January 22, 2009
I have seen alot of cases of a "stomach bug" at my office recently. While most of these cases resolve on their own within 24-48 hours, some take longer to resolve. Usually, our bodies have the ability to rid itself of the infection on its own. In fact, the vomitting and diarrhea episodes are our bodies defensive reaction to rid itself of the infection. Unfortunately, this "defensive reaction" does not feel very good, and can cause some nasty side effects such as dehydration, mineral imbalances and sometimes hospitalization. These infections are more worrisome in infants and the elderly, as these groups tend to dehydrate more easily. As most of these bugs are caused by a virus, there is no antibiotic that will work as treatment.
A food recall is now in the news. Some peanut butter products have been found to contain salmonella, a bacteria that can also cause severe gastrointestinal illness, and sometimes deaths. The following is from Yahoo News:
Excerpts from the article below:
FDA: 125-plus products recalled in peanut outbreak
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press Writer - Wed Jan 21, 2:57 PM PST
WASHINGTON - More than 125 products have been recalled in a salmonella-and-peanuts investigation that keeps getting bigger, federal health officials said Wednesday. The list ranges from goodies like cookies and ice cream to energy bars. Even food for pooches may not be entirely safe, with a national company recalling some of its dog treats.
On Tuesday, PetSmart recalled seven kinds of its Grreat Choice dog biscuits. On Wednesday, the weight loss company NutriSystem issued a recall for peanut butter granola bars. And some Asian foods made with peanut sauces are starting to turn up on the recalls list.
To help consumers, the Food and Drug Administration has set up on its Web site a searchable database of recalled peanut products. "We expect (the) number to continue to increase," said Stephen Sundlof, head of the FDA's food safety program. No major brands of peanut butter sold in jars are implicated.
FDA peanut products database:
Should you have a "stomach bug" that lasts more than 3-4 days, or you feel dehydrated, you should contact the office at 856-231-0590 to be evaluated, as there may be other causes for your illness other than a "stomach bug".
On a brighter note, it is now Girl Scout Cookie Sales time. As many of you know, my daughter has been selling Girl Scout Cookies for a few years now. Luckily these cookies have been deemed safe from the peanut butter recall.
While most of you know that I am not a proponent of "processed carbohydrates", it is tough to turn down a girl scout, especially when it is your daughter. So we will be helping her sell the cookies, and they are now available at the office.
Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Founder of The Institute for Medical Wellness
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