Acute intestinal infections (AII) are infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that can lead to serious complications, especially in children. AII is usually caused by bacteria or viruses that enter the human body through contaminated food or water.
It is better to prevent any disease than to treat it later, so we remind everyone of the simple rules recommended by the World Health Organization that will help avoid GKI:
1. Maintain cleanliness:
- wash your hands before handling food or preparing food;
- wash your hands after using the toilet;
- wash and disinfect all surfaces and kitchen utensils you use for cooking;
- Protect your kitchen and food from insects, rodents and other animals.
2. Separate raw food from cooked food:
- separate raw meat and seafood from other foods;
- Use separate kitchen utensils, including knives and cutting boards, for handling raw foods.;
- Store food in closed containers to avoid contact between raw and cooked food.
3. Prepare food thoroughly:
- thoroughly fry or boil foods, especially meat, eggs and seafood;
- bring foods to a boil so that they are cooked to at least 70 °C;
- the juice of meat or poultry during cooking should be clear, not pink;
- Reheat cooked food thoroughly.
4 Store food at a safe temperature:
- do not leave cooked food at room temperature for more than 2 hours;
- keep cooked dishes hot (60 °C) until serving;
- do not store food for too long, even in the refrigerator;
- Do not defrost food at room temperature.
5. Use safe water and fresh produce:
- use clean or purified water;
- choose fresh and unspoiled products;
- wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly, especially if you will eat them raw;
- Do not consume products that have expired.
If you notice the first signs of an intestinal infection (weakness, fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea), you should immediately consult a doctor.