UAE | Health
Physician offers advice for treatment of food poisoning
A doctor has warned against giving soft drinks to children suffering from suspected food poisoning, saying the sugary drinks will only worsen the condition.
- By Mahmood Saberi, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:01 June 25, 2009
Dubai: A doctor has warned against giving soft drinks to children suffering from suspected food poisoning, saying the sugary drinks will only worsen the condition.
Dr Anil Awatramani of UniCare Medical Centre said that although many parents feel that such drinks will help to settle an upset stomach, this is not the case.
The doctor, who also runs a travel medicine clinic, said tourists who fall ill, especially those travelling in tropical countries, could instead take about 500 milligrams of Ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic.
However, he warned that the medicine should only be taken as a last resort if there is no immediate medical help available.
Airline food is also a major cause of food poisoning, he said. He added that most travellers would be unaware of where the infection had come from, as the symptoms occur after 12 to 24 hours.
Asked what treatment should be given to children, he said rehydration is essential and Domperidone can be given in extreme cases, but warned that a doctor should be consulted first.
"Antibiotics are not recommended," he said.
The doctor warned against eating fried rice, saying that contamination is common because of improper temperature control and storage. He noted that at least 20 per cent of food poisoning cases are caused by home-cooked food.
Fried rice contamination is caused by the Bacillus cereus bacterium and the symptoms are rapid onset of vomiting, with or without diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.
Dr Awatramani said it was imperative that people should practice good personal hygiene and run a clean kitchen. He said food should be reheated quickly at a temperature of around 75C.
"The temperature for buffet table food in restaurants should be 60C," he said.
Dr Awatramani said cross-contamination usually occurs in hotels when meats, rice and other foods are handled improperly.
Another doctor sounded a warning for shoppers, saying that frozen food should be bought last and transferred to the home freezer as soon as possible.
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