Poisoning by oysters: through how many symptoms appear, diagnosis

Oyster meat is popular all over the world. Practically in every restaurant you can find a dish in which these marine inhabitants meet. They have a very gentle pleasant taste and leave no one indifferent.

However, this product should be treated with great care. 

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]

Epidemiology

According to statistics, oysters occupy the first place in the ranking of the most dangerous food products, which can lead to acute poisoning.

Meat of shellfish contains many useful elements and substances that promote health. In this case, the oyster is a kind of filter, passing through the sea water. Inside mollusks, substances that disrupt the functioning of the body can remain. Poisoning by oysters can provoke raw materials of poor quality.

[7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12]

Causes of the oyster poisoning

• use in the process of cooking already dead oysters;
• preparation of infected shellfish. If the shellfish was infected with salmonella, botulism or E. Coli, it should not be served on the table;
• norovirus (viral infection);
• improper storage of oysters;
• overdose. The mollusk contains a high level of natural protein. If it enters the body in large quantities, the digestive system may fail;
• insufficient heat treatment;
• individual intolerance.

Before you get to the table, marine life goes through important stages: catch, transportation, storage. If mistakes were made on one of them, the product may become dangerous for the human body.

Risk factors

To suffer from a poor-quality product can be either one person or the whole group. Poisoning is often an unpleasant consequence of a picnic, a banquet, food at roadside cafes, restaurants.

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Pathogenesis

Poisoning of shellfish meat is a kind of trauma that occurs as a result of ingestion of a toxic dose of a substance. The disease is accompanied by strong pain in the abdomen, a sharp increase in temperature.

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Symptoms of the oyster poisoning

Intoxication carries a serious danger to human health and life. Eating oysters can lead to irreparable consequences. After how many the first symptoms appear? This can happen after a few hours (5-6) from the moment of use. Sometimes signs appear after a day. First of all, it depends on the amount of seafood eaten, the stage, and also the degree of infection of oysters.

How does intoxication manifest?

Symptoms of poisoning by oysters can be noticed even by an ordinary person, without special knowledge and skills:

1. Severe and severe pain in the abdomen;
2. Emetic urges;
3. Swelling and spasm of the intestine;
4. Diarrhea;
5. Botulism;
6. Increased body temperature.

Poisoning by the seafood has its own specifics. To the listed symptoms it is possible to add cramps, infringement of sensitivity of extremities. If the first signs of poisoning occur, you must call an ambulance. Before the arrival of physicians, the patient should be given a large amount of water and try to provoke vomiting. If there is no diarrhea, you can take laxatives, which will help to quickly remove the infected product from the body.

The first aid rendered in time will help to avoid unpleasant consequences and complications.

Forms

Specialists identify several main types of intoxication:

• neurotoxic. Poisoning occurs as a result of the action of the fat-soluble substance of brevetoxin, which helps increase the current through the sodium channels of the nerve and muscle cells. It is accompanied by a headache, a burning sensation in the anus, diarrhea, and vomiting. The duration of the incubation period is approximately 3 hours;
• paralytic. As a result of the action of the saxitoxin, the sodium channels are blocked. After 10-15 minutes after using a poor-quality product, one can observe the manifestation of neurological disorders. In the oral cavity, dumbness is felt, dizziness appears. Poisoning can cause complete or partial loss of vision. To therapy it is necessary to proceed as soon as possible, since death may occur within 12 hours;
• amnestic. The causative agent is the housekon acid. In most cases, poisoning is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and dizziness. Sometimes there is loss of memory, seizures of epilepsy, ophthalmoplegia. Within 5 hours of eating, the first symptoms may appear.

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Diagnostics of the oyster poisoning

After examining the patient, the doctor can make an accurate diagnosis. To determine the degree of poisoning and the cause, he needs to familiarize himself with the symptoms and send the patient to the tests.

The main signs of intoxication are nausea, abdominal pain. Such symptoms are accompanied by other diseases, for example appendicitis. To accurately diagnose, it is necessary to conduct differential diagnosis.

To establish an accurate diagnosis, instrumental diagnostics is also performed. It is a whole complex of procedures that are conducted in a medical institution. For this purpose, apparatuses are used to analyze the functioning of internal organs and systems.

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Treatment of the oyster poisoning

Often poisoning is accompanied by diarrhea or vomiting. At their first appearance, you must not take medicine to stop the urge, because the stomach needs to be washed. After washing the stomach, Tserukal is used in injections. Also, doctors prescribe Motilak. Single dose is 10 mg (one tablet). With strong vomiting, two tablets can be taken.

A reliable and quick way to remove toxins from the body - activated carbon. It is taken depending on the body weight with a calculation for every 10 kilograms of 1 tablet.

Enterosgel is used to restore the structure of the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract. Single dose - one tablespoon. The paste should be washed down with plenty of water. With a slight form of poisoning, Smecta is taken. A packet three times a day.

The restoration of the functions of the intestines and stomach is promoted by the vitamins of group A. They help to normalize the process of gastric juice secretion.

In some cases, specialists prescribe physiotherapeutic treatment.

Poisoning and alternative medicine

With mild forms of poisoning, you can resort to folk treatment:

• tincture of cinnamon. It is known that cinnamon is considered a natural sorbent. It also helps to get rid of spasms. To make the tincture you need a ground cinnamon (about 0.5 teaspoon) and a glass of boiling water. Fifteen minutes you need to strain the tincture. You need to take it warm. For a day - 1.5 liters;
• lemon juice. From 2-3 medium lemons it is necessary to squeeze out the juice and add a little sugar. To juice was not highly concentrated, it should be diluted with boiled water. The drink will help prevent further multiplication of bacteria. However, the tool is not suitable for everyone. People with high acidity and diseases of the stomach lemon juice is categorically contraindicated;
• Ginger - the perfect solution with strong pain in the abdomen. It is enough to mix a tablespoon of honey and a couple drops of ginger.

Also popular is the treatment of herbs:

1. Decoction of dill with honey. The product will help to remove toxins from the body as soon as possible. For 1.5 cups of boiling water you need 1 teaspoon of dill seeds. The mixture must be left to stand for 2-3 minutes. After the broth, you need to boil and add a spoonful of honey. In a day should drink about 1 liter of the resulting broth;
2. Millennial and wormwood. These herbs help to remove harmful substances from the body. For 500 milliliters of boiling water take one teaspoon dried plants. The broth is infused for 15 minutes. The resulting portion should be divided into 5 parts and taken throughout the day;
3. Altey. Leaflets, flowers and plant roots contribute to a speedy recovery. To prepare the infusion, you need to take 2 tablespoons of leaves or flowers and add 2 cups of boiling water. The drug is infused for 4 hours.

Effectiveness of homeopathic preparations for poisoning

In acute poisoning homeopathy helps to relieve pain and ease the course of intoxication. The most effective drugs are:

• Arsenicum album. The drug is based on arsenic oxide, which quickly removes toxic substances from the body. To facilitate the course of poisoning, it is enough to take 2-3 drops of the drug and drink plenty of warm water. Relief will come in 5-10 minutes;
• Lycopodium. The drug has a powerful effect in the poisoning of seafood and oysters. The daily dose is determined by a specialist. Granules must be placed under the tongue until completely dissolved;
• Hina. The drug is effective for dehydration, it is available in the form of drops. Depending on the degree of poisoning, the doctor prescribes a daily dose of a homeopathic remedy;
• Aconite. The drug is widely used in food poisoning. Removes spasms, promotes cessation of diarrhea, removes symptoms of fever. When severe poisoning should be taken 5 times a day for 8 granules. The duration is approximately two weeks. Next - 8 granules 2 times a day.

When acute intoxication, do not self-medicate. It is urgent to go to a medical institution and follow the recommendations of specialists. If the treatment methods were chosen correctly and the help was provided in a timely manner, one can count on a positive prognosis.

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Prevention

To avoid unpleasant consequences and to protect yourself from poisoning, you need to remember about prevention:

• when buying oysters in a supermarket it is important to pay attention to the shelf life and storage conditions;
• great value has product packaging. If its integrity is violated, the product can carry a danger and it is better not to buy it;
• Do not go to questionable restaurants or cafes. Especially to order in them dishes with seafood;
• use oysters is recommended no more than three times a week.

Despite the fact that oysters have a great taste, you always need to remember the consequences and take care of your own health.

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