How Long Does Food Poisoning Last

Shellfish that are not fresh. Chicken that is undercooked. You ate at the salad bar, knowing that it was suspicious but you also needed to eat to get through your afternoon meeting.

You’re now on the floor of your bathroom, regretting all of your decisions. You swear off all food and wonder how your stomach can hold so much disgust.

Food Poisoning is one of the worst experiences a person can have, but it happens quite often. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , 48 million Americans get sick each year from a foodborne disease.

We spoke with gastroenterologist Christine Lee MD about the causes of food poisoning, its duration and how to recover quickly.

What is the timeline of food poisoning?

Dr. Lee says that food poisoning usually occurs within a couple of hours after eating contaminated foods. The severity of the symptoms and their duration are largely determined by how many germs were consumed, how much exposure you received and how strong your immunity is.

When do symptoms of food poisoning begin?

Food poisoning can sometimes take up to 24 hours to manifest itself, although it is not always that fast. Some foodborne diseases are latent. This means they can reproduce in your body before you feel symptoms. Hepatitis A, for instance, can take anywhere from 15 to 50 days before it manifests.

How long can food poisoning last for?

Each person reacts differently to viruses, bacteria, and parasites which can cause food poisoning. Even if your entire family eats the same contaminated food, you may experience different results.

Dr. Lee says: “Several factors play a role in how sick you will be and how long.” Your illness depends on the cause, how much you consumed and your immune system’s reaction.

You might recover in a couple of days… or you may not

Food poisoning usually passes within 12 to 48 hours for healthy people. It takes a healthy person 12 to 48 hours to rid their body of most foodborne illnesses.

Your illness duration can be affected by several factors.

Dr. Lee says that depending on the pathogen, and how your body reacts to it. Some people may be sick with food poisoning up to 10 days. The bacteria campylobacter can cause symptoms to last for weeks.

Some foodborne illnesses require antibiotics. If your symptoms persist for more than two days, you should consult your doctor.

Signs of food poisoning

Food poisoning can be very dangerous. Your symptoms may be severe and even deadly. According to CDC estimates, each year 128,000 people are admitted to hospital and 3,000 die of foodborne illness.

Food poisoning is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Diarrhea.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Stomach cramps and pain.
• Fever.
• Headache.
• Weakness.

Your body is trying to restore your health by removing any harmful toxins. Your body is doing its best to get you back to health.

What causes food poisoning

Dr. Lee claims that there are over 250 types of germs that cause disease, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These germs can enter your food to make you sick. Foodborne illnesses can also be caused by harmful toxins and chemicals.

She says that food poisoning is possible from almost anything. In retrospect, it’s not just the street vendor who should have made a better choice. Even foods that would not have raised any red flags could be contaminated.

Dr. Lee explains that food poisoning is caused by eating or drinking food contaminated with parasites, toxic chemicals, pathogenic bacteria, or toxins. It doesn’t always result from rotten food. It can come from perfectly fine food that has been improperly prepared or handled.

What to do when you get food poisoning

Food poisoning is unpleasant, but it doesn’t usually require medical attention for healthy people.

Food poisoning is usually treatable by most people who have a healthy immune system. You can hydrate yourself at home as long as you are able to keep liquids or food down.

Hydrate

Avoiding dehydration when you have food poisoning is your number one priority. 1 job. Rehydrate yourself after vomiting or diarrhea.

Dr. Lee advises that you should drink plenty of fluids and not only water. Water is isotonic. When you are ill, you may be losing water due to diarrhea or sweating. The best fluid for replenishment is a non-isotonic liquid. This would be something that has salt, sugar, or electrolytes, such as Gatorade (r), broth or ginger ale.

You’re more likely to keep these drinks in your body when you drink them. They’re less likely than other drinks to run straight off your body or to go directly to your kidneys, where you will urinate them out.

Consult your doctor if you suffer from a condition such as kidney, liver, or heart disease that restricts your sodium intake.

To ensure that it stays down, start with small sips. Large gulps can cause your stomach to twirl and then come back up. Keep your drinks at a room temperature. If you have an upset stomach, cold drinks can cause a nasty shock.

Eat if you can

You can try eating some bland, small foods to calm your stomach if you feel like it. Dr. Lee suggests the BRAT Diet, that emphasizes:

• Bananas.
• Rice.
• Applesauce.
• Toast.

Also, broth, chicken soup with noodles, rice pudding, oatmeal and potatoes are easy to digest. Avoid foods that are difficult to digest like spicy, fried, or greasy food.

It’s okay if food doesn’t suit you for a while. Don’t force yourself to eat if the time is not right.

Considerations for Medications

It is safe to take Bismuth Subsalicylate, also known as Pepto Bismol (r). It is anti-inflammatory and soothing. Dr. Lee warns that certain chemicals in the product can cause your stool to become black. This is not unusual, but it may be alarming to some.

Dr. Lee recommends that you let nature take its course when it comes to diarrhea medication.

I would not recommend that you take something like Loperamide(Imodium(r),) to stop diarrhea. It’s better to get rid of the toxins than to keep them in.

Calling a doctor if you have food poisoning

Keep hydrated when you have food poisoning.

Dr. Lee emphasizes that if your nausea is severe enough to prevent you from consuming fluids, you should seek medical attention. “IV fluids are administered to replenish electrolytes and hydrate the body.”

You should see a physician if:

• Are you pregnant or nursing?
• You have a medical condition which suppresses the immune system.
• Take anti-immune drugs that suppress the immune system or immunomodulating medications.
• A persistent high fever (more 102 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.3 degree Celsius).
• Vomit or have bloody diarrhea
• You may have dark urine, or you may not be urinating.
• Blurred vision is a common symptom.
• Experience delirium or confusion.
• Feel light-headed or dizzy.

Food poisoning: How to avoid it

The CDC suggests a 4-step approach for keeping your food free from contamination.

1. Clean your surfaces and hands often.
2. Separate raw poultry, seafood, eggs, and meat from other foods. This includes your fridge and shopping basket.
3. Cook to a proper temperature. This means 145 F for fish with fins, 160 F for meats such as ground beef or pork, and 165 F for all poultry including leftovers and casseroles.
4. Refrigerate your foods immediately. Perishable foods should be refrigerated within two hours. Foods that have been in a warm car or outside on a hot summer day should be refrigerated within one hour.

Food poisoning is no fun. Your symptoms will be affected by what made you sick, and also how prepared your body is to fight off the illness. The majority of foodborne illnesses pass in two days. Replenish your fluids. Eat if you can. Avoid medium-rare poultry at all costs.