Food Poisoning Symptoms and Prevention

Food poisoning is responsible for sickening up to 80 million people worldwide each year, and killing approximately one tenth of those infected. Food poisoning happens everywhere, but tends to occur more frequently at picnics, school cafeterias, and large social functions due to undercooked meats or because foods containing mayonnaise are unrefrigerated too long.

Symptoms of food poisoning usually occur within two to six hours after consumption, although some cases of food poisoning don’t appear until a few days later. General food poisoning symptoms include:

• Abdominal Cramps
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness

Although in most cases simple measures can prevent food poisoning, it continues to happen regularly. Moreover, according to the USDA, most cases are related to meat. The chart below describes symptoms and prevention techniques for the most common types of food poisoning.

 

Food Poisoning Symptoms and Prevention

 

Poisoning	Symptoms	Prevention
Botulism	Abdominal Cramps Breathing difficulties Difficulty Swallowing Double Vision Dry Mouth Nausea Vomiting Weakness With Paralysis	Discard bulging or dented canned or bottled goods. Also, sterilize-home-canned goods properly, and throw away out-dated goods.
Campylobacter	Abdominal Cramps Abdominal Pain Fever Watery Diarrhea	Avoid improperly prepared foods, and use proper food sanitation practices.
Cholera	Abdominal Cramps Dry Mucous Membranes Excessive Thirst Glassy Eyes Lack of Tears Lethargy Low Urine Output Nausea Rapid Dehydration Sudden Diarrhea Unusual Sleepiness Vomiting	When traveling, take precautions. Drink clean, boiled water and eat uncontaminated foods.
E. Coli	Abdominal Pain Diarrhea Fever Flatulence Loss of Appetite Stomach Cramps Vomiting	Avoid contaminated foods and untreated water, and cook meats at high temperatures to kill organisms. You should also practice careful hand washing.
Fish Tape Worm	Abdominal Discomfort Abdominal Pain Diarrhea Loss of Appetite Nausea Vomiting Weight Loss	Avoid consuming raw or undercooked fish from river or lakes.
Salmonella	Abdominal Pain Chills Diarrhea Fever Muscle Pain Nausea Vomiting	Practice careful hand washing, particularly when using eggs and poultry. Also, use proper handling and food storage practices.
Shigella	Acute Abdominal Pain Acute Fever Blood, Mucus or Pus Stools Nausea Tenesmus Vomiting Watery Diarrhea	Avoid contaminated food and water. Practice careful hand washing, and properly handle and store foods.
Staph Aureus	Abdominal Distension Diarrhea Mild Fever Nausea Severe Abdominal Cramps Vomiting	Avoid contaminating other foods with meat juices. Also, promptly refrigerate meats and leftovers. Practice careful hand washing, and wash food implements thoroughly before and after use.

 

If you think you have suffered food poisoning, let others know. If the food was consumed from a restaurant, fast food restaurant, or store, contact them and also call your local health department. Contact your health care provider or go to emergency if you have any concerns  as there can be complications with food poisoning. For more information about food poisoning and its complications, visit Medline Plus by clicking here. If you want to prevent food poisoning at home, read Tips To Prevent Food Poisoning.