Watermelon poisoning
Sweet and fragrant watermelon is a favorite treat for children and adults in the summer heat. Watermelon refreshes and quenches thirst, does not irritate the digestive tract, and therefore can be eaten a lot without negative health effects. Nutritionists consider watermelon to be one of the most useful foods, and, nevertheless, it can be dangerous, and cases of watermelon poisoning are not uncommon.
Source: depositphotos.com
How does watermelon poisoning happen?
The watermelon season starts in July and lasts until September. With regard to poisoning, early watermelons sold in the first half of July are dangerous, the reason for this is nitrates. Nitrates are part of fertilizers that stimulate plant growth and maturation, and early watermelons contain them in varying amounts. The reason for the abuse of nitrates in the cultivation of watermelons is economic: at the beginning of the season they are expensive, and people, missing their favorite delicacy and tired of the heat, willingly buy early watermelons even at a high price.
In the body, nitrates are converted to nitrites, poisonous compounds that have a toxic effect on the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular and nervous system. Nitrite binds hemoglobin, an oxygen carrier to tissues, forming useless methemoglobin. Thus, the supply of oxygen to the tissues is disrupted (a state of tissue hypoxia), which leads to a disorder of organ functions.
Nitrate poisoning is not the only way to get poisoned by watermelon. The sweet, moist pulp in summer warmth is a favorable environment for the growth of bacteria, including putrefactive ones. Bacteria enter the watermelon when the integrity of its peel is violated - when the watermelon is cut or cracked. Eating bacteria-contaminated watermelon leads to infectious poisoning.
So, watermelons cause two types of poisoning:
- Nitrate;
- Infectious.
Symptoms of watermelon poisoning
Between eating a low-quality watermelon and the first signs of poisoning, it takes 4 to 6 hours.
The early signs of bacterial and nitrate poisoning are similar:
- nausea, vomiting;
- stomach and intestinal colic;
- diarrhea;
- intoxication: weakness, aching muscles and joints, headache, fever.
High doses of nitrates can cause additional symptoms:
- the appearance of blood in the feces, as a result of which the feces acquire a chocolate hue;
- blueness of the lips, nail bed;
- disturbances of consciousness (confusion, disorientation, loss of consciousness);
- cardiac disorders (shortness of breath, chest pain);
- pain and discomfort in the liver and yellowness of the sclera.
Source: depositphotos.com
First aid for watermelon poisoning
When signs of poisoning appear, the algorithm of actions is as follows:
- Flush the stomach. To do this, drink 0.5-1 liters of a weak solution of potassium permanganate, table salt or just water, and induce vomiting by pressing on the root of the tongue. Do this several times in a row - until the vomit contains only water (solution) without admixture of food particles;
- Take an adsorbent inside: activated carbon, Polyphepan, Polysorb, Enterosgel, etc.;
- In order to prevent dehydration, drink abundantly: weak tea, slightly salted water or Rehydron. If vomiting remains, it is better to drink it chilled;
- Bed rest.
Attention! When providing first aid for watermelon poisoning, do not take:
- pain relievers (they are also often antipyretic);
- antibiotics, including Levomycetin.
When is medical attention needed?
In case of watermelon poisoning, a doctor should be called in the following situations:
- indomitable vomiting or diarrhea that does not improve for several hours, despite the measures taken;
- excessively high temperature that does not decrease throughout the day;
- confusion, loss of consciousness;
- convulsions;
- an admixture of blood in vomit or feces;
- shortness of breath;
- age up to 12 years;
- pregnancy.
Medical assistance is aimed at replenishing the water-salt balance, detoxifying the body, maintaining the functions of vital organs (heart, liver, kidneys).
Possible consequences of watermelon poisoning
As a rule, watermelon poisoning passes without serious consequences for the body, within a few days the body is restored. For early rehabilitation within a week after poisoning, you should follow a diet, eating easily digestible healthy food: slimy cereals and soups, lean boiled meat, vegetable and fruit purees, boiled or stewed vegetables. Fatty, fried, smoked, salty, high-calorie and other heavy foods must be excluded from the diet for this period.
Severe nitrate poisoning can lead to severe disruption of vital organs, multiple organ failure, coma, and death. Fortunately, this rarely happens when consuming watermelons, even those containing nitrates.
Prevention
To reduce the risk of poisoning, do not buy early watermelons (before the end of July) and damaged ones.
Express test for nitrate content: put a piece of watermelon pulp into a glass of water and observe it for 1-2 minutes. Turbidity of the water without changing color indicates a low content of nitrates or their absence, if the water turns pink, the content of nitrates is high - such a fruit cannot be eaten.
How to choose a watermelon?
- A ripe watermelon has a clear skin pattern, a not too large white-yellow (earthen) spot and a dry tail;
- The watermelon is not coated;
- When tapping, a dull sound is heard, when trying to squeeze from both ends - a slight crackling;
- Do not cut the watermelon when buying: in this case, the ingress of bacteria inside is inevitable.
Watermelon should not be eaten if:
- there is damage to the skin;
- the pulp has a fibrous structure with yellow streaks and whitish seals. Normally, the pulp is slightly grained and homogeneous.
Rules for using watermelon:
- Before cutting, the watermelon should be thoroughly washed, preferably with a brush;
- Nitrates accumulate in and around the peel, so you should not finish eating the watermelon to the crust;
- Do not store a half-eaten watermelon warm, and store it in the refrigerator for no longer than a day.
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Anna Kozlova Medical journalist About the author
Education: Rostov State Medical University, specialty "General Medicine".
The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!
