Cases of food poisoning are quite common in children as they do not practice personal hygiene. Prevent food poisoning in kids by following these tips.Although, food poisoning is one of the most common problems that occur in children, there are some ways which can help you prevent this from happening. If right precautions are taken, food poisoning can be prevented in kids.
Foods or water that is contaminated can not only affect children, but adults also get sick within hours of consuming it. The symptoms usually clear away over several days, but sometimes it takes even longer to recover. The main risk is of dehydration, which may develop quickly and get severe especially in children.
What is Food Poisoning?
Food poisoning occurs when contaminated food or water is consumed. Since bacteria and germs are very common and are all around us, food poisoning is quite common problem. Mild ones cause stomach upset or
diarrhoea and gets cured by taking some medicine and giving rest to your stomach.
However, food
poisoning can be sometimes severe and even cause death, if not treated on time. So, depending on the symptoms you need to get medical attention. Usually people think that food poisoning is caused due to eating food in restaurants, fast food stalls or anywhere outside your home. But the fact is that you can suffer from food poisoning even when you are at home.
Symptoms of Food Poisoning
The symptoms vary depending on the kind of bacterial food poisoning which is caused. Each bacterium can cause one of the other specific symptoms, but some of the common symptoms of food poisoning are:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Fever
- Chill waves
- Body aches and pains
- Pain in abdomen
Any of these symptoms should not be taken lightly especially when it occurs in kids. Since kids, especially infants, have less well developed digestive system, they are prone to food poisoning. They also have low tolerance and so treatment should be given as quickly as possible.
Treating Food Poisoning in Children
Mild cases of food poisoning can be treated at home. Make your child take rest and go back to school only when fully recovered. Staying hydrated is the most important aspect that should be taken care of along with giving rest to body and stomach as well.
You can get medically proven rehydration powder or ORS Oral Rehydration Solution as per your doctor’s prescription which available in medical stores. This can be prepared as directed on the pack and given to the affected person or child to replace fluid loss that has occurred due to illness. You can also prepare ORS at home to help your child cope with dehydration by following your doctor’s instructions.
However, severe cases of food poisoning must get immediate medical attention. The affected child has to be hospitalised so that rehydration is done with the help of intravenous drip.
How to Prevent Food Poisoning in Kids
- Children are prone to infections and illness and so it is very difficult to prevent this from happening.
- Teach your children to wash hands properly and often especially before touching food and after using the toilet.
- Make sure your child uses warm water and soap and scrubs hands for at least 15 seconds to get rid of the germs and bacteria.
- Clean the utensils, kitchen platform and chopping boards with warm water and cleaning solution.
- Avoid using unpasteurised milk.
- Wash fruits and vegetables properly before eating them.
- Eat foods which are properly cooked, especially non-vegetarian foods.
- Keep raw food items like raw meat, seafood and poultry away from cooked foods.
- Make sure you use up perishable food before its expiry date.
- Refrigerate leftover foods quickly and in closed containers.
- Use leftover foods within two days.
- Do not drink untreated water.
- Wash dishcloths, tea towels and kitchen towels regularly and use dry ones only.
Keeping house, kitchen and utensils clean will help you keep your children safe. Along with this you also need to keep yourself clean and carry on clean working habits. Teach your children and help them practice
personal hygiene.
Special precautions should be taken when you are travelling so that you keep yourself and your kids safe from travelling diarrhoea. There are the above things that you can do to prevent food poisoning. But the most important thing is that precautions should be taken at every stage of food preparation, preservation and serving. A lot of responsibility falls on parents along with teaching their kids good habits.
What are main causes for food poisoning in kids? How can food poisoning be prevented in kids? How to avoid food poisoning while travelling? Discuss here. 
