Food poisoning - cause, symptom, treatment

Are you worried for your children after hearing the recent food poisoning case that children at childcare chain Pat's SchoolHouse were hit with food poisoning after eating spaghetti supplied by caterer? So what exactly causes food poisoning? What are the symptoms? What are the treatment?

Causes

• Bacteria, viruses and parasites - occurs when contaminated food or water is consumed
• Chemicals and toxins - non infectious cause
• Food improperly handled - bacteria and viruses carried on the hands of individual

Symptoms

• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Fever
• Blood in the stools

Treatment

• Most cases, only drugs to ease pain, vomiting or diarrhoea are needed as the body will get better on its own
• Severe cases, antibiotics may be required