Food & Drink - the Do’s & Dont’s

20 March 2008

Babies and young children are vulnerable to the risk of food poisoning. Here we look at tips on preventing tummy upsets and what to do if your child does develop a tummy bug.

It is important to take great care to protect babies and young children from food poisoning whilst you are away. What may not effect you could be disasterous for them.
Prevention
Simple tips for avoiding food poisoning - both at home and abroad- include:

Make sure all hot food is cooked thoroughly and served piping hot rather than merely warm
Avoid eating raw eggs and products made from them
Do not eat any products past their use-by date

Tips to help prevent traveller’s diarrhoea
If you’re travelling abroad, you are especially susceptible to food poisoning, as hygiene may be less strict. Plus you have little natural resistance against foreign bacteria and viruses to which you have not been previously exposed.

For drinking, brushing your teeth, preparing food or cooking, use:
- water from sealed bottles; carbonated is safer than still water as it’s less likely to have been filled from the tap
- freshly boiled and cooled water
- water sterilised with purification tablets
Avoid green salads and uncooked vegetables
Only eat fruits that can be peeled
Avoid ice cubes unless made from safe water
Avoid ice creams from unreliable sources
Avoid unpasteurised milk - boil if unsure
Wash hands thoroughly before eating
Avoid food exposed to the sun or to flies
Avoid snacks bought from roadside vendors
Sea, river, swimming pool and even shower water may be contaminated. Keep your head out of the water and try not to swallow any. If water looks obviously murky, don’t swim in it.

Treatment
Children, especially young babies, cannot cope with losing too much fluid or salts through diarrhoea. If prolonged, this can rapidly lead to dehydration, low blood pressure and shock. In severe cases, if not treated properly, it can even be fatal. If a baby or young infant develops persistent diarrhoea, always seek medical advice, as they can become dehydrated very quickly. Older children with vomiting and/or diarrhoea are best treated with plenty of fluids in the form of rehydrating electrolyte solutions. Several are available over the counter - ask a pharmacist for advice.

Most doctors now feel that a child with diarrhoea is better off eating a light diet rather than being starved. Although food may pass through to cause diarrhoea motions, some nutrients will be absorbed, and the child will tend to feel less ill - recovery seems to be quicker, too. Offer a light diet (eg Bio yoghurt, thin soup) but avoid fruit and dairy products other than yoghurt, as these can make your symptoms worse. Infective food poisoning can produce temporary lactose (milk sugar) intolerance.

Contact a doctor for further advice if the diarrhoea continues for more than a day. If your child develops a high temperature, abdominal pains, passes blood or becomes excessively drowsy, seek medical advice straight away.

Adults
Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Bottled mineral water or plain water that has been boiled and cooled is best if you are unsure of the quality of your tap water. An electrolyte solution (available from chemists) will help to replenish body salts.

Over the counter anti-diarrhoea medications help to slow down the over-activity in the colon that causes diarrhoea. This helps to improve bowel function by increasing fluid absorption, reducing painful spasms, and returning stool passage to normal.

Bio yoghurt or supplements containing live cultures of probiotic bacteria (eg lactobacilli) can also aid recovery by boosting local immunity.

Note: This information is designed to complement and not replace the relationship that exists with your existing family doctor or travel health professional. Please discuss your travel health requirements with your regular family doctor or practice nurse.