What Is Food Poisoning?
Moyo Studio/Getty Images
Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO
Food poisoning is a condition that occurs after consuming contaminated foods or beverages. Some people experience food poisoning symptoms almost immediately after eating something contaminated while others may not have symptoms until a few days later. In the United States, an estimated one in six people experience food poisoning each year.
Food poisoning typically resolves in a few days without severe or lasting symptoms. Treatments focus on staying hydrated and minimizing symptoms like nausea and diarrhea. Prevention strategies like eating well-cooked and properly stored food can reduce your risk of food poisoning.
Food Poisoning Symptoms
Food poisoning symptoms closely resemble those of stomach virus. Symptoms may resolve in as little as 24 hours or persist for up to a week.
Food poisoning symptoms include:
Symptoms in infants and children include:
Change in mental state, such as increased irritability
Diarrhea that lasts more than 24 hours
Frequent loose stools or vomiting
Some food poisoning symptoms are more severe and require medical attention. These symptoms include:
Blood in your diarrhea
Diarrhea that lasts longer than three days
Dehydration symptoms, such as very dry mouth, little to no urination, and dizziness
Fever higher than 102 degrees
Uncontrolled vomiting that prevents you from drinking liquids
Causes
Food poisoning is most commonly due to eating foods or drinks contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites. What you ate or drank and how quickly you began experiencing symptoms can help determine the cause.
Possible causes of food poisoning include:
Escherichia coli (E. coli): Bacteria that cause symptoms about three to four days after eating raw or undercooked ground beef, vegetables, or sprouts. Unpasteurized milk is another potential source of E. coli.
Salmonella: Bacteria that cause symptoms six hours to six days after eating raw fruits or vegetables, or raw or undercooked meats or eggs. Unpasteurized milk is another potential source of Salmonella.
Staphylococcus aureus: Bacteria that cause symptoms 30 minutes to eight hours after eating foods that aren't cooked after being handled, such as sliced meats or sandwiches.
Vibrio: Bacteria that cause symptoms within 24 hours, usually from eating raw or undercooked shellfish.
Norovirus: A virus that causes symptoms about 12 to 48 hours after touching infected cooking surfaces or eating contaminated leafy green vegetables, fruits, or shellfish. Norovirus can also cause a stomach virus.
Food poisoning can also be caused by exposure to:
Parasites like protozoa, roundworms, and tapeworms
Molds or toxins
Allergies that trigger your immune system to respond after eating certain foods, including nuts, eggs, fish, wheat, and soybeans
Risk Factors
Some people are more vulnerable to the severe effects of food poisoning due to weaker or underdeveloped immune systems. They also might be at a greater risk of dehydration, which can make them more severely ill.
People who are at higher risk include:
Infants and children
Older adults
Pregnant people
People who are immunocompromised due to a medical condition, such as cancer or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Food poisoning can be more severe and potentially life-threatening for people in these higher-risk groups. It might require more immediate medical attention, such as within the first 24 hours of feeling ill. For example, children younger than 5 years old are three times more likely to be hospitalized with Salmonella food poisoning.
Diagnosis
You might not be sure if you have food poisoning or a stomach virus. A healthcare provider will usually ask about:
Your symptoms, including when they began and what makes them worse
Foods and beverages you've recently consumed
If you've traveled recently
If anyone you know has similar symptoms
They might check your blood pressure and pulse and examine any sounds or tenderness in your abdomen.
Other testing might include:
Stool sample to test for the presence of blood, white blood cells, or organisms
Blood sample to test for the presence of infectious bacteria
Blood sample to test for your complete blood count (CBC), including white and red blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin
Blood sample to test your liver functioning
Healthcare providers usually only order these tests if you have severe food poisoning symptoms.
Related: Stomach Flu vs. Food Poisoning: Learn the Difference
Food Poisoning Treatment
Treatments for food poisoning usually focus on reducing symptoms and preventing possible complications due to dehydration.
This includes:
Drinking water, diluted fruit juices, sports drinks, or broths to replace fluids and electrolytes lost due to diarrhea or vomiting. Electrolytes are essential minerals, including calcium, potassium, and sodium, that help your body use fluids and function efficiently.
Eating bland foods like saltine crackers, toast, rice, or applesauce, or trying the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apples, and toast) can help soothe digestive discomfort and replace electrolytes.
Resting whenever possible
An over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medication, such as Imodium (loperamide) or Pepto-Bismol (bismuth salicylate), can help treat diarrhea. Infants and children should not take these medications. Probiotics might also support digestive upset. Always check with a healthcare provider before taking any supplements.
If you have more severe symptoms or are at a greater risk of complications, a healthcare provider might suggest an oral rehydration solution (ORS) that contains glucose (sugar) and electrolytes. Children might take an ORS like Pedialyte.
Antibiotics can help treat food poisoning caused by bacteria, while antiparasitics might be used for parasites.
Related: 9 Foods to Eat When Your Stomach Hurts
Prevention
You can't always prevent food poisoning, but you can reduce your risk by following food safety recommendations:
Wash your hands frequently while preparing and handling food.
Disinfect and wash cooking surfaces frequently.
Use separate surfaces to prepare raw meat.
Wash fruits and vegetables before consuming, cutting, or cooking them.
Use a food thermometer to ensure foods are cooked to an appropriate internal temperature. For example, cook meat to at least 140 degrees.
Place perishable foods in a refrigerator within two hours of cooking them and store them in airtight containers when indicated to reduce bacteria growth.
If the temperature outside is above 90 degrees, do not leave foods that could spoil out for more than one hour (for example, at a picnic).
When traveling to developing countries, always drink bottled or treated water to reduce the risk of travelers' diarrhea, a condition that can occur when traveling to a location with untreated water sources.
Related: Can Leftover Rice Really Give You Food Poisoning?
Complications
Food poisoning can lead to various complications, including dehydration and botulism.
Dehydration
Food poisoning can lead to dehydration due to diarrhea, fever, or because you feel too sick to drink.
Dehydration symptoms include:
Severe thirst
Dry mouth
Dry skin
Sweating or urinating less than usual
Darker-colored urine
Fatigue
Dehydration symptoms in infants and children include:
Dry mouth or tongue
Tearless crying
No wet diapers for at least three hours
Significant sleepiness or drowsiness
Irritability
Symptoms range from mild to severe and can be more dangerous for higher-risk populations, including infants and children.
Botulism
Botulism is a serious illness caused by a toxin from bacteria in soil. It often occurs after eating fermented foods or foods that weren't canned properly, especially low-acid foods like green beans, beets, and potatoes. Infants can get botulism from eating bacteria spores in soil or honey.
Symptoms of botulism include:
Headache
Skin tingling or numbness
Weakness
Weak or altered cry (infants)
Double or blurred vision
Ptosis (drooping eyelids)
Slurred speech
Symptoms like these require immediate medical attention. Healthcare providers can treat conditions like botulism with a medication called Botulinum Antitoxin, Heptavalent (HBAT), but it's important to seek treatment as soon as possible.
Other Complications
In rare instances, food poisoning can lead to serious health conditions, including:
Brain damage
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (a condition that affects your blood and blood vessels), which occurs in about 5% to 10% of people with E. coli and can damage your kidneys
Kidney damage
Nerve damage
A Quick Review
Food poisoning symptoms usually resolve on their own, though it may take up to a week. Staying hydrated can help reduce your risk of complications related to food poisoning.
Always practice proper food safety and handling, including regular hand washing, to prevent food poisoning whenever possible. Reach out to a healthcare provider if you experience more severe symptoms, including symptoms of dehydration.
For more Health news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Health.
