Preventing food poisoning for children during Tet

Food poisoning, also known as food poisoning, is the most common disease in children during Tet. The cause is that children eat food contaminated with bacteria or bacterial toxins in the food.

Tet foods are often prepared in advance to be used for many days such as Chinese sausage, braised pork and eggs, braised fish, pork rolls, banh tet, banh chung. Foods and drinks containing a lot of sugar include jams, candies, soft drinks, and syrups.

Tet is the time when children are most susceptible to food poisoning. Illustration: Thien Chuong

If the above foods are not properly prepared, stored and used, they will create a favorable environment for bacteria to grow and cause poisoning.

How to recognize food poisoning in children

Children with food poisoning often show signs of digestive disorders after eating for an hour or more. The child vomits several times or very violently, continuously; has abdominal cramps followed by diarrhea. Depending on the agent causing the poisoning, the symptoms of vomiting are more prominent or diarrhea is more severe.

Most children often vomit a lot due to the effects of toxins. If not properly cared for, vomiting often leads to serious complications such as aspiration, hypoglycemia, and fluid and electrolyte disorders, especially in young children. Fever, sputum, and bloody diarrhea are signs of infection that causes intestinal damage. A small number of children with food poisoning have symptoms of systemic infection causing sepsis and meningitis.

Home care

Proper home care for vomiting reduces vomiting and prevents complications. If the child is lying down, turn the child's head to one side to avoid choking. Pay attention to replacing fluids and electrolytes lost through vomiting. Dietary changes will ease symptoms and promote recovery: breastfed children should breastfeed less often, every 30 minutes to 1 hour. After 8 hours, when the child has stopped vomiting, resume normal breastfeeding.

Older children need to drink dry sea water, eat liquid food such as porridge. Start with a spoon every 5 minutes or 3-4 spoons every 15 minutes until the thirst is gone, then feed each spoonful. Do not use fresh water or plain water. If the child still vomits during this process, stop feeding for 1 hour and then feed again with a smaller amount of food. After 4 hours if the child does not vomit, feed more by doubling the amount of food. The next food is usually light, easy to digest such as porridge, rice, bread, unsalted toast, pureed soup and feed the child normally within 24 hours.

Children with food poisoning need to be regularly monitored for temperature, frequency, nature of vomit, stool and urine. Note to take the child to a medical facility if there are severe signs such as: frequent vomiting, bloody or green vomit, inability to drink or refuse to breastfeed, severe fatigue, high fever, bloody stools, severe thirst, severe abdominal pain, bloating, headache or illness lasting more than 2 days.

How to prevent food poisoning during Tet

It is best to ensure food is safe and hygienic. Choose safe processed foods, avoid contaminated foods. Cook and store cooked food carefully, preferably in the refrigerator, do not leave at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Reheat food thoroughly before eating. Create a habit for children to wash their hands before eating, adults to wash their hands before preparing food or feeding children.

Note, you must also ensure these hygiene conditions when taking children out for Tet.

According to SK&DS-MD