Food Poisoning Symptoms Food poisoning symptoms can be whatever harsh from mild to very serious. Your symptoms may be different depending on the germ you’ve swallowed. The most common symptoms of food poisoning are upset stomach, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. After you swallow an unsafe (contaminated) food or drink, it may take hours or days to develop symptoms. If you have symptoms of food poisoning, such as diarrhea or vomiting, drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. See your doctor or healthcare provider if you have symptoms that are severe, including bloody diarrhea, high fever (temperature over 102°F, measured in your mouth), frequent vomiting that prevents keeping liquids down, signs of dehydration, including little or no urination, a very dry mouth and throat, or feeling dizzy when standing up, diarrhea that lasts more than 3 days. Most people have only mild illnesses, lasting a few hours to several days. However, some people need to be hospitalized, and some illnesses cause long-term health problems or even death. Infections spread by food can lead to chronic arthritis, brain and nerve damage, kidney failure caused by hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Some germs make you sick within a few hours after you swallow them. Others may take a few days to make you sick. This top-three list provides the symptoms, when symptoms begin, and common food sources for germs that cause food poisoning. 1) Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) - Symptoms begin 30 minutes to 8 hours after exposure: Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps. Most people also have diarrhea. Common food sources: Foods that are not cooked after handling, such as sliced meats, puddings, pastries, and sandwiches. 3) Salmonella Symptoms begin 6 hours to 6 days after exposure: Diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, vomiting. Common food sources: Raw or undercooked chicken, turkey, and meat; eggs; unpasteurized (raw) milk and juice; raw fruits and vegetables. Other sources: Many animals, including backyard poultry, reptiles and amphibians, and rodents. 4) Clostridium botulinum (Botulism) - Symptoms begin 18 to 36 hours after exposure: Double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech. Difficulty swallowing and breathing, dry mouth. Muscle weakness and paralysis. Symptoms start in the head and move down as the illness gets worse. Common food sources: Improperly canned or fermented foods, usually homemade. Prisonmade illicit alcohol (pruno). Other germs which may be fatal if not treated are E. coli (Escherichia coli) - around 5–10% of people diagnosed with it develop a life-threatening health problem; Cyclospora which brings about watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss, stomach cramps/pain, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue. Pregnant women who have dairy-provoked Listeria usually suffer fever and other flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue and muscle aches; but this germ-caused disease may even end with death in newborns. Other people (most often older adults) have headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions in addition to fever and muscle aches.
