Salmonella Poisoning: A 5-year-old boy died after allegedly eating a cucumber for dinner, according to his family in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam. News reports say two other children of the family are admitted to the ICU and battling for their lives. Doctors say they suffered from severe food poisoning and are undergoing treatment.
According to preliminary reports – four members, including three children, ate Balam cucumbers – also known as African kheera at night and shortly complained about vomiting and nausea. They then also had severe stomachaches and were given medicines, which further deteriorated their condition. The family members then rushed them to a nearby hospital, but the boy succumbed while they were on their way.
Doctors say it could be due to salmonella poisoning – an infection, which leads to loss of water and electrolytes from the body. Experts say even though it usually goes away on its own in a few days, the infection can be highly dangerous, and even life-threatening in a few people, depending on their immunity levels. What is salmonella poisoning? Salmonella poisoning causes serious diarrhoea and stomach pains due to Salmonella bacteria.
Also known as gastroenteritis, it is the most common form of bacterial food poisoning in India. According to experts, when you get salmonella, it means enough bacteria have gotten past your stomach acid and immune system to make you sick. It invades and destroys the cells that line your intestines making it hard for you.