisoning, as well as the determination of its exact concentration. [9]

Also, mainly instrumental methods are used for diagnostics; consultation of other specialists may be required. It is necessary to follow the course of the pathological process in dynamics, as well as at what speed, intensity, it proceeds, what factors contribute to this.

Treatment of the melon poisoning

The main treatment is aimed at eliminating the pathological process, eliminating directly the causes of the pathology. First of all, it is necessary to prevent the further intake of toxic substances into the body. Then you need to remove, neutralize those toxins that have entered the body. It is also important to eliminate those pathological phenomena that occur in the human body.

For example, in case of a violation of the normal functioning of the digestive system, it is necessary to apply symptomatic treatment aimed at eliminating the pathology of this system. It may also require symptomatic treatment aimed at eliminating the pathology of the kidneys, liver, if they have developed. Symptomatic and pathogenetic treatment is used mainly after the effects of the poison have been eliminated and the danger to life has passed, and the vital (vital functions of the body have been restored).

What to do with melon poisoning?

It is necessary to provide first aid by neutralizing the effects of the poison, and stopping its further intake. The essence of first aid is to rinse the stomach. By pressing the fingers on the root of the tongue, induce vomiting. In a medical institution, the stomach is washed with potassium permanganate, tannin. You can also drink activated carbon, or add it to the inlet for washing. Give laxatives. Be sure to introduce disinfectants: salol, urotropin. Drink plenty of water. [10] It is recommended to use mucous drinks, for example, jelly, flour. During the day, it is not recommended to eat anything, you can only drink. In the acute period (first 1-2 days), it is recommended to drink only hot drinks (tea, coffee). It is important to warm the victim, to overlay him with heating pads. Hot water bottles are applied to the legs, hands.

In the course of therapy, sulfonamides and antibiotics are used. The patient requires mandatory hospitalization and further inpatient treatment. During therapy, physiological saline is necessarily injected under the skin, and, if necessary, in the complex with glucose and vitamins, to ensure the body is nourished. Ringer's solution is also used. In case of cardiac abnormalities, caffeine and camphor injections are administered. When pain occurs, painkillers are used, as well as special detoxifying agents.

Medication

Medications are prescribed exclusively as directed by your doctor, as they can have serious side effects. Strict adherence to the doctor’s recommendations will prevent this. It is also important to adhere to the prescribed scheme. The main side effects in case of non-compliance with the doctor’s recommendations are the deterioration of the condition, the development of chronic poisoning, as well as impaired activity of the heart, respiratory tract. Consider the main drugs that are used in the treatment of poisoning.

With poisoning, diarrhea often develops. To eliminate diarrhea, loperamide is used. [11] Used for the symptomatic treatment of diarrhea. They are used both for the treatment of diarrhea and for the treatment of the underlying disease, manifested by diarrhea. If the stool is normal, you can stop taking the drug. If not, continue to take a tablet 2-3 times a day, depending on the severity of the pathology. Take the drug with caution. It should also be borne in mind that the drug acts quite quickly, therefore, if no improvement is noted in the first 48 hours, it is advisable to cancel the drug. It should also be borne in mind that taking the drug for kidney and liver diseases is contraindicated, and it should not be taken for children under 12 years of age. Abdominal bloating, increased fatigue, abdominal pain, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, and nausea are also considered side effects. But this is extremely rare.

To eliminate the main symptoms of intoxication, it is recommended to take regular activated carbon, or white coal (sorbex). As a result of the intake, the body is cleansed, the signs of poisoning gradually disappear, the condition and general health are normalized. Activated carbon requires 5-6 tablets, and sorbbeks 1-2 tablets per day are enough, since this is a drug of prolonged action. [12]

To eliminate toxins from the body, laxatives are used, for example, bisacodyl - 1-2 tablets 1-3 times a day, depending on the severity of the intoxication process. Diarrhea occurs, along with feces, a toxin is excreted. It must be borne in mind that laxatives should be taken only under the supervision of specialists, since they significantly disrupt the intestines. This can lead to a violation of microflora, inflammatory and infectious processes. This in itself can cause pain, cause new pathologies.

It should be borne in mind that against the background of poisoning, a bacterial infection can develop, therefore antibiotics are often used for the purpose of treatment and prevention. [13] Broad-spectrum antibiotics (such as azitrox) are recommended. It will quickly get rid of a bacterial infection. The entire course of treatment is designed for three days. The drug is recommended to take 1 tablet (500 mg) once for three days. It is important not to interrupt treatment, and take a full course, since bacteria can not be completely killed, as a result of which they become resistant.

Physiotherapeutic treatment

Physiotherapeutic treatment alone is not used to treat poisoning. During pathogenetic, symptomatic treatment, physiotherapy methods can also be used. For example, inhalations, thermal and light procedures, some electrical procedures, KUV, electrophoresis may be required.

Alternative treatment

Alternative treatments are represented by numerous recipes. For example, they use drugs prepared on the basis of vitamin and mineral components. Herbal decoctions and infusions, preparations of animal origin. 

Comprehensive treatment is usually used, which includes herbs.

As a decoction for relieving inflammation, use medicinal sage (30 grams per glass of boiling water). It also has antioxidant, neuroprotective, antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activity. [14] It is recommended to use mashed fresh leaves, which are poured with boiling water and insist for an hour.

Ramson is used not only in the form of juice and infusion, but also in the form of gruel. In this case, crushed onion bulb is used. Take a tablespoon 2-3 times a day. It stimulates digestion, has an antimicrobial effect, removes toxins from the body. [15], [16]

Homeopathy

When taking homeopathy, you need to consider that they can have side effects. To avoid this, you need to observe precautions - use the medicine only after prior consultation with a specialist. You also need to follow the treatment regimen, dosage, frequency and duration of therapy. 

Prevention

Prevention is based on timely diagnosis and immediate emergency care. It is necessary as soon as possible to stop the further penetration of the poison into the body (no longer eat melon). Then you need to remove the poison that has already entered the body (cause vomiting), and neutralize the poison that has absorbed into the blood. It is important to conduct gastric lavage, timely detoxification therapy and further pathogenetic treatment.

Also, prevention consists in eliminating dubious and low-quality melons from the diet. Moderately need to use melon during pregnancy (a few pieces). It is also necessary to maintain immunity in good condition, in particular, to maintain endurance and good shape. This will reduce the likelihood of poisoning or reduce the severity of its manifestation.

Forecast

If you determine the cause in time and carry out the necessary treatment, remove the poison from the body (neutralize it), the prognosis will be favorable. Melon poisoning is treatable. If, however, to tighten with emergency care and treatment, the prognosis may be unpredictable.