Causes and Symptons
Organisms that can bug you.
Salmonella
Can come from a variety of sources, such as raw meat, milk,
eggs, poultry, carriers, pets, rodents, terrapins,
sewage/water. The onset period is 6 to 72 hours, usually 12
to 36 hours. The symptons are abdominal pain and diarrhoea,
and sometimes nausea and vomiting. Symptoms last a day or less and
are usually mild. Can be more serious in older or debilitated
people.
Campylobacter
Can come from raw poultry, meat, unpasterised milk, pets and
soil. The onset period is usually 2 to 5 days after
comsumption although is can be from 1 to 11 days. Symptons
include diarrhoea, abdominal crampling, fever and sometimes bloody
stools. Lasts 7 to 10 days.
Clostridium perfringens
Comes from animal and human excreta, soil, dust, insects and raw
meat. Onset is 8 to 22 hours, usually 12 to 18
hours. Symptons include abdominal pain and diarrhoea, and
sometimes nausea and vomiting (rarely). Symptoms last a day or less
and are usually mild. Can be more serious in older or debilitated
people.
Staphylococcus aureus
Normally from human nose, mouth, skin, boils and cuts. Raw milk
from cows or goats with mastitis. Onset is 1 to 7
hours. Sympton include diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal
pain, cramps, and prostration. Lasts 48hours, rarely fatal.
Bacillus cereus
Normal comes from cereals, especially rice, dust and soil.
Onset it usually 1 to 5 hours. The symptons include vomiting.
Abdominal pain and some diarrhoea (12 to 24hrs).
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Main cause is seafood. Onset is 2 to 48 hours, usually 12
to 18 hours. Symptons include
diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain and dehydration (1 to
7 days).
Escherichia coli VTEC
Main causes are human sewage/water, raw meat, contact with
infected animals. Onset is 1 to 6 days. Main symptons
are abdominal pain, fever, diarrhoea and vomiting (1 to 5 days).
The main symptom is diarrhoea. In some cases, particularly in
children under the age of 6 and in the elderly, infection can lead
to diarrhoea, which may be bloody and severe, kidney failure, and
sometimes death.
Listeria monocytogenes
Main causes are soft cheese, unpasturised milk, imported seafood
products, frozen cooked crabmeat, cooked shrimp, and cooked surimi.
The Listeria bacteria resist heat, salt, nitrite, and acidity
better than many other micro-organisms. They survive and grow at
low temperatures. Onset can be from 7 to 30 days after
eating, but most symptoms have been reported 48-72 hours after
consumption of contaminated food. Symptons can include fever,
headache, nausea, and vomiting. Primarily affects pregnant women
and their foetuses, newborns, the elderly, people with cancer, and
those with impaired immune systems. Can cause foetal and infant
death.
Shigella
Main causes can be milk, dairy products, poultry, and
water. Onset is usually 1 to 7 days. Symptons can
include abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, fever, sometimes vomiting, and
blood, pus, or mucus in stool.
Giardia lamblia
Most frequently associated with consumption of contaminated
water. Onset can be 2 to 25 days.
Symptons include sudden onset of explosive watery stools, abdominal
cramps, anorexia, nausea and vomiting. Especially infects hikers,
children, travellers, and institutionalised patients.
This is not an exhaustive list. Please always seek
medicial attention.