On the afternoon of November 7, Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City said that the unit had received 11 cases of food poisoning, with symptoms of abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, high fever... after eating bread at a bakery on Nguyen Thai Son Street. There were many people in the same family or company.
After being treated, 5 cases were transferred to the Gastroenterology Department for monitoring and intensive treatment; 1 case had to be transferred to the Intensive Care - Anti-Poisoning (ICU) department for elderly patients with underlying COPD; 4 cases are continuing to be monitored in the Emergency Department; 1 case was discharged from the hospital.
Talking to the doctor, Ms. L (Mr. H's wife, 53 years old) said that on the morning of November 5, she bought 3 loafings of bread for 4 people to eat, including a maid, mother, husband and son. Immediately after eating, all 4 people showed symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, high fever of 38.5 - 39 degrees Celsius. By the morning of November 7, these symptoms did not improve and were taken to the emergency room.
Mr. T (39 years old) and Ms. H (34 years old) also ate bread at the same shop on Nguyen Thai Son Street on November 5 and experienced similar symptoms.
At the Emergency Department, Ms. L (an employee of a company) said that on November 5, the company ordered 20 servings from this bakery. After that, everyone at the bakery experienced pain, headaches, vomiting, and diarrhea many times.
According to Dr. Huynh Van Muoi Mot - Deputy Head of the Emergency Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, after examination and performance of paraclinical tests such as blood tests, abdominal ultrasounds, etc., the patients were diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis - colitis due to infection. These are common manifestations in cases of food poisoning.
Military Hospital 175 received 40 emergency cases on November 6 with symptoms of fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and mild to moderate dehydration. The patients are students, office workers, and workers.
Of which, 38 cases have been discharged from the hospital. The remaining 2 cases are being treated at the Department of Gastroenterology, have intestinal infections, and have stable health.
A representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety said that the unit had received the information and was verifying and clarifying.
Doctor Muoi Mot noted that when symptoms of suspected food poisoning such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever appear after eating, people need to immediately stop using suspected foods, and replenish water and electrolytes early with oresol or water to cool.
Do not arbitrarily use diarrhea or antibiotics because they can cause toxins to stay in the intestines longer. If you vomit a lot, have continuous diarrhea, have severe abdominal pain, have a high fever or show signs of dehydration (dry mouth, little urination, defecation, fatigue), the patient needs to go to a medical facility immediately for timely treatment.
Food poisoning can cause severe dehydration, electrolyte disorders, sepsis or liver and kidney damage, and even death if not treated promptly. Self-treatment at home or delaying medical examination is a dangerous mistake, causing many cases to fall into a state of exhaustion or serious complications before being hospitalized.
