Summer brings us sunny days, outdoor recreation, fresh fruits, vegetables straight from the garden, and… intestinal infections.
Acute intestinal infections (AII) – is a large group of acute infectious diseases that manifest themselves by damage to the gastrointestinal tract.
Food contamination can occur as a result of poor personal hygiene during preparation, cooking, and heat treatment of food.
Viruses and bacteria enter the mouth with water, food, and dirty hands. These microbes are then transported to the stomach and intestines, where they begin to multiply actively and produce various toxins. Symptoms of the disease can develop within 30 minutes to a week after contact with the pathogens.
To avoid intestinal infections, you must:
- follow the rules of personal hygiene, wash your hands thoroughly with soap after returning home from the street, before eating and after using the toilet;
- use boiled or bottled water for drinking;
- Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly under running water before use, then pour boiling water over them;
- Pay special attention to perishable products (meat semi-finished products, cooked sausage, salads, cheese, milk, etc.). When buying such products, pay attention to the expiration date, observe the period and temperature regime of their storage in the refrigerator. If the expiration date has expired or you suspect that the product is spoiled, throw it away without regret;
- use clean packaging (polyethylene, paper, food containers, etc.) when transporting and storing food;
- use separate cutting boards and knives when working with raw and finished products;
- fight flies and cockroaches, store food in places protected from insects, rodents, and pets;
- do not buy food from random people or in places of unauthorized trade;
- Do not swim in bodies of water where it is not recommended or prohibited.
At the first symptoms of the disease, be sure to call a doctor. Do not self-medicate!
Be healthy and take care of yourself!
Main Department of the State Service for Food and Consumer Protection in Kharkiv Region