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Food borne disease
💩 Traveller’s Diarrhoea ⚠️ Do NOT give antibiotics in enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) → risk of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS).
🌍 About
- Affects 20–30% of travellers, usually within the first week of travel.
- Caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water.
🦠 Aetiology
- E. coli (esp. ETEC = commonest cause).
- Campylobacter → acute abdomen picture, bloody diarrhoea.
- Amoebic dysentery (Entamoeba histolytica) → abdominal pain + blood.
- Clostridioides difficile (post-antibiotics).
- Giardia → foul-smelling, greasy stools, >7 days.
- Cryptosporidium → prolonged watery diarrhoea, esp. immunocompromised.
- Cyclospora → relapsing/prolonged watery diarrhoea.
🤒 Clinical
- Watery or bloody diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting.
- Cramps, fever, dehydration.
- Severe → electrolyte imbalance, HUS (EHEC).
🧪 Investigations
- FBC, U&E, LFTs, CRP.
- Stool MCS + OCP (ova, cysts, parasites), PCR if available.
- Colonoscopy if persistent (rule out IBD, colitis).
🔍 Differential
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s, UC).
- Food poisoning (short duration, meal-related).
- Viral gastroenteritis (24–48 h, self-limiting).
🛡️ Prevention
- 💧 Drink boiled/bottled water; avoid ice.
- 🥗 Avoid salads/raw fruit washed in unsafe water.
- 🧼 Strict hand hygiene before eating.
💊 Prophylaxis
- Rare; consider in high-risk groups:
- Ileostomy/short bowel.
- Immunocompromised (HIV, transplant).
- CKD or significant comorbidity.
- Agents: Ciprofloxacin or Metronidazole (per ID advice).
⚕️ Management
- 💧 Rehydration = cornerstone (ORS; IV fluids if severe).
- 💊 Antibiotics: – Ciprofloxacin / Azithromycin for severe/prolonged cases. – ❌ Avoid in EHEC (HUS risk).
- 🚫 Antimotility (e.g. loperamide): safe in mild watery diarrhoea, avoid if bloody diarrhoea or fever.
- 🔄 Watch for post-infectious IBS.
🥘 Foodborne Diseases – Quick Reference
| 🦠 Organism | 💡 Illness | ⏱️ Onset | 🤒 Symptoms | 📆 Duration | 🍽️ Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacillus cereus | Food poisoning | 10–16h | Cramps, watery diarrhoea | 24–48h | Meats, stews, sauces |
| Campylobacter jejuni | Campylobacteriosis | 2–5d | Fever, cramps, bloody diarrhoea | 2–10d | Poultry, unpasteurised milk |
| Clostridium botulinum | Botulism | 12–72h | Neuro → blurred vision, weakness | Variable | Improperly canned foods |
| Cryptosporidium | Cryptosporidiosis | 2–10d | Watery diarrhoea ± fever | Weeks–months | Contaminated water |
| Giardia | Giardiasis | 1–3w | Greasy, foul stools | Weeks | Contaminated water |
| E. coli (ETEC) | Traveller’s diarrhoea | 1–3d | Watery diarrhoea, cramps | 3–7d | Water/food contaminated with faeces |
| E. coli O157:H7 | Haemorrhagic colitis | 1–8d | Bloody diarrhoea, HUS risk | 5–10d | Undercooked beef, unpasteurised milk |
| Norovirus | Viral gastroenteritis | 12–48h | Vomiting, cramps, diarrhoea | 12–60h | Raw produce, shellfish |
| Salmonella | Salmonellosis | 6–48h | Fever, cramps, diarrhoea | 4–7d | Eggs, poultry, dairy |
| Shigella | Dysentery | 1–7d | Bloody/mucus diarrhoea, fever | 2–7d | Contaminated food/water |
| Vibrio vulnificus | Severe gastroenteritis | 1–7d | Diarrhoea ± sepsis, ulcers | 2–8d | Raw seafood (esp. oysters) |
📚 References
| The content on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only to support exam preparation (e.g., MLA, MRCP, USMLE) and learning. This is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional guidance. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional, official guidelines (e.g., NICE, GMC, BNF), or supervised clinical practice. Always verify information with current, authoritative sources. Makindo and its contributors accept no liability for any reliance on this content, including errors, omissions, or any resulting harm, loss, or consequences. By using this site, you agree to these terms. |
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