Food Poisoning in Babies – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

6 min read

Written by Sindhuja Prabhu

Sindhuja Prabhu

M.Sc (Psychology),PGDBM

Sindhuja, a mother of two, is an obsessive mom with a keen interest in psychology, especially child psychology. Her quest for knowledge and way with words led her to become a passionate content writer. She transformed her love for writing into a full-fledged career which incidentally also turned up being the perfect stress buster for the last 5 years.

food poisoning in babies

Food poisoning is nothing new to us. We are all prone to getting sick from eating something that does not digest well. While some have it easy with just a mild stomach upset, some can really suffer. But, what if it’s food poisoning in babies? How badly will it affect a baby?

Babies are on a strict milk-only diet till they are 6 months old. You start introducing solid foods to your baby only when they are around 6 months old. Babies take time to adjust to the new food items. This is why doctors advise taking it slow and not introducing too many new items without a sufficient break as some food items may cause food poisoning in babies.

In This Article

What is Food Poisoning?
Causes of Food Poisoning in Babies
Signs and Symptoms of Food Poisoning in Babies
How to Diagnose Food Poisoning in Babies?
Treatment Options For Food Poisoning in Babies
Top 5 Tips to Avoid Food Poisoning in Babies
FAQ’s

What is Food Poisoning?

First, let’s understand what food poisoning is. It is nothing but an illness that occurs when you consume contaminated food or water. Contaminated food or water can have bacteria in them. When a baby ingests this bacterium, their system gets affected, leading to food poisoning, which is more severe than indigestion.

Causes of Food Poisoning in Babies

A baby’s digestive system is very sensitive and is still developing. When you do not cook the food thoroughly, the chances of bacterial contamination and the bacteria not getting killed properly are high. The bacteria can break down over time, leading to toxins in the food. Such food can cause food poisoning in babies as their system is unable to process this and reacts to it.

Contamination can happen in water too. Water that is not filtered, purified or boiled can contain bacteria. Some of the bacteria that can cause food poisoning in babies are

Salmonella
E.coli
Listeria monocytogenes
Campylobacter
Vibrio
Staphylococcus aureus
Clostridium botulinum

There are a few viruses and parasites that can cause food poisoning too. While food poisoning due to a virus is common, infections due to parasites are rare.

Signs and Symptoms of Food Poisoning in Babies

Symptoms of Food Poisoning

How can we be sure a baby is suffering from food poisoning and not just mere indigestion? Babies can sometimes have big reactions to small issues and small indigestion can easily be mistaken for a serious issue like food poisoning.

Here are some tell-tale signs that can help you confirm if your baby is suffering from food poisoning

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach cramps
Fussiness due to possible headaches and stomachaches
Nausea
Fever

Many other illnesses have similar symptoms too. If your baby vomits or refuses to eat for more than 2 or 3 days in a row, it could indicate a more severe issue than just indigestion. If their stomach is hard and bloated or if they have blood in their stool, it is a strong indication of food poisoning in babies.

[Read : How To Bring Down A Fever In Babies?]

How to Diagnose Food Poisoning in Babies?

Diagnosing food poisoning can be tricky since the symptoms can mimic a regular viral fever.

The doctor will make note of the symptoms and check your baby’s abdomen for any hardness or aches.
He may ask what the baby has eaten, whether the baby has eaten food at a restaurant and if anything new has been introduced to the baby.
Depending on the findings, the doctor may assume that food poisoning could be the source.
In severe cases, blood tests or stool tests can help diagnose the problem. If the doctor suspects food poisoning, they can ask to test a sample of the same to understand what pathogens it carries.

Treatment Options For Food Poisoning in Babies

If your baby is suffering from food poisoning, the following may help:

1. Medications

The doctor may recommend medications that are mild and can help with food poisoning. Remember to always give medication to a baby only after consulting the doctor. If the doctor prescribes medications, ensure you finish the course as advised. Do not self-medicate babies.

2. Intravenous Fluids

In case of severe dehydration, the doctor might admit your baby and give them fluids through an IV.

3. Hydration

Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration. It is important to consume enough liquids to stay hydrated. The doctor may recommend adding some electrolytes to your baby’s water to help them replenish the lost salts and minerals quickly.

[Read : 8 Medicines That Should Not Be Given To Infants And Toddlers]

Top 5 Tips to Avoid Food Poisoning in Babies

Tips to Avoid Food Poisoning in Babies

No parent wants to see their baby suffer from anything, let alone food poisoning. Here are some tried and tested tips that can help prevent food poisoning in babies.

1. Wash and Clean

Ensure you wash all the fresh produce well before serving it to the baby. Sometimes you need to wash the fresh produce with rock salt or vinegar to get rid of all the pesticides and other chemicals that may have settled on it.

Similarly, ensure you wash all the baby utensils and your hands properly before feeding the baby. Bacteria from our hands or utensils can also cause food poisoning.

2. Check Expiry Dates

Be it dry snacks, healthy cereals or meat, they all have an expiry date. Unlike fruits or vegetables, these items have a date in print. Ensure you check the date when you buy and when you feed your baby. Expiry dates are given for a reason.

3. Keep a Record

Sometimes babies react to certain food items. These need not be food allergies, but the body might just need a little time to adjust. Keep track of what you are introducing to your baby and how they react to it. If the reaction is unfavorable, or leads to food poisoning, ensure you give it a few weeks or months before you try the food item again.

When you try it again, try only a small portion. Continue giving it only if your baby can tolerate the food well.

4. Cook Well

Cook the food and meat thoroughly before you serve it to the baby. If the adults like a semi-cooked consistency (rare or medium-rare meat, raw vegetables), keep it aside for adults and cook the baby’s portion properly. The heat can kill all the bacteria in it.

5. Reduce Outside Food

As tempting as it may be to feed your baby outside food, especially if you are outside or travelling, ensure you do not make it a regular habit. Your baby might need a little more time before their tiny bodies can tolerate outside foods.

If you are going out for a meal, carry some home-cooked food or ready-to-mix cereals for the baby. You can make these at home and pack them up too. If you are travelling, try to carry some dry items made at home for your baby to munch on and opt for fresh fruits (preferably organic or the ones where you can discard the outer skin). When you give them cooked foods, ensure you buy well-cooked items unlike sushi or other raw items.

Food poisoning in babies is the body’s way of rejecting a food item and telling it is not okay with it. Not all babies may react to the food item and your own baby may also not react the same way to the food item at another time. However, there is not much that you can do, beyond a point. So just be vigilant and take proper care to prevent food poisoning in babies.

[Read : How to Make Your Own Baby Food?]

FAQ’s

1. Can a Baby Get Salmonella Through Breast Milk?

Salmonella is a bacterial infection that can affect the intestine. It is one of the few bacteria that can pass through breast milk. However, it happens in very few cases only.

2. Can a Mother With Salmonella Pass it to Her Baby?

Since there is direct and close contact between mother and baby, the chances of salmonella transferring from mother to baby are high.

3. Can I Breastfeed My Baby if I Have Salmonella?

Though the chances of the bacteria spreading through breast milk is less, there are chances of transferring salmonella through breast milk. It is advisable to consult your doctor before you can continue breastfeeding your baby.