Food Poisoning During Summer in Qatar: Insights from Al-Siraj Medical Center Experts

What is food poisoning?

Food poisoning, which you might also hear referred to as foodborne, occurs when contaminated, spoiled, or toxic food is consumed. This illness happens more often than you'd think. Research shows that almost 50 million people in the United States alone (approximately 1 out of every 7 individuals) suffer from food poisoning each year.

The Most Common Symptoms of Food Poisoning in Qatar

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When it comes to food poisoning symptoms, these might depend on what's causing the illness in the first place. The person can start noticing the symptoms within a few hours or a few weeks. Here are some of the common symptoms:

• Nausea
• Vomiting (The body's natural response to expel harmful substances from the stomach).
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain and cramps.
• Fatigue as a result of the body fights the infection.
• Fever
• Muscle Aches (as a result of the body's inflammatory response to the infection).
• Abdominal Pain (Cramping or discomfort in the abdominal area)
• Headache or migraines
• Loss of Appetite

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Causes of Food Poisoning Illness in Qatar (especially during Summer)

• Hot Temperatures: It's no brainer that Qatar is one of the hottest countries in the world during summer, and because warmer temperatures create an ideal environment for bacteria to proliferate in food, people are more likely to contract food poisoning if the food is left out for too long.

• Contaminated Food: Foods such as meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products, and eggs which can easily become contaminated with bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, or Listeria.
• Food that's not cooked or reheated thoroughly
• Food that's not stored properly: like the food that's left unrefrigerated for too long.
• Poor Hygiene: Improper hand washing, especially when preparing food outdoors, can transfer bacteria from hands to food, causing contamination.
• Contaminated Water: Consuming untreated or contaminated water, such as from lakes, rivers, or poorly maintained swimming pools, can also lead to waterborne illnesses.
• Food that's consumed after the expiry date.

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Risk factors of Food Poisoning

As we stated earlier in this article, anyone can contract food poisoning. However, some people are vulnerable and more prone to having serious food poisoning complications. These categories are:

• Children
• Older people (65 and above)
• Pregnant women
• People with a weakened immune system.

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Prevention Measure - How to avoid food poisoning in Qatar during the summer

Keep your food cool

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The probability of food poisoning drastically increases in the summer months, and it's not really hard to see why! Bacteria grow faster in warmer weather. So, strictly avoid eating food left out for too long and being exposed to a temperature between 4.4°C to 60°C. When going for an indoor event, make sure to use a cooler with ice packs or frozen gel packs.

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Cook your Food Thoroughly

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Cook your food thoroughly, including meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and so on, to kill harmful bacteria. Using a food thermometer is a great way to measure the cooking temperature of your food.

Wash Your Hands and Surfaces

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Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after you cook your food, especially raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs. Don't forget also to clean and sanitize cutting boards, countertops, and other utensils after each use.

Store Your Food Properly

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Refrigerate leftovers within a maximum period of two hours of cooking (or one hour if the temperature is above 30°C). Do the same with perishable foods at 10°C or below and use them within a few days.

What to eat and drink when you have food poisoning

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When you have food poisoning, it's better to avoid solid foods until diarrhea and vomiting have passed. Alternatively, you can eat simple-to-digest items that are low in fat and gentle on the stomach. Here are our recommendations:

• Water
• Diluted fruit juices
• Sports drinks
• Rice
• Chicken broth
• Oatmeal
• Bananas
• Plain crackers and toast.
• Boiled Potatoes
• Ginger

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What food to avoid

1. Raw or undercooked Foods like meats, poultry, seafood, and eggs.
2. Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt.
3. Spicy, greasy, or fried foods.
4. Caffeinated like coffee and tea, and alcoholic beverages
5. Acidic or Citrus Foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, and vinegar.
6. Sugary Foods

Food Poisoning Treatment

To treat food poisoning, the doctor won't necessarily prescribe drugs, as this depend on the severity of the symptoms and the causes of the illness.

Here are the potential treatments your doctor will recommend:

• Antibiotics: If your food poisoning is due to bacteria, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, which are generally assigned for people with severe disease or with a serious risk of complications, such as older people and children.
• Antiparasitics: If the patient's foodborne illness was caused by parasites, the doctors will prescribe antiparasitics to stop the parasitic infections.
• Probiotics: Another option that your healthcare provider can recommend is Probiotics. These treatments are meant to replace healthy bacteria in the digestive system.

Over-the-counter medications such as anti-diarrheal or anti-nausea medications may also help relieve the symptoms. However, they should be used with caution and consulted with a healthcare professional.

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Food poisoning in Qatar

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We hope this blog post was beneficial and that you can comply with the prevention measures to avoid potential food poisoning.

But since no one is immune to food poisoning, if your symptoms are severe, don't hesitate to pay a visit to a GP doctor.

Not sure when and where to treat food poisoning here in Doha or anywhere in Qatar? Ring us up at +974 44493666.  Or just fill out the form to complete your booking.
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Thank you for sticking around till the end!

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Food Poisoning FAQs

• How many hours does food poisoning last?

The most common types of food poisoning tend to last anywhere between 12 to 48 hours. However, if the illness is too severe,it may persist for longer periods and might require medical attention.

• What are the first signs of food poisoning?

The first signs of food poisoning are typically watery diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting,and fever. 

• How do you know if you have food poisoning or a stomach bug?

With food poisoning, rapid diarrhea and vomiting will begin within three to six hours of eating a contaminated food source, while stomach bug symptoms develop gradually over a few days.

Also food poisoning symptoms typically last a few days, while stomach bug symptoms may persist for up to a week.

• How to calm the stomach after food poisoning?

To calm your stomach after food poisoning, gradually begin to eat bland, low-fat, easy-to-digest foods, such as soda crackers, toast, boiled vegetables, bananas and rice.