Foodborne Illness & Food Allergies

Foodborne Pathogens

Clostridium botulinum

Illness caused: Botulism

Symptoms: double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, muscle weakness

Sources: improperly prepared home-canned foods, honey shouldn't be fed to children less than 1 year old

More information on botulism: CDC Botulism page, IDPH Botulism fact sheet

Campylobacter

Illness caused: Camplylobacteriosis

Symptoms: diarrhea, cramping, fever, nausea, vomiting

Sources: raw and undercooked poultry & other meat, raw milk & untreated water

More information on Campylobacter: CDC Campylobacter page

E. coli

Symptoms: severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting

Sources: beef, especially undercooked or raw hamburger; produce; raw milk; unpasteurized juices & ciders

More information on E. coli: CDC E. coli page, IDPH E. coli Healthbeat

Listeria monocytogenes

Illness caused: Listeriosis

Symptoms: fever, muscles aches, sometimes nausea or diarrhea; if infection spreads to nervous system, headaches, stiff neck, convulsions, confusion, of loss of balance are possible; infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or infection of the newborn

Sources: unpasteurized dairy products; sliced deli meats; smoked fish; hot dogs; deli salads (ham, egg, chicken, & seafood salads)

More information on Listeriosis: CDC Listeriosis page, IDPH Listeriosis Healthbeat

Salmonella

Illness caused: Salmonellosis

Symptoms: diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps

Sources: raw & undercooked eggs; undercooked poultry & meat; fresh fruits & vegetables; unpasteurized dairy products

More information on Salmonella: CDC Salmonellosis page, CDC Salmonella enteritidis page, IDPH Salmonella Healthbeat

Shigella

Illness caused: Shigellosis

Symptoms: diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps

Sources: salads; unclean water; food contaminated by someone infected with the bacterium

More information on shigellosis: CDC Shigellosis page, IDPH Shigellosis Healthbeat

Vibrio vulnificus

Symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain

Sources: raw or undercooked seafood, especially shellfish; normally lives in warm seawater

More information on Vibrio vulnificus: CDC Vibrio page

Norovirus

Illness caused: gastroenteritis or "stomach flu"

Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramping

Sources: food contaminated by someone infected with the virus

More information on Norovirus: CDC Norovirus page, IDPH Norovirus Healthbeat

Staphylococcus aureus

Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea

Sources: sliced meat, puddings, cooked foods high in protein (cooked ham, salads, baker products, dairy products) that are held too long at room temperature

More information on Staphylococcus aureus: CDC Staphylococcus page

Toxoplasma gondii

Illness caused: toxoplasmosis (parasitic illness)

Symptoms: "flu-like" symptoms

Sources: raw or undercooked pork

More information on Toxoplasmosis: CDC Toxoplasmosis page

Giardia lamblia (aka G. intestinalis & G. duodenalis)

Illness caused: giardiasis (parasitic illness)

Symptoms: diarrhea, stomach/abdominal cramps, nausea, greasy stools, flatulence

Sources: soil, food, or water contaminated by infected human or animal fecal matter

More information on Giardiasis: CDC Giardiasis page, IDPH Giardiasis page

Cryptosporidium

Illness caused: cryptosporidiosis (parasitic illness)

Symptoms: stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, dehydration,fever, weight loss

Sources: soil, food, or water contaminated by infected human or animal fecal matter

More information on Cryptosporidiosis: CDC Cryptosporidiosis page, IDPH Cryptosporidiosis Healthbeat

Typhoid Fever

Cause: Salmonella Typhi bacteria

Symptoms: sustained fever as high as 103-104 degrees F, weakness, stomach pains, headache, loss of appetite

Sources: bloodstream or intestinal tract of infected person; not common in industrialized nations

More information on Typhoid Fever: CDC Typhoid Fever page

Cholera

Cause: Vibrio cholerae bacteria

Symptoms: profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, leg cramps

Sources: food or water contaminated with the bacterium, raw/undercooked shellfish from contaminated waters; less common in United States

More information on Cholera: CDC Cholera page

Cyclospora

Illness caused: Cyclosporiasis

Symptoms: watery diarrhea with frequent bowel movements, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps/pain, nausea, fatigue, flu-like symptoms

Sources: food or water contaminated with parasite

More information on Cyclospora: CDC Cyclospora page, IDPH Cyclospora Healthbeat

Information taken from http://www.fightbac.org/content/view/14/21 and the CDC web site (www.cdc.gov).

 

Food Allergies

Millions of Americans have food allergies with reactions that range from minor to life-threatening. Food allergies appear to be more prevalent in children and some people may not know they have an allergy to a certain food product. Children may grow out of some of their food allergies, but adults likely will not. In some cases, a reaction may occur from something as simple as a person being in the same room as a product they are allergic to.

Food allergies have no cure, but with early identification and taking the proper precautions when selecting foods, the effects of the food allergies can be minimized.

The eight foods that are most common to allergic reactions are:

milk	peanuts
eggs	tree nuts
soy	fish
wheat	shellfish

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include:

itching around the mouth	swelling of the face or extremeties
hives or rash	dizziness
shortness of breath	loss of consciousness
abdominal cramps	vomiting/diarrhea

If you or someone you are with appears to be having a allergic reaction to food, you should seek medical care.

FDA - Food Allergies: What You Need to Know

 

Fish Consumption

Fish is a nutritious food, but some may contain chemicals that can be harmful to your health. Chemicals can get into the waters fish live in by various means, such as surface run-off, and then be consumed by the fish in the food they eat. Some examples of chemicals that could contaminate fish are mercury and PCBs. If you consume contaminated fish, you will not necessarily get sick, but chemicals could build up in your body over time. In an effort to protect the public from consuming potentially contaminated fish, Illinois will issue an advisory to provide guidance on eating sport fish from state waters. Following the guidance in the fish advisory can help to keep you exposure to these contaminants low.

IDPH has provided information concerning eating fish and how fish advisories are issued:

Illinois Fish and Your Health

Fish Advisories in Illinois

Current Illinois Fish Advisory (as of 3/2/10)

Expectant Mother's Guide to Eating Illinois Fish

 

 

Updated 3/2/10