Nowadays, food-related poisoning is becoming a common recurring, knowing about its symptoms are necessary so that one can take immediate medical help to treat the problem. This article will provide you information on the symptoms and other information associated with food poisoning like the onset of food poisoning and how long does it last, as well as the treatment for food poisoning. Prompt treatment can help lessen the effect, severity as well as the duration of the problem.
Food Poisoning
Have you ever experienced severe diarrhea or vomiting after eating your favorite food? If your answer is yes, what you experienced is called food poisoning. The gastrointestinal disease is also known as traveller’s disease. It is the common condition of the digestive system that is caused by eating contaminated food. The most common causes of this digestive system issue are the presence of the organism like virus, parasite, or bacteria in your favorite food.
Food poisoning that most people experience, especially kids and old age people at some point in their lives. Though it can affect people of all ages, because of the weak immune system, children and old people are more likely to experience food poisoning.
The contaminated food with the presence of toxins, bacteria, viruses, and parasites causes infection of the mucosal membrane of the digestive system. Food left out in the open for a long duration, or undercooked can become contaminated. Also, food stored in a container without proper processing is not good for your digestive system health.
The effect of food poisoning is observed within hours of consuming contaminated food. The duration of food poisoning is 18 to 24 hours to 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the cause. The common food poisoning symptoms are vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. Most of the time the condition resolves on its own. Few cases of food poisoning require medical help to treat associated complications like weakness, dehydration, and persistent infection. Read below to know the onset, duration, and treatment of food poisoning.
How Fast Do Symptoms Of Food Poisoning Show Up & How Long Does It Last?
- Food poisoning symptoms show up within 4 to 6 hours- food poisoning with seafood or mushroom causes effects within 2 to 6 hours. In most cases, the symptom resolves on its own. In a few cases, medical treatment is required to control vomiting and dehydration. Such food poisoning effect may last for 18 to 24 hours.
- Symptoms show up within 6 hours- Contaminated food containing Staphylococcus aureus, resulting in food poisoning causes the appearance of symptoms within six hours. Such type of food poisoning may last for one to two days or longer in some cases if not timely treated with antibiotics.
- Symptoms show up within 8 to 12 hours- Symptoms caused by Clostridium perfringens (a type of bacteria) appear in 8 to 12 hours after consuming food. An individual suffering from such type of food poisoning experience vomiting and severe diarrhea. He/she may need hospitalization for diagnosis and treatment. The symptoms of food poisoning caused by Clostridium perfringens bacteria may last for 3 to 4 days if not treated timely with antibiotic medications.
- Symptoms show up within 24 to 72 hours- The food poisoning caused by salmonella, botulism, shigella, and campylobacter causes symptoms 24 hours after consuming contaminated food. If this infection is not treated with the help of antibiotics, it can result in life-threatening complications. Patients may need hospital admission.
- Symptoms that appear after 72 hours- Food poisoning caused by E. Coli cause symptoms after three days of the food intake. Patients may suffer from dehydration, and the effect may last for 3 to 7 days if treated with antibiotic medications. Food poisoning induced by E.coli may last for 10 to 15 days when appropriately treated.
How To Recover Fast From GI Food Poisoning?
Gastrointestinal (GI) food poisoning resulting in GI infection caused by parasites is known as a silent infection that shows no symptoms for several weeks and may last for several weeks or months. Treatment is delayed because of lack of proper diagnosis. The complete recovery could be achieved after proper anti-parasite treatment for 2 to 3 weeks.
