How long does food poisoning last?
Are you wondering how long does food poisoning lasts? If yes then the answer is that the full recovery from food poisoning usually takes 1 to 5 days.
How Long Does Food Poisoning Last?
In most cases of food poisoning, recovery takes 1 to 5 days. The risk of developing severe food poisoning is higher among children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with underlying medical or immune system conditions. If food poisoning is suspected in these patients, they should consult a doctor right away.
What is food poisoning?
Food poisoning, or foodborne illness, is an illness caused by eating contaminated food. Food poisoning is usually caused by infectious organisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or their toxins. In any step of the production or processing of food, bacteria, viruses, or their toxins can contaminate it. If food is handled or cooked incorrectly, contamination can also occur at home. The symptoms of food poisoning can begin within hours of eating contaminated food and include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Most cases of food poisoning do not require treatment. In some cases, however, hospitalization is required.
What are the symptoms of food poisoning?
Symptoms can range from mild to very serious. The severity of your symptoms may depend on what germ you swallowed. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Upset stomach
- Cramps in the stomach
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- High Temperature
It may take hours or days for you to feel the effects of ingesting unsafe (contaminated) food or drink. Drink plenty of fluids if you have symptoms of food poisoning, such as diarrhea or vomiting.
How Quickly Do Symptoms Develop?
The length of time before symptoms begin varies according to the cause of the illness. A Staphylococcus aureus infection may present within 30 minutes of exposure, whereas a Listeriosis may manifest up to 4 weeks later. In general, food poisoning typically results in symptoms within 30 minutes to two days of exposure.
How to treat it?
- It may be beneficial to allow the bowels to settle for a few hours if you have food poisoning symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. For a few hours, don’t eat anything and stick to drinking clear liquids like water, broth, diluted juice, or electrolyte drinks. Caffeine and alcohol-containing beverages, as well as carbonated beverages, should be avoided. Avoiding dehydration is crucial to overall health.
- When it is accompanied by a fever, you should rest as much as possible. Consult your doctor or healthcare provider about the use of ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin to control the fever. Medications containing salicylates or aspirin should always be discussed with your doctor before using them on children or teens, as these can cause serious illness. The risk of stomach bleeding increases with age if you are taking aspirin or ibuprofen. Do not take these medicines for more than 10 consecutive days unless instructed by your doctor.
- Use a hot water bottle or heating pad to combat stomach cramps. Be sure to cover the water bottle or set the heating pad to low so as not to burn the skin.
- It is okay to eat if stomach cramps or diarrhea are not worsened, but patients should choose easy-to-digest items like toast, crackers, bananas, rice, gelatin, or applesauce (BRAT diet). The patient is likely to be able to resume their normal diet within 2 to 3 days, but they should avoid greasy, fatty, excessively spicy, or heavy foods until symptoms subside.
What foods can cause food poisoning?
- Several harmful bacteria can be found in raw fruits and vegetables, including Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. It is possible for fresh fruits and vegetables to become contaminated along the way from farm to table.
- Meat and poultry that are raw or undercooked.
- A variety of raw milk products including raw milk cheeses.
- There is a bacteria called Salmonella in eggs that can make you sick.
- Undercooked or raw fish, shellfish, or seafood such as sashimi, sushi, and ceviche.
- The consumption of raw or lightly cooked sprouts, such as alfalfa, bean, or any other sprout, can lead to food poisoning from Salmonella, E. coli, or Listeria.
- When grain is still in the field, or during other steps in the flour-making process, harmful germs can infect it that can lead to food poisoning.
How to Prevent
Properly storing, cooking, cleaning, and handling foods can help prevent some types of food poisoning. For instance:
- Raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs should be kept separate from other foods
- Refrigerate or freeze foods that can spoil quickly
- Before and after handling food, wash your hands with soap.
- Do not eat, cut, or cook fruits and vegetables without washing.
- Cook foods long enough and at high temperatures to kill harmful microorganisms.
- Wash utensils and surfaces every time you use them.
- Do not eat food that has been left out for more than 2 hours, or in temperatures over 90 degrees, for more than 1 hour.
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FAQ’s
How long does it take for food poisoning to get out of your system?
A case of food poisoning usually disappears on its own after 1-2 days, while stomach flu may last from 1-3 days. It is crucial that you are aware of what is causing your symptoms so you can effectively treat them.
How do u know if u got food poisoning?
You can know that you got food poisoning if you have the following symptoms:
There is blood in diarrhea. You have a high fever of about 102°F. Vomiting frequently prevents liquids from being absorbed (causing dehydration). Signs of dehydration, such as little or no urine production, a dry mouth, and throat, or a feeling of dizziness when standing up.
How do you make food poisoning go away faster?
There are some Lifestyle and home remedies that make food poisoning go away faster that are mentioned below:
- Allow your stomach to settle. Take a few hours off from eating and drinking.
- Take small sips of water or suck on ice chips.
- Use probiotics.
- Ease back into eating.
- Try to stay away from certain substances and foods until you feel more normal.
- Get some rest.
What are the 4 types of food poisoning?
The four most common types of food poisoning are listed below:
Fatima Sarmad
I lead a team of professional nutritionists and dietitians. We provide our consulting services in different areas of nutrition.
