There has been a number of high profile food poisoning cases this 2018 year end in Singapore & Malaysia.
 

• Salmonella behind Spize mass food poisoning incident
• Mandarin Orchard food poisoning: Main ballroom forced to close after 175 fall ill at 4 separate events
• 2 dead, several ills in Malaysia after eating laksa from a stall in Kedah
• Food poisoning cases: Could bug have been the culprit?

 
Symptoms of food poisoning can range from mild to severe. Initial symptoms are usually of vomiting, loose watery stool (diarrhoea), stomach pain (abdominal colic) and fever.
Severe complications of food poisoning are dehydration and even sepsis. As vomiting or diarrhoea persists, one can get severely dehydrated – dry lips, cool extremities, dizziness and a general sense of lethargy and weakness. Furthermore, one’s heart rate would also start to go up and the blood pressure starts to fall as dehydration worsens. In the event of a strong infection, one may even develop sepsis (blood infection) that can lead to an increased rate of breathing, change in mental alertness and status.
 

Here are Top 5 Things Doctors Would Advise You To Do In a Useful to Remember Acronym. W.A.T.E.R !

W – Water

Hydration hydration hydration, that is always the priority for anyone who is experiencing episodes of gastroenteritis.
 

A – Avoid

Avoid dairy foods, foods which are oily or fried as these are difficult to digest and would make the diarrhoea worse. Go for the BRAT diet – Bananas, Rice, Apples, Toast
 

T – Take medication

Take medication such as loperamide, lomotil, hidrasec to control the diarrhoea symptoms. Medications such as dimenate, maxolon, ondansetron, promethazine help stave away vomiting symptoms. And lastly Buscopan and Meteospasmyl take away abdominal colic symptoms.
 

E – Ensure you are able to drink water and that vomiting has stopped.

If vomiting persists, it is advisable to consider visiting the Accident and Emergency departments or 24-hour clinics such as the Concord International Hospital for Intravenous (IV) Rehydration, IV Medications and a period of close observation and recuperation
 

R – Rest and Recharge

Like any car without fuel, when one is dehydrated or without food, lethargy and weakness sets in. Close monitoring by a trained medical professional in a comfortable environment for recovery goes a long way in preventing complications of gastroenteritis.
 
 
 
Eat Safe & Take Care.