Food poisoning is a common yet distressing and sometimes life-threatening problem for millions of people in the U.S. and throughout the world. People infected with food-borne organisms may be symptom-free or may have symptoms ranging from mild intestinal discomfort to severe dehydration and bloody diarrhea. Depending on the type of infection people can even die as a result of food poisoning.
The symptoms of food poisoning usually begin within one to two days after eating contaminated food although they may start at any point between a few hours and several weeks later.
The main symptoms include:
Usually food poisoning is caused by ingesting food contaminated by some type of bacteria or virus such as salmonella or norovirus. Food poisoning can also be caused by improper storage or by being contaminated by somebody ill despite proper preparation.
The overwhelming majority of cases will resolve themselves with little outside intervention and treatment is largely centred around managing the symptoms. Fluids rest avoiding alcohol and smoking and generally practicing hygiene in the home all contribute to treating and reducing the incidence of food poisoning.
This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Doctors Catalog has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but makes no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. In the event of an emergency, please call 108 for immediate assistance.
