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 sausage, banh tet, banh chung. Foods and drinks containing a lot of sugar include jam, candy, soft drinks, and syrup.

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, water and electrolyte disorders, especially in young children. Fever, sputum, bloody diarrhea are signs of infection that causes intestinal damage. A few children with food poisoning have symptoms of systemic infection causing sepsis and meningitis.

Home care

Proper home care for vomiting children 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 breastfeeding normally.

Older children need to drink dry sea water, eat liquid food like porridge. Start with a spoonful every 5 minutes or 3-4 spoonfuls 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 without vomiting, feed more by doubling the amount of food. The next food is usually light, easy to digest such as porridge, rice, bread, unsalted toast, mashed soup and feed the child normally within 24 hours.

Children with food poisoning need to be regularly monitored for temperature, frequency, and nature of vomit, stool, and urine. Note that children should be taken to a medical facility if they have severe symptoms 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. Make it a habit for children to wash their hands before eating, and for adults to wash their hands before preparing food or feeding children.

Note, you must also ensure these hygiene conditions when taking children out to play during Tet.

According to SK&DS-MD