Types of food poisoning abroad which can result in compensation claims
 

 
Anyone that has suffered from food poisoning on holiday will know how much it can take the fun out of a long anticipated break. You can claim compensation for food poisoning abroad if it occurred after eating food on a package holiday that was badly prepared or prepared in dirty surroundings. If the contaminated food was served in a hotel that was part of a package tour, you can claim compensation for food poisoning.

 
High profile outbreaks, such as that on the P&O cruise liner Aurora in 2003, have meant that holidaymakers are more aware than ever of the consequences of food related illnesses and the importance of staying healthy whilst abroad. Tour operators have a responsibility to you to ensure that food served is of a good standard and that it is prepared in hygienic, clean surroundings.

 
Over 2.1 million British tourists suffered from food related illnesses last year. Mark Harrington, CEO with food hygiene specialist Check Safety First, believes that by following a few simple precautions however, holidaymakers can reduce the risks. If you have suffered illness including food poisoning whilst on a holiday package tour, Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors can help get you the compensation you deserve. We specialise in holiday illness and accident claims for compensation.

 
Types of food poisoning abroad which can result in compensation claims

 
There are many types and variations of food poisoning, which can cause minor symptoms such as stomach ache, to major illnesses and even death.

 
Not strictly food related, but equally hazardous, Cryptosporidium is another infection to be aware of. This waterborne illness is contracted from infected swimming pools, and is particularly common amongst youngsters. Its symptoms are very similar to food poisoning. The best way to avoid it is to steer clear of dirty swimming pools. If the pool at your holiday complex or hotel looks dirty and the water is unclear, and not cleaned daily, then don´t use it. Compensation for contracting Cryptosporidium can be claimed. If you have suffered Cryptosporidium during the past three years through no fault of your own while on holiday abroad you can claim compensation with Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors.

 
Avoiding holiday illness and food poisoning

Exercising, eating plenty of fruit and vegetables and sleeping well in the weeks before travelling will do wonders to boost your immune system. A strong immune system will help to quickly get rid of any germs you may pick up abroad.

 
Taking a pro-biotic for a few weeks before travelling abroad is also a good idea. A pro-biotic will line the stomach with friendly bacteria. This bacteria helps to aid digestion, bolster the immune system and battle for space with bad bacteria, including those that cause food poisoning. Food poisoning can ruin your holiday. If you want to claim for food poisoning abroad or any holiday illness or personal injury that results from an holiday accident that was not your fault, Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors can help.

 
Tips to avoid holiday illness and food poisoning

 
• Always use bottled or sterilised water, if you are concerned about the safety of the local tap water, even when the locals tell you it is fine to drink. Remember they are accustomed to it, and you may still fall ill if you consume water from a local source.

 
• Avoid ice in drinks unless you are sure it is made from treated or chlorinated water.
• Eat freshly and thoroughly cooked food that is still piping hot.
• Avoid food that has been kept warm, such as ´as much as you can eat´, or ´all inclusive-buffet´ style spreads.
• Avoid uncooked food, including fruit, unless you can peel or shell it yourself.
• Avoid salads, as they may have been washed in contaminated water.
• Avoid ice cream from portable ice cream sellers who may not have adequate refrigeration. Never eat ice cream which may have melted and been refrozen.
• Be careful with fish and shellfish – uncooked or undercooked seafood is particularly hazardous.

 
What to do if you contract food poisoning on holiday

 
If you are unfortunate enough to get food poisoning on holiday abroad, there is little you can do except let it run its course. The most important thing is not to get dehydrated. Drink plenty of bottled water . To ensure children´s fluid levels are kept high, give them rehydration salts which will help with their recovery. Blockage tablets don't solve the problem of diarrhoea. The body needs to rid itself of the toxins so, unless it is absolutely vital, blockage tablets should be used sparingly. Any food poisoning incident should be reported to your holiday rep and the hotel or restaurant responsible as soon as possible. Be aware that incubation times vary between the different forms of food poisoning, so it may not necessarily be the food you ate the night before.

Suffering food poisoning can ruin your holiday abroad. Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Claims Solicitors can help if you have used a tour operator to book your package holiday, and if the hotel/restaurant is to blame for you contracting food poisoning.

 
Holiday advice and information before you go

 
The avoidance of food poisoning on holiday abroad and other useful holiday questions are covered by several sources. Advice and guidance can be sought from;

 
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office's campaign called, ´Know before you go´. (www.fco.gov.uk) This campaign gives practical advice for holidaymakers about the issue of food poisoning and other holiday health matters.

 
It is a popular misconception that the star system, which many holidaymakers rely on when choosing accommodation, does not take into account food hygiene standards.
www.checksafetyfirst.com carries out food hygiene checks at hotels throughout the world and offers holidaymakers free access to information on its food hygiene standards. Information on hotels which offer very high standards of food hygiene is posted on the website, alongside contact details and information about the hotel facilities and its star rating.

 
 
Food poisoning types that can be contracted on holiday abroad
 
E Coli 0157
 
Symptoms: Diarrhoea with blood, nausea and vomiting.
Duration: About 2-3 days.
Incubation Period: Illness usually appears 3-4 days after exposure, but it can be as much as 9 days later.
Source: Food and water contamination. With careless food handling any product eaten raw may be contaminated with raw meat juices.
 
Norovirus – the most infectious form of gastroenteritis
 
Symptoms: Diarrhoea with blood, fever and vomiting.
Duration: usually up to 48 hours.
Incubation Period: Approx: 24-48 hours.
Source: Found in contaminated food and water. It is easily passed on and is highly contagious.
 
Campylobacter
 
Symptoms : Severe diarrhoea, sometimes with blood, severe stomach cramps and vomiting.
Duration: From 48 hours to a week.
Incubation Period: Approx. 2-5 days.
Source: Untreated milk and water, undercooked meat, poultry and fish – particularly shellfish.
 
Salmonella
 
Symptoms: diarrhoea, fever, severe abdominal pains and vomiting.
Duration: 4 days to 3 weeks.
Incubation Period: Approx: 2-5 days.
Source: Raw eggs, unpasteurised milk and undercooked poultry and meat.
 
Bacillus Cereus
 
Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
Duration: 24-36 hours.
Incubation Period: Between 6-15 hours after consumption.
Source: Contaminated cooked food, dried foods and dairy products. Often results from cooked food being left out or uncovered for too long.
 
If you think you have suffered any of the above illnesses as a result of food poisoning while on holiday abroad, Farnworth Rose can help get you the compensation you deserve.
 
 
Gastroenteritis on holiday
 
Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by infection. In the UK, about one in five people are affected by gastroenteritis each year. In most cases, gastroenteritis clears up without the need for specific medical treatment. If you need medical treatment, however, contact your holiday rep as soon as you can after contracting the illness.
 
You can become infected after eating or drinking food that is contaminated with bacteria, viruses or parasites, or from other infected people.
 
Some of these germs can damage the cells lining the inner surface of the gut and interfere with its normal functions, and you can feel sick and nauseous as a result. Certain bacteria or viruses may also produce toxins that irritate the gut and cause it to produce excess amounts of fluid. This may lead to the various symptoms of gastroenteritis such as diarrhoea.
 
Symptoms of gastroenteritis on holiday abroad
 
The time between catching the infection and the start of the symptoms - the incubation period - depends on the cause of gastroenteritis. There are several causes, and depending on the type of infection, it can range from a few hours to a couple of weeks.
 
Symptoms: Diarrhoea, which may contain blood and mucus, or be watery, greasy or frothy,
nausea and/or vomiting. Abdominal cramping, bloating or pain and fever may also occur.
Most people recover within a week, but with severe infections, the illness may persist for many weeks. It's important to see your GP if your symptoms last for more than a week, or if you have recently travelled abroad. The symptoms of gastroenteritis may be confused with other conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis.
 
Complications from gastroenteritis
 
Complications from gastroenteritis, which is commonly picked up on holiday abroad, occur mainly in the young and the old, and in those who have weakened immune systems.
 
Possible complications of gastroenteritis include:
 
Dehydration - this can lead to kidney failure if severe
Malnutrition
Irritable bowel syndrome
 
You should always contact your GP if your pain is severe or doesn't respond to normal painkillers, if vomiting or diarrhoea continues for more than a few days or you can't hold fluids down. If there are signs of blood or mucus in the diarrhoea, or signs of dehydration such as a dry mouth, muscle cramps, reduced urine or sunken eyes, you should also seek medical help.
 
Causes of gastroenteritis
 
Viruses which cause gastroenteritis include:
 
Rotavirus
Norovirus
Enteric Adenovirus
Hepatitis A
 
Viral infection can be seasonal and there is a peak of infections with rotaviruses and noroviruses during the winter months.
 
Bacterial cause of gastroenteritis and food poisoning
 
The most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis is food poisoning. Food poisoning is caused by different bacteria from different foods. Examples of this include:
 
Salmonella – typically from dairy, eggs and poultry .
Campylobacter – typically from dairy, meats and poultry.
Bacillus – Typically from re-heated rice.
Vibrio – Typically from seafood.
Escherichia Coli (E. coli) – Typically from minced beef and meat products.
 
Some E. coli strains are particularly harmful, including E. coli 0157, which produces a toxin that can also damage the kidneys, cause red blood cells to break down and cause inflammation in small blood vessels. These infections can be fatal and children can be particularly vulnerable.
 
Parasites and gastroenteritis
 
Parasites rarely cause gastroenteritis in the UK, but are a major problem in less developed countries and can be caught if you go abroad.
 
Allergies and gastroenteritis
 
Some food allergies, for example an allergy to citrus fruit, can lead to gastroenteritis.
 
Diarrhoea can also be caused by other infections such as pneumonia or urinary tract infections. However, very occasionally it may be caused by other conditions such as encephalitis, diabetes, appendicitis or a blockage of the gut. Some medicines, such as anti-malaria drugs, can also cause symptoms of gastroenteritis. Antibiotics can lead to gastroenteritis by killing the normal, healthy bacteria in your gut.
 
How gastroenteritis spreads after holiday illness abroad
 
Infections from gastroenteritis spread from:
 
Contaminated food
Person to person - this happens if an infected person goes to the toilet and doesn't wash their hands properly afterwards, before handling food or touching other people.
If an individual infected with a virus sneezes or coughs.
 
Contaminated drinking water - the majority of infections are carried this way in the developing world but can also affect travellers and tourists.
Diagnosis of gastroenteritis from a holiday illness abroad
 
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and examine you. He may also ask about your medical history. The GP may want a faeces (stool) sample to send for laboratory testing. If you have been travelling, you will be asked which countries you have visited and which vaccinations you have had.
 
Treating gastroenteritis after a holiday abroad
 
The most important aspect of treatment is to replace fluids and salts you have lost, to prevent dehydration. If you have a mild case of gastroenteritis, your usual daily drinks (water, squash) should be enough. You can continue to eat normally, but you shouldn't have fatty foods or food and drinks containing sugar and/or alcohol. If you have a more severe infection, use an oral re-hydration solution, which you can buy in chemists. These are usually a powder that is made up into a solution by adding water. They contain the right balance of sugars and salts for your body and they encourage rehydration. You should eat foods high in carbohydrates such as rice or toast until you can take solid food and return to a normal diet. These are particularly useful to take in hot weather, and are recommended even when illness is not an issue.
 
Medicines to prevent holiday illness abroad
 
Medicines to stop diarrhoea such as Imodium are only recommended for adults. These medications slow down movement in the intestines, but have no effect on the excess fluid in the intestines, so it will come out later. They can also cause side-effects such as tummy cramps, dizziness and skin reactions. If you are in pain, take the painkiller that you would normally take for a headache. Follow the instructions in the patient information leaflet that comes with the medicine and ask your pharmacist for advice.
 
Your GP may prescribe an anti-sickness medicine. Vomiting normally stops when you have drunk enough fluid, but anti-emetics can be helpful if you have severe vomiting. Many anti-emetics are also sedatives, so it's advisable not to drive or use machinery after taking them.
 
Most cases of gastroenteritis are caused by viruses, which are not treatable with antibiotics. Your GP won't usually prescribe antibiotics for gastroenteritis.
 
However, if your GP suspects that you have a bacterial infection, he or she may ask you for a stool sample to send for laboratory testing. This is more common if you have been travelling recently. The results will help to determine which antibiotic to treat you with.
 
Hospital treatment for gastroenteritis after a holiday abroad
 
If you become very dehydrated and have lost a lot of fluid, hospital treatment may be needed to replace fluids directly into your bloodstream. This is normally done with the aid of an intravenous drip.
 
Prevention of gastroenteritis on holiday abroad
 
The best way to prevent gastroenteritis is to always wash your hands with soap after going to the toilet and to disinfect toilets after use. You should also practice good food hygiene, and make sure any food cooked for you is prepared properly and using clean equipment.
 
Before travelling make sure you have had any vaccinations required and use bottled water if necessary when abroad.
 
Gastroenteritis – don´t spread it!
 
Hygienically disposing of, or properly cleaning, all dirty items such as towels.
Cleaning the toilet with disinfectant.
Not sharing towels and flannels
Not preparing food for others
If you have gastroenteritis you may be infectious to others. You should stay away from work, school or college for at least 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped.
 
If you think you have a claim after suffering a holiday illness abroad, such as gastroenteritis, then Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors want to hear about it. We will give you advice and guidance regarding your personal injury/illness claim, and you can even claim up to three years after the illness was contracted. We pay £100.00 cash up front when we accept your claim and you get 100% of the compensation. We work on a no win no fee basis which means no risk to you. Contact us free on 080001 54321 or fill in the online claim form.

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