Most food poisoning cases in Malaysia are caused by eating food contaminated with infectious agents. Food poisoning happens when there is inflammation of the stomach and/or intestines caused by eating contaminated foods. Usually, symptoms present themselves within two to 24 hours after eating.
Depending on the severity, sufferers of food poisoning may also experience fever and chills, bloody stools, and dehydration.
Although food poisoning is usually a common and mild illness, it can sometimes be deadly, especially in children.
Infectious bacteria are to blame
Food poisoning is usually due to either toxic agents or infectious agents. Toxic agents are pesticides on fruits and vegetables, improperly prepared exotic foods (such as shellfish or barracuda), or poisonous mushrooms.
To reduce the risk of food poisoning, never leave cooked food at room temperature for more than two hours.Most food poisoning cases in Malaysia however, are caused by eating food contaminated with infectious agents. This means that the food contains harmful viruses, bacteria, and parasites.
These bacteria release poison that causes inflammation of the lining of the intestines. E. coli, salmonella, shigella, and staphylococci are common infectious bacteria which cause food poisoning.
Another point to ponder
