The unlikely culprit is food poisoning, but despite these overwhelming statistics, the key to prevention is in your hands. Most cases of food poisoning are relatively mild.
People suffer with diarrhea or vomiting for about three days but then fully recover.
Sometimes, however, the illness becomes far more severe, with symptoms including severe dehydration, bloody stools, kidney failure, paralysis and even death. Young children, elderly people, and those with immune systems weakened from AIDS, cancer treatments or medicine for organ transplants are particularly vulnerable to food poisoning. In addition, people who take antacids are more susceptible because the antacids neutralize the stomach acid that would normally kill the germs that trigger the illness. Food poisoning can be caused by a variety of agents such as bacteria, toxins, viruses, and parasites. Bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter are common infectious germs that can trigger illness by producing dangerous toxins.