Food Poisoning Symptons

'30 days of hell' for US victim of German E. coli

ATLANTA (AP) — In early May, John Meyer stayed at a lakeside hotel in Hamburg, Germany. He attended a business conference. He went sailing. And he became one of the few U.S. victims in one of the worst food poisoning outbreaks in recent world history.

Meyer went to the hospital a week later with what turned out to be a rare and deadly strain of E. coli bacteria that caused thousands of illnesses, mostly in Germany. He would spend the next month in a Massachusetts hospital, much of the time a delirium, while doctors worked around the clock to save his life.

Meyer is one of six U.S. cases linked to the German outbreak and he's the first to talk about his terrible experience, speaking to The Associated Press by phone from his home in Franklin, Mass.

"It was 30 days of hell," said his wife, Loreen.

Meyer was in Hamburg as that city was emerging as the epicenter of a food poisoning disaster that would be among the deadliest in memory. More than 4,000 people in Germany and other countries became ill since the outbreak was detected in May, including several hundred who developed a serious complication that can lead to kidney failure. At least 53 died.

The outbreak ultimately was traced to a batch of fenugreek seeds from Egypt. The seeds, which taste a bit like burnt sugar, are sometimes used as a spice in cooking. Fenugreek sprouts are used in salads.

Meyer believes he must have eaten fenugreek while attending a business meeting at the Hamburg hotel. He thinks the tainted seeds, or sprouts, could have been in the fresh fruits and vegetables at a breakfast bar. There would be some irony if that was the case: It's hard to find good produce during hurried business trips, and Meyer had welcomed the opportunity to eat healthy.

"In this case, it backfired," he said.

Meyer's lawyer provided the AP with lab results and government investigation reports into his illness. Massachusetts state health officials also confirmed he was infected with the rare German E. coli strain. Meyer declined to allow his doctor to speak to the AP and he would not agree to be photographed.

Some common forms of food poisoning can cause symptoms within a day of eating tainted food, but Meyer said he felt no ill effects during a six-day European business trip that included two days in Hamburg and a brief stop in France afterward. He returned home on May 13 feeling fine.

However, this unique and dangerous E. coli bug takes a week to announce its presence. Meyer first became aware something was wrong on May 18. He was at his desk at Senior Aerospace that morning when his abdomen began hurting.

Salmonella Infection – Get A Health Symptom Diagnosis » Cooper ...

Symptoms of Salmonella Infection usually involve diarrhea and abdominal pain, discomfort and cramps. A salmonella infection is a kind of food poisoning and these signs and symptoms and others tend to develop inside 12 to 72 hrs after an individual eats or drinks anything contaminated with the salmonella bacteria. The illness can be present for 4 to 7 days. The medical term Salmonellosis is employed to describe an infection triggered by the Salmonella bacteria. This article will share the medical signs and symptoms linked with this sickness and help you form an online diagnosis .

Salmonella Infection Symptoms And Causes

Salmonellosis creates the signs or symptoms which are generally regarded as as food poisoning, which may include:

Signs or symptoms can range in intensity from uncomplicated digestive system upset to serious or life threatening dehydration if vomiting and diarrhea persist.

Infections occur after consuming foods or drinking a beverage that contain bacteria of the genus Salmonella. The micro organism is located in foods from animal sources but any food can be contaminated if food prep conditions and equipment are contaminated with the bacterial micro organisms.

Common sources of infection includes: undercooked meats (particularly turkey or chicken), raw or cracked eggs, or raw (unpasteurized) milk. Also, failing to refrigerate these leftover foods promptly may allow the bacteria to grow. Cooking at high temps can kill the bacteria.

Reptiles are carriers of salmonella and having a pet like a turtle, snakes, iguana or other lizards can put one at higher risk.

Salmonella Infections Diagnosis And Treatment

Diagnosis will initially be be founded on the observation of the previously discussed signs and symptoms. If signs or symptoms are present, an analysis by a doctor is encouraged, in particular if diarrhea or vomiting persist or increase. The evaluation may involve a physical examination or blood and stool analysis to detect the existence of the salmonella bacteria. The local health department may need to be notified to help identify the source (i.e. restaurant, grocery store, and so on.).

The disease commonly lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people make a complete recovery devoid of treatment. Having said that, in some cases, diarrhea or vomiting can be so severe that hospitalization is necessary.

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