Food Poisoning Symptoms

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When to See a Doctor
Serious Health Problems
How Soon Symptoms Start
Report Food Poisoning

You can get sick with food poisoning after swallowing certain germs, like Salmonella or E. coli. Your symptoms may vary, depending on the germ you swallowed. Symptoms can range from mild to serious and can last for a few hours or several days.

The most common symptoms of food poisoning are:

Diarrhea
Stomach pain or cramps
Nausea
Vomiting
Fever

If you have diarrhea or vomiting, be sure to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration (not having enough water in your body).

Should I See a Doctor for Food Poisoning?

See a doctor if you have any symptoms that are severe, including:

Bloody diarrhea
Diarrhea that lasts more than 3 days
High fever (temperature over 102°F)
Vomiting so often that you cannot keep liquids down
Signs of dehydration, which include not urinating (peeing) much, a dry mouth and throat, feeling dizzy when standing up

See your doctor if you are pregnant and have a fever and other flu-like symptoms. Some mild infections can cause problems with pregnancy.

Five signs of severe food poisoning - vomiting, bloody diarrhea, dehydration, fever, diarrhea lasting more than 3 days

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Serious Health Problems and Long-Term Effects From Food Poisoning

Most people have mild illnesses, but some infections spread by food are serious or even life-threatening. Some people may need to be hospitalized, and some illnesses lead to other health problems, including:

Meningitis
Kidney damage
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure
Arthritis
Brain and nerve damage

For some people, these health problems can last for weeks or months after recovering from the foodborne illness. For others, they never go away.

How Soon Do Symptoms Start?

Some germs make you sick within a few hours after you swallow them. Others may take a few days to make you sick. This table provides details about the symptoms caused by different germs, when they usually start, and common sources for those germs. Search the table for symptoms you are having.

Some germs make you sick within a few hours after you swallow them. Others may take a few days to make you sick. This list provides details about the symptoms caused by different germs, when they usually start, and common sources for those germs. Review the list for symptoms you are having.

30 minutes to 8 hours

Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea

Germ: Staphylococcus aureus (Staph food poisoning)
Common food sources: Foods that are not cooked after handling, such as sliced meats, puddings, pastries, and sandwiches

Within 24 hours

Watery diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, fever, chills

Germ: Vibrio
Common food sources: Raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters

6 to 24 hours

Diarrhea, stomach cramps that last for less than 24 hours—vomiting and fever are not common

Germ: Clostridium perfringens
Common food sources: Meat, poultry, gravies, and other foods cooked in large batches and held at an unsafe temperature

6 hours to 6 days

Diarrhea (can be bloody), fever, stomach cramps, vomiting

Germ: Salmonella
Common food sources: Raw or undercooked chicken, turkey, and other meats; eggs; unpasteurized (raw) milk and juice; raw fruits and vegetables
Other sources: Many animals, including backyard poultry, reptiles and amphibians, and rodents (pocket pets)

12 to 48 hours

Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain—fever, headache, and body aches are also possible

Germ: Norovirus
Common food sources: Leafy greens, fresh fruits, shellfish (such as raw oysters), contaminated water
Other sources: infected person, touching surfaces that have the virus on them

18 to 36 hours

Difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, and difficulty moving eyes – symptoms start in the head and move down as the illness gets worse

Germ: Clostridium botulinum (Botulism)
Common food sources: Improperly canned or fermented foods, homemade illicit alcohol (pruno).

2 to 5 days

Diarrhea (often bloody), fever, stomach cramps

Germ: Campylobacter
Common food sources: Raw or undercooked poultry, raw (unpasteurized) milk, contaminated water
Other sources: Pets (including cats and dogs)

3 to 4 days

Severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), vomiting

Germ: E. coli (Escherichia coli)
Common food sources: Raw or undercooked ground beef, raw (unpasteurized) milk and juice, raw vegetables (such as lettuce), raw sprouts, and contaminated water
Long-term effects: Around 5–10% of people diagnosed with E. coli develop a life-threatening health problem called hemolytic uremic syndrome

1 week

Watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, increased gas, nausea, fatigue

Germ: Cyclospora
Common food sources: Raw fruits or vegetables and herbs

2 weeks

Fever and flu-like symptoms (such as muscle aches and fatigue), headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures

Germ: Listeria (invasive illness)
Common food sources: Queso fresco and other soft cheeses, raw sprouts, melons, hot dogs, pâtés, deli meats, smoked fish, and raw (unpasteurized) milk
People who are pregnant: Infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn. Call the doctor right away if you have a fever and feel more tired and achy than usual.

* Most often older adults and people with weakened immune systems

More Information

Report Food Poisoning

If you think you or someone you know got sick from food, please report it to your local health department. Report it even if you don’t know what food made you sick. Reporting an illness can help public health officials identify a foodborne disease outbreak and keep others from getting sick.