| Children develop food poisoning after eating food that is contaminated by bacteria or a bacterial toxin. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and fever and may begin anywhere from thirty minutes to four weeks after ingesting contaminated food, depending on the source of the infection. Common bacteria that cause food poisoning include Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, Shigella, E. coli, Staphylococcus, Listeria, Bacillus cereus, and Clostridium perfringens. There are also several viruses (Hepatitis A) and parasites (Giardia, and Cryptosporidium) that can cause food poisoning.
Common foods that are associated with food poisoning include, undercooked meat and chicken, unpasteurized milk and juices, uncooked eggs, improperly stored foods, undercooked seafood and shellfish, and any food that is prepared by someone with an infection that does not practice proper sanitation procedures.
While most cases of food poisoning cause minor illness, they can lead to serious complications and you should practice strict food safety to prevent food poisoning.
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