Fiologan Habiyambere, a 26-year-old, a resident of Kimironko in Kigali, recently woke up in the middle of the night with a bad sensation in his stomach. Before morning when he figured out what the problem was, he had made about 20 visits to the toilet. But all this time, the one thing that crossed his mind was the food he had eaten at some restaurant the previous night.

Well, Habiyambare was not far away from the truth as Nick Karugahe, a general practitioner in Kigali, affirms that when one is infected with food bacteria organisms, they may not or may experience symptoms, ranging from mild intestinal discomfort to severe dehydration and bloody diarrhea. This condition, he says, is what is ordinarily referred to as food poisoning.

The symptoms, Karugahe says, depend on the type of infection.

"One can even die as a result of food poisoning. Food poisoning can happen either when toxins are released in the intestines or due to local inflammation,” he says.

Karugahe says being aware about food poisoning help one to adopt and improve hygienic practices such as ensuring that the food and water we consume is clean.

"Different diseases can cause food poisoning, the most common ones being infections caused by bacteria such as campylobacter, salmonella, E.coli and botulism. They are capable of causing a cute diarrhea, which normally occurs through ingestion of contaminated food, water or through contact with infected persons, pets and wild animals,” he says.

Karugahe also notes that eating undercooked, contaminated beef, drinking unpasteurised milk and swimming in or drinking sewage-contaminated water can also cause infection.

"Bacteria from stool of infected people can be passed to others if they don’t practice proper hygiene such as hand-washing. Young children usually continue to shed the organisms in their faeces for a week or two after their illnesses resolve, thus maintaining good hygiene while handling them is essential,” he adds.

Karugahe advises that salads, vegetables and raw fruits should be washed well, and that foods should be cooked well before consumption.

Richard Mayanja, a Kigali-based general practitioner, says some bacteria such as listeria bacteria are found in many fresh and processed foods, for instance in cheeses and yougurt, adding that the worst part is that they can survive in colder temperatures, thus refrigerating them may not kill the bacteria.

He advises that, for that reason, refreezing them bellow 40oF is important to keep them safe from any contamination.

"Moreover, this bacterium is also capable of causing diarrhea, fever and stomach upsets. For raw produce, the best way is to dry and wash them very well before preparing them,” he says.

Mayanja points out that signs such as abdominal pains, vomiting, sweating, dizziness and diarrhea, can be experienced after about an hour when one has eaten contaminated food.

"After one hour of eating contaminated food, depending on the type of infection, the symptoms may last up to a couple of weeks or months if not managed well,” he says.

"Persistent vomiting and diarrhea that last for long should be of concern because it may lead to dehydration and worse complications,” Mayanja cautions.

According to Mayo Clinic, foods most commonly associated with food poisoning include; eggs, poultry, meats, unpasteurised milk or other fluids, cheese, raw fruits, vegetables (usually unwashed), nuts and spices.

When first aid is needed

Mayanja explains that in cases where food poisoning is not severe, for instance, where one is experiencing mild diarrhea and stomach ache, there are home remedies that can ensure their recovery.

"One should drink less water as taking much of it can lead to uncomfortable abdominal bloating and vomiting. If the condition is not severe, within few hours of suffering food poisoning one should consume bananas as they contain anti-diarrhea properties,” he says.

"In cases where there are persistent abdominal cramps, oral rehydration solutions can be given with clean water, but it is advisable for a patient to visit a health centre for more consultation,” says Karugahe.

Prevention and treatment

Just like the adage goes that, prevention is better than cure, Dr Patrick Muringwa of Dinnaisre Clinic in Remera, Kigali, advises that since food poisoning poses a huge risk to the patient, good hygiene needs to be observed at all costs.

"This includes washing your hands with soap and ensuring that food is well-cooked. If possible, it’s better to wash the raw foods to make sure they are safe for eating. Serving with clean hands and eating food with clean hands and in clean dishes is also essential,” he says.

Joseph Uwiragiye, a nutritionist at University Teaching Hospital Kigali (CHUK), says one should opt for plastic chopping boards rather than wooden as the latter sometimes keep germs even after washing.

"In case one is sick with diarrhea, they shouldn’t prepare food for infants since it’s easy for them to be affected due to their weak immune system. On the other hand, a mother should breastfeed their babies well as this prevents food-borne illness as well as other health problems,” he says.

Uwiragiye notes that in order to flush out the toxins from your body, drinking alot of water and fluids is important as this will also solve the problem of dehydration. Avoid caffeinated products as well. After having a diarrhea, the best thing is to stay away from foods that may interfere with your digestion process.

If the symptoms are severe, Murangwa advises that medication should be given to ease vomiting and diarrhea. Children and those with diabetes need close monitoring for dehydration and other complications that may come along with food poisoning. For other types of food poisoning, antibiotic may be given.

"When one takes treatment for food poisoning, it’s for the present infection only. It does not provide immunity against future infection. Hence one needs to be careful while eating, particularly out,” advises Murangwa.