AHMAD arrived home from school looking pale and feeling weak. Holding his hurting tummy, he told his mother that he vomited in school and had had diarrhoea three times.
His mother brought him to the doctor and found that Ahmad was suffering from food poisoning.
Food poisoning happens when there is inflammation of the stomach and/or intestines caused by eating contaminated foods. Usually, symptoms present themselves within two to 24 hours after eating.
Depending on the severity, sufferers of food poisoning may also experience fever and chills, bloody stools, and dehydration.
Although food poisoning is usually a common and mild illness, it can sometimes be deadly, especially in children.
Infectious bacteria are to blame
Food poisoning is usually due to either toxic agents or infectious agents. Toxic agents are pesticides on fruits and vegetables, improperly prepared exotic foods (such as shellfish or barracuda), or poisonous mushrooms.
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