Food Poisoning Signs: How Long Does it Last

Have you ever experienced severe diarrhea or vomiting after consuming your favorite foods? If yes, what you experienced is called food poisoning which is something that most people experience some time in their lives. Though it can affect people of all ages, it is most commonly seen in children and older people because they have weak immune system. Food poisoning is caused due to the consumption of contaminated food i.e. the food that contains bacteria or such kind of toxins. Usually, it occurs when a person eats outside food or canned food, however, this does not mean that it cannot occur due to homemade foods. When proper hygiene is not maintained while cooking, poisoning can develop even after consuming food that is made at home. For instance, raw meat, poultry, sea food and dairy products may be contaminated with bacteria and if they are not cooked properly before consumption, the chances of food related poisoning are very high. As this has become a common occurrence, it is important to know about its signs and treatment in detail.

Symptoms
The symptoms of such poisoning actually depend on the type of poisoning that the person has. The most common type of poisoning is one which is caused due to bacteria called Escherichia coli (E. coli). Poisoning caused by this bacteria does not last for more than 1-2 days and can be cured with the help of simple home remedies. The other types of food poisoning are caused by bacteria like listeria, C. jejuni, salmonella, staphylococcus, etc. However, the bacteria called Clostridium botulinum causes very severe symptoms. Though this type of poisoning is very rare, the effect of this can be very severe and can also cause death of the person. Hence, it is important to be aware of the symptoms that a person can experience. Here are some of the signs seen in children as well as adults.

• One of the most common symptoms is abdominal cramps. This is not a very serious symptom and usually does not develop into severe symptoms.
• Apart from stomach pain, diarrhea is also one of the common signs of this problem. Though one may be able to get rid of this problem with simple home remedies, if one observes bloody stools or feces that are green in color, it may be an indication of a severe problem and should be reported to the doctor immediately.
• People who have food related poisoning may also experience nausea which can be accompanied by severe vomiting. Other than this, one may also experience fever, chills, etc. along with these symptoms.
• If diarrhea and vomiting continue for a long time, one may also experience dehydration, weakness and fatigue.

Treatment
As I said earlier, most of the signs last only for a day or two, even without any medical assistance. Such cases can be cured by modifying one's diet. For instance, a patient should be made to drink lots of clear fluids. One should avoid liquids like milk or drinks containing caffeine. It will also be advisable to avoid the consumption of heavy or solid foods. Even after the symptoms die down, one should follow a very light diet for a few days or may be weeks. However, if the symptoms do not stop at all and become worse after 2-3 days, it is important to seek medical assistance as soon as possible. The doctor may conduct blood as well as other medical tests to find bacteria that caused this problem. Once this is determined, the doctor will start the treatment accordingly. Individuals who are suffering from severe poisoning will have to stay at the hospital for a few days till they are completely cured.

Though treatment is possible, one must know about the ways in which one can prevent it. The most important thing one must do is to maintain proper hygiene while cooking food at home like washing one's hands before cooking or serving food, after changing diapers or handling pet litter, etc. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms, it would be best to avoid cooking to ensure that you do not pass the infection to your family members too. Take care!