You may not have heard of this name 'Listeria'. But this is something we all need to be careful of. Simply put, Listeria is a type of bacteria, that is, a small germ. If this gets into our bodies, we can develop various diseases. So, today we will talk about this infection called Listeriosis in detail and simply.
What is Listeria? Why is it dangerous?
Listeria is a type of bacteria. When this bacteria enters our bodies, we call it Listeriosis. When this occurs, symptoms usually include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, body aches, and joint pain. In most cases, these symptoms subside within a few days.
However, some people can be more severely affected by this infection. This can be especially true for pregnant women, newborns, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems (such as those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer). This is why it is so important to be aware of this.
How do we get listeria?
Listeria infection is actually a type of food poisoning . It occurs when we unknowingly eat or drink food that contains the Listeria bacteria. Okay, so where is this bacteria?
This bacteria lives mainly in soil, that is, in the ground. But it can also be found in the bodies of animals, in water, and in many other places. Listeria infections are most often caused by:
- Eating meat or dairy products from infected animals: Sometimes animals like cows and goats can be infected with this bacteria. When that happens, we can also get sick if we eat meat or milk from those animals that are not properly cooked.
- Eating food that has come into contact with a surface contaminated with bacteria: Imagine that this bacteria was on a surface in a food preparation area. Then this bacteria can get into something like cut meat (e.g. `(deli meat)`).
- Drinking unpasteurized (raw) milk or eating dairy products made from it: Raw milk is milk that has not undergone any sterilization process. This type of milk is more likely to contain Listeria bacteria.
- Eating vegetables and fruits contaminated with bacteria from the soil without washing them properly: We know that vegetables and fruits grow in the soil. So, these bacteria present in the soil can contaminate them. If we eat them without washing them properly, we can get infected.
The most important thing is that Listeria infection is not transmitted directly from one person to another. This means that it cannot be spread by talking to or shaking hands with someone who is sick.
However, although the exact cause is not clear, pregnant women are at higher risk of developing this infection. If they do, the baby in the womb can also get the infection.
What are the symptoms of Listeria?
The symptoms of a Listeria infection can vary from person to person, depending on the strength of the person's immune system.
- For someone with a strong immune system: The most common symptoms are fever, vomiting, diarrhea (stomach upset), and joint pain. These usually resolve within a few days.
- For people with weakened immune systems and those over the age of 65: The condition can be more serious for these people. Severe conditions such as bacteria accumulating in the blood (`(Bacteremia)`) or infection of the membranes surrounding the brain (`(Meningitis)`) can occur.
- For pregnant women: Surprisingly, if a pregnant woman gets listeria, she may have very few symptoms. Maybe just a slight fever and body aches. However, it can be very harmful to the baby in the womb. This infection can cause the baby to be born prematurely (preterm labor), have a miscarriage, or even have a stillbirth (stillbirth). That's why it's important to be very careful about this during pregnancy.
How do you accurately diagnose a Listeria infection?
If you have symptoms of listeria, a doctor will examine you and ask about your symptoms and what you have eaten and drunk recently. Sometimes, doctors suspect a listeria infection if several people in the same area have the same symptoms, or if several people who ate food from the same place get sick.
Listeria bacteria are not usually detected in stool tests. So doctors don't usually do this test unless they are looking for other infections. However, sometimes they may need to do things like blood tests to check for bacteria in the blood, a spinal tap to check for brain infection, or a placenta to check for infection during pregnancy.
What are the treatments for Listeria infection?
If healthy children, young adults, and adults get a listeria infection, the most important thing is to drink plenty of fluids. This will help prevent dehydration. You should also get plenty of rest. Some anti-diarrhea medicines are not good at this time, as they can make the diarrhea worse. So don't take any medicine without first talking to a doctor.
However, for people who are at higher risk of developing serious problems from Listeria infection (e.g., pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems), doctors may prescribe antibiotics. These medications are often given intravenously (IV).
What can we do to prevent the development of listeria?
"Prevention is better than cure," they say. So, there are some simple, yet very important, steps we can take when it comes to food and drink to stay safe from Listeria. Let's take a look at what they are:
- Cook chicken, beef, pork, and seafood thoroughly: When cooking these, cook them until they are thoroughly cooked inside. Do not eat undercooked meat or fish.
- Cook the egg yolks until they are very hard: Avoid eating raw eggs.
- When buying dairy products, check to see if they are pasteurized: Avoid eating raw milk and products made from it, such as cheese and yogurt.
- Put leftovers in the refrigerator within 2 hours: Also, don't keep them for more than 3-4 days.
- When reheating leftover food, heat it until it is well-smoked.
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating: Especially things like potatoes and sweet potatoes that are dug out of the ground, and things that grow in the soil like lettuce, should be thoroughly cleaned.
- Eat fruits like watermelon quickly after cutting them, or refrigerate them: Do not eat cut watermelon that has been at room temperature for more than 4 hours or in the refrigerator for more than 7 days, throw it away.
- Thoroughly wash every cutting board, knife, container, and counter that has touched raw meat, poultry, hot dogs, and deli meats.
- Keep your refrigerator at 4 degrees Celsius (40 degrees Fahrenheit) or lower. Keep your freezer at -18 degrees Celsius (0 degrees Fahrenheit) or lower. Controlling this temperature can help reduce the growth of bacteria.
If you are pregnant or have a higher risk of developing listeria (e.g., someone with a weakened immune system), be sure to ask your doctor what else you can do to protect yourself from this infection. They may even tell you to avoid certain foods altogether.
When should I see a doctor?
If your child has diarrhea for more than a week, or has any of the following symptoms, see a doctor immediately:
- Fever
- Vomiting
- If there is blood with the diarrhea
- Signs of dehydration (e.g., urinating less than usual, dry mouth, hardly any tears when crying, sunken eyes)
- Excessive sleepiness
Parents know a child best. So, if you have any other concerns or fears about your child in addition to the symptoms mentioned above, don't ignore them. Call a doctor and get advice.
The most important things to remember (Take-Home Message)
Okay, so we've talked a lot about Listeria today, haven't we? In short, Listeria is a bacterial infection that is spread through food. While it usually resolves in a few days for the average person, it can be dangerous for pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
The most important thing is to be mindful of food safety. If we do these things properly when cooking, storing, and cleaning food, we can avoid not only listeria, but many other food poisonings.
If you have any further questions about this, or if you think you or someone in your family may have symptoms of Listeria, please seek medical advice. Don't panic, the most important thing is to be aware and get treatment quickly.
` Listeria, Listeriosis, food poisoning, bacteria, pregnancy, food safety, symptoms
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