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A fairly common digestive infection, food poisoning is caused by the consumption of food or water that has been wet by pathogens. It could be bacteria, parasites, fungi, viruses, toxic substances, even heavy metals.
How do you know if your baby has food poisoning?
Food poisoning can happen at any age, so babies are not spared. It even happens that poisoning affects several people at the same time, especially in schools: we then speak of collective food poisoning.
Food poisoning is rare in a baby who is only breastfed because breast milk is very high in antibodies. La Leche League France believes that breastfeeding can be continued in most acute maternal illnesses, including food poisoning. The breastfeeding person should, however, ensure that they continue to eat well and hydrate themselves.
A baby who is bottle-fed with infant milk or undergoing dietary diversification is at greater risk of food poisoning, as these foods can be accidentally contaminated with pathogens. Some hygiene precautions are therefore necessary to protect it.
Food poisoning, indigestion or gastro: symptoms to recognize
Food poisoning in babies or toddlers does not differ much from that of adults in terms of symptoms.
It manifests itself most often within 4 to 24 hours ingestion of contaminated food or water, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. In this, it can be confused with gastroenteritis or indigestion. Corn fever, fatigue, headache or dizziness can also be felt.
Babies and children: what to do with food poisoning?
Because they are still fragile in terms of immune defenses, babies can suffer from serious complications following food poisoning, the main one being Dehydration. It is advisable, if possible, to keep a sample or a photo of what was swallowed in the hours before the symptoms, to give it to the doctor or pediatrician.
If the baby’s condition does not improve within hours of the onset of symptoms, if new symptoms appear or get worse, better consult quickly. Blood, urine or stool analyzes may be carried out to identify the pathogen in question, and rehydration measures put in place (prescription of oral rehydration fluids in particular).
Treatment: how to treat food poisoning in children?
The treatment of food poisoning in the baby or child will depend on the pathogen (s) identified. If bacteria are involved, antibiotics may be prescribed. The main danger of food poisoning in babies and children remains the dehydration due to significant water loss via diarrhea and vomiting.
The babies under six months are obviously more at risk, as are babies under one year of age who have had a low birth weight and have not caught up with their weight loss.
Note that the main symptoms of dehydration in children include in particular a low volume of urine, dryness of the mouth and lips, weakness or lethargic state or irritable.
How to protect baby from food poisoning?
Fortunately, there are a few hygienic and dietary rules to prevent food poisoning of the baby:
- respect the food storage conditions (between 0 and + 4 ° C for example, or away from heat and humidity for infant milk);
- distribute the food evenly in the refrigerator (the coldest area being at the bottom);
- keep up to date with the latest withdrawals – food recalls linked to a risk of salmonellosis or listeriosis, which may also concern batches of infant milk (here for example);
- respect the use-by dates ;
- scrupulously respect the cold chain;
- disinfect regularly the refrigerator;
- do not refreeze thawed food;
- throw all domed tin can, or whose appearance or smell when opened seems doubtful;
- use a different cutting board for meat and vegetables;
- wash your hands scrupulously before handling food;
- properly clean utensils, countertops, food and food containers;
- regularly wash tea towels and other fabrics in the kitchen;
- cook the meat well, fish and eggs to avoid listeriosis;
- avoid the consumption of dairy products made from raw milk;
- do not leave a child alone in a garden where shrubs with berries or toxic leaves (fig tree, arum, etc.) may be present;
- do not use a food container to put toxic substances in it, to avoid any risk of confusion.
And in general, be careful what your baby puts in his mouth!