Food poisoning in children is a very common problem. Food poisoning is a food-borne illness. It happens when bacteria or other harmful germs get inside of our body through food or drinks. Children are always less conscious about maintaining hygiene. It’s the duty of the parents and the elders to teach them about personal hygiene as they are more susceptible to illness than adults. They do not always wash their hands before eating and this makes everything worse as the food gets contaminated with harmful germs present in their hand. This is one of the main causes of food poisoning in children.
Food poisoning is a very serious illness as it leads to diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, cramps in abdomen, dizzy feeling, dry mouth, headache and others. But one shouldn’t have to worry because there are many home remedies to cure food poisoning. Some of the home remedies for treating food poisoning in kids are:
Ginger root juice
Ginger works great in food poisoning. It relieves the children from nausea and indigestion. So the mothers can mix a few drops of ginger juice with honey, to reduce the strong taste of ginger, to their children suffering from food poisoning.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar is one the best home remedies for food poisoning. It is acidic in nature and so it helps to kill the bacteria and other germs, giving an instant relief to the upset stomach.
You can just mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a cup of hot water and let your child drink it before eating your food.
Yogurt
Last but certainly not the least yogurt has tremendous impact on the overall well being of your child’s digestive health. It contains the bacteria which aids in digestion. Sometimes strong medicines kill the important bacteria in your child’s system. That makes it even more difficult to cure the problem.
Honey
Due to its anti bacterial and anti fungal properties, honey is said to be the best cure for food poisoning. It soothes the stomach by controlling the secretion of stomach acid. So a mother can give a teaspoon of honey to her child at every 3 to 4 hours before the symptom is totally cured.
Rice Water
Not a very well known home remedy, but rice waters do tend to cure many stomach related problems for children. Firstly you should boil a cup of rice in a pan. Wait till the rice gets soft. Rinse the rice and eat it separately. However, do not throw the water away.
This water is very good for treating stomach flu in children. You can always add a pinch of ginger and honey to this water to make it tasty for your child. This is always a very safe and effective remedy.
Banana
Banana is a fruit which all mothers feed their babies from an early stage. It is rich in minerals which is good for the body. But it is also a remedy for food poisoning which most mothers don’t know. Eating banana can lessen the negative effects of food poisoning.
However, if your child is already experiencing loose motion then it is better if you do not feed him/her with banana. That will aggravate the problem, if anything.
Basil
Basil is a fantastic refreshing herb known for its medicinal benefits. It can cure various health problems from sore throat to food poisoning. For the children suffering from food poisoning, basil works great to give relief to vomiting and diarrhea.
Chicken Broth
Another very common remedy to food poisoning is chicken broth. It can be digested easily. Children would love to have tasty food during this condition as they are barred from having any spicy and delicious food. So you can give your child, suffering from food poisoning, chicken broth which can calm his/her tummy.
Lemon juice
Lemon is another cure for food poisoning. It is known for its acidic properties which act as anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent.
You can mix 1 teaspoon of lemon with sugar or honey and give your child 2 to 3 times a day, so to give a quick relief to the upset stomach. You can also give it with warm water which will help to clean out the system.
Chilled Milk
Milk is known for its nutritional value. It is also a cure for upset stomach. So if your child is suffering from food poisoning, you can give him/her a glass of chilled milk. It gives soothing feeling to the stomach.
You may add flavor according to your child’s taste, to make it tasty for them.
Apple
Apples are very good for your child’s intestine. If raw apple is difficult for your child to consume, during the stomach ache, then you can give him/her baked apple. Liquid applesauce is also equally beneficial. It also helps your child to swallow it faster instead of going through the pain of chewing raw apple, during his/her illness.
Prevention
· You much teach your child to wash their hands before and after eating.
· You can make them carry hand sanitizer in their school so that they can instantly clean their hands before their lunch.
· You should clean the dishes and utensils with warm water as it kills the harmful germs.
· Food should be stored properly so to avoid cross contamination.
· You should avoid giving greasy or deep fried foods to your child.
· If diarrhea and vomiting continues for over 24 hours, then make your child sip an oral rehydration solution to keep them hydrated.
· You must not let your child eat the food that is kept in the refrigerator for quite a long time.
Precautions
· If these remedies doesn’t work out then you must seek for immediate medical help.
· If the symptoms are more serious and severe then you must take him/her to the doctor immediately.
· If you find blood in their diarrhea then it needs immediate aid. A doctor will prescribe antibiotic medication to stop it. So take your child immediately to the nearby hospital.
