Is it possible to get poisoned with melon: symptoms

Melon has a huge number of admirers and for good reason, because it has a delicious taste and aroma, and is also very healthy. This summer fruit contains a large amount of fiber, vitamins and trace elements. But, despite a lot of advantages, the first fruits should be used with caution, since it is at the beginning of the melon season that melon poisoning quite often occurs. The natural desire to enjoy tasty, fragrant fruits after a winter that is poor in vitamins can end with such unpleasant consequences for health.

Is it possible to get poisoned by a melon

You can get poisoned with a melon just as easily as with other fruits and berries, while the symptoms are very diverse. Even when eating quality fruits, poisoning can occur if eaten incorrectly. Melons are high in fiber and are considered hard to digest food. Therefore, you should not mix them with fermented milk products or drink water. It is also not recommended to combine the use of the fruits of this melon culture with the adoption of alcoholic beverages.

It is contraindicated to eat melon for diabetics and people suffering from a stomach ulcer (12 duodenal ulcer), as well as during a period of intestinal upset. It is worth refraining from eating this sweet, fragrant berry and nursing mothers.

Classification of poisoning

There are two types of melon poisoning:

1. Nitrate (chemical).
2. Microbial.

Provocateurs of chemical poisoning are substances used in agriculture – pesticides and nitrates. For example, a fertilizer such as nitrate salt can accumulate in fruits, becoming hazardous to health in large quantities.

Symptoms of nitrate melon poisoning

If the agrotechnical rules for growing melons are violated, harmful chemical compounds can accumulate in the fruits. Nitrate poisoning appears rather slowly, after 6-8 hours, and is characterized by severe symptoms.

The main symptoms of chemical intoxication include:

• dizziness;
• noise in ears;
• loss of appetite;
• weakness;
• labored breathing;
• vomiting;
• sharp pain in the abdomen;
• a feeling of bitterness in the oral cavity;
• dark brown stools;
• blue lips and nails;
• pains in the liver;
• yellowing of the skin and sclera of the eyes.

Symptoms of microbial melon poisoning

You can also get poisoned by a melon if the rules for its storage and transportation are not followed. Damage to the skin leads to the penetration of bacteria into the fruit and their rapid reproduction in a sweet environment. Symptoms of bacterial intoxication are similar to malfunctions in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Microbial melon poisoning manifests itself in the form of:

• pain in the abdomen;
• decreased appetite;
• nausea;
• periodic vomiting;
• difficult digestion of food;
• temperature increase.

How to distinguish overeating from poisoning

Melon is a rather heavy fruit for the digestive system. After its use, some discomfort may occur, which is easily confused with poisoning. Melon is difficult to digest, does not combine well with other products, so it should not be abused. Overeating can lead to the following symptoms:

• nausea;
• swelling;
• heaviness in the abdomen;
• excessive gas formation;
• diarrhea.

These symptoms develop quickly, within hours of melon overdose, and, unlike severe poisoning, do not require treatment.

Is it possible to eat melon with honey

Doctors categorically do not recommend eating melon with honey. In their opinion, this combination is potentially hazardous to health. This is due to the fact that the pulp of the fruit enters the stomach not as a puree, but in the form of pieces that are rather difficult to digest. Following the gastrointestinal tract, pieces of fruit are exposed to bile and gastric juice, and the simultaneous use of honey disrupts the natural process of digestion.

Undigested pieces of pulp are enveloped in honey and stick together, forming peculiar lumps, which, as a result, enter the intestines. Such a meal can turn into a slight deterioration in well-being in the form of diarrhea or constipation, or a health-threatening condition in the form of obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract. This complication is considered life-threatening, and therefore requires urgent surgical intervention.

First aid for melon poisoning

Despite the degree of poisoning, the victim needs first aid. In case of severe intoxication, it will help alleviate the condition of the poisoned person before the arrival of the medical team.

In case of melon poisoning, the victim must:

1. Rinse the stomach by giving 0,4-1,0 liters of warm water to drink (you can add salt or potassium permanganate) and induce vomiting.
2. Make an enema.
3. Give absorbent drugs. Better in the form of a gel or liquid solution.
4. Provide a plentiful drinking regimen to prevent dehydration and the speedy removal of toxic substances.
5. Carry out dehydration (replenishment of fluid and salts) with a solution of Regidron.
6. Provide bed rest.

In what cases it is necessary to see a doctor

The symptoms of melon poisoning are similar in adults and children, the main thing is to correctly recognize them and start treatment in a timely manner. Then the body will be able to fully recover in a fairly short time. The reason for an immediate visit to the doctor is the presence of such symptoms as:

• loose stools and vomiting that persist for more than 24 hours;
• convulsions;
• loss of consciousness;
• hearing impairment.

Possible consequences

Untimely first aid in case of severe intoxication that occurs when using melon can lead to:

• malfunctions in the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
• liver damage;
• disruption of the respiratory system;
• irritation of the gastrointestinal mucosa.

preventive measures

The following rules will help prevent possible melon poisoning:

1. You should buy melon on the market during the natural ripening season (August-September). Thus, the risk of buying fruits with a high content of various chemical compounds is significantly reduced.
2. It is necessary to buy fruits only at specialized points of sale, where you can familiarize yourself with the documents for the goods. In particular, containing information on the results of control studies to identify the amount of toxic substances in fruits.
3. You should not buy melons stored in violation (under the open sun, on the ground). It is also better to refuse to buy damaged or cut fruits.
4. Before use, the skin of the melon should be washed very thoroughly.
5. Store cut fruits only in the refrigerator, but more than 24 hours. Longer storage will promote the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.
6. Do not eat melon pulp, which is in close proximity to the peel, as it accumulates the maximum amount of nitrates and pesticides.

   

7. Eat fruits in moderation, without overeating.
8. There is a melon as a separate dish, without mixing with other products.

Conclusion

Melon poisoning is not considered particularly dangerous and severe for the human body. But this is not a reason for inaction, since such intoxication can provoke the development of a number of various complications. To prevent poisoning will help the observance of simple rules related to the use and storage of melons.