When most people think of food poisoning, they think about the vomiting, nausea and the diarrhoea. Not many consider the long-term effects of food poisoning. But in reality, food poisoning can cause more than just that to the victim; they can cause serious and permanent complications to one’s body.
Of course, this is subject to people. Depending on the strength of one’s immune system, people can be more susceptible to foodborne pathogens – especially young children and the elderly. Also, depending on which virus, bacteria or toxin is contracted, your symptoms and severity can be different.
One long-term effect that food poisoning can cause is kidney failure. It can occur from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This syndrome can be caused by E. coli and it may cause an infection that produces a toxin substance that may cause injury to the kidney.
Another long-term issue that can be caused by food poisoning is chronic arthritis. As a result of contracting shigella, campylobacter or salmonella, this leads to a lifetime of inflammation and joint pain. It starts off as an irritated eye but boy, it can get a lot worse!
In extreme cases, listeria can cause mental retardation, seizures, paralysis, blindness and deafness in newborn infants. For adults, extreme cases of food poisoning can cause brain and nerve damage, or even death.
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