Why is watermelon poisoning and how dangerous is it?

The peak of poisoning by low-quality watermelons falls on the second half of the summer. This is due to the high content of nitrates, caught in the fruits of this melon culture from fertilizers, which are widely used to accelerate the ripening of berries. The first symptoms manifest themselves after a couple of hours after eating the product.

A small amount of nitrates is excreted from the body without consequences, but if it exceeds the norm, the body can not cope with such a load, poisoning with watermelon occurs. Of the remaining substances, nitrites are formed - very harmful compounds that lead to the replacement of hemoglobin with methaemoglobin, which results in oxygen starvation.

Symptoms of watermelon poisoning:

- aches in joints, convulsions;

- nausea, vomiting;

- pallor of the nasolabial triangle ;

- development of diarrhea;

- headache;

- increased fatigue;

- temperature.

The greatest complications can cause poisoning with watermelon in the child, because the protective mechanisms of the child's body are not fully formed. The situation is further aggravated by the fact that this product is consumed immediately in large quantities, which only increases the concentration of harmful compounds. It should be noted that poisoning with watermelon can be triggered by such factors as exacerbation of peptic ulcer disease, the presence of postoperative adhesions. Also, the role can be played by congenital urogenital anomalies, prostate adenoma, pyelonephritis, kidney stones and diabetes mellitus. Even in case of excessive consumption of beneficial melons, poisoning with watermelon can occur, the symptoms of which often call for an ambulance.

What if I get poisoned with watermelon?

If, after all, watermelon poisoning has occurred, the doctor should be called immediately. Before his arrival, it is necessary to thoroughly wash the stomach, using for this solution of potassium permanganate. If possible, you need to make a cleansing enema and take activated charcoal. When poisoning it is useful to drink more liquid and to feed the body with ascorbic acid.

More often, watermelon poisoning occurs in people who eat flesh berries to the very crust, and also eat the product on an empty stomach and in large quantities. To date, the technology of growing melons has been applied almost everywhere with the use of fertilizers, so it is unfortunately impossible to completely get rid of nitrates, but there are ways to substantially reduce their content in fruits.

How to avoid symptoms of poisoning?

In order to reduce the amount of nitrates in a watermelon, it is recommended to place it in cold water for several hours. The greatest danger with the use of fruits is borne by microbes, which get to the surface of the berries from the contaminated land. To prevent their further spread, you should thoroughly wash the product before use and never buy an incised one. If you have frequent flatulence, colic and diarrhea, eat watermelons very carefully and in small amounts. Observing such simple preventive measures, you can avoid many complications, which are sometimes difficult to get rid of.