India, July 17 -- The food quality and hygiene of eateries coming under the spotlight has raised questions over the health risks that come with it. "Poor food hygiene in restaurants can trigger outbreaks that affect large numbers of people. Infections can spread quickly over several days before health authorities manage to trace a common link," says Dr NR Shetty, consultant, Internal Medicine, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. Dr Shetty adds that salmonella, E. coli, campylobacter, staphylococcus aureus, norovirus, hepatitis A, amoebiasis, viral infections and cholera are among the "infecting organisms". He says, "Waiters with unhygienic handling while serving food can also spread infections." Even the monsoon can make the body more prone to them. Dr Chirag Tandon, director, Internal Medicine, ShardaCare - Healthcity, says, "People come to OPDs with the sudden onset of loose motions and vomiting due to food poisoning during rains. But other common bacterial infections are E. coli-induced gastroenteritis and typhoid caused by salmonella typhi." Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance caused by diarrhoea and vomiting can lead to severe complications. "Some cases end up causing kidney injury, bloodstream infections or liver inflammation. Unwashed hands, food stored the wrong way, raw meat sitting too close to cooked food, or not cooked properly; that is usually all it takes," Dr Shetty says. While children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immunity are the most vulnerable, healthy adults are not immune either. "Depending on the contaminant and consumption, severe dehydration, serious gastrointestinal infections, or complications requiring hospitalisation are all possible," Dr Shetty says....