How Long Does Food Poisoning Last?

Medically reviewed by Brian H Wetchler, DO

Food poisoning is a condition caused by ingesting foods or beverages contaminated with pathogens (organisms that causes illness). In the United States, about one out of six people experience some form of food poisoning each year.

Most cases of food poisoning resolve on their own within a few days, but symptoms can last up to more than a week. You may also experience more severe and long-lasting complications. When symptoms begin and how long they last depends on the pathogen and factors like whether or not you're dehydrated or immunocompromised (have a weakened immune system).

What Is Food Poisoning?

Food poisoning occurs when you consume something that contains a pathogen, such as a bacteria, virus, or parasite. The pathogen multiplies in your body and causes symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.

Common bacterial sources of food poisoning include Salmonella, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Listeria. Parasites include Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora cayetanensis.

Food poisoning can also be caused by molds or toxins like heavy metals in food. For example, Staph food poisoning is caused by toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) bacteria.

Food Poisoning Symptoms

Most people with food poisoning experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Diarrhea

• Nausea

• Fever and chills

• Stomach cramps

• Vomiting
  

Allergic Reactions

You might experience symptoms specific to the type of infection or intoxication. For example, symptoms can resemble an allergic reaction. Scombroid fish poisoning (also known as histamine fish poisoning) is a reaction to fish contaminated with high levels of histamine. Histamines are chemicals produced by your immune system when exposed to allergens. Possible symptoms include:

• Skin rash

• Flushing

• Sweating

• Headache

• Swelling

Your symptoms might be mild, or they might require medications used to treat allergic reactions, like antihistamines or epinephrine.

Related: How Are Allergies Treated?

Botulism

Botulism is a serious illness that attacks nerves in the body. It's caused by a toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Possible sources of botulism include fermented foods or foods that weren't canned properly, especially low-acid foods like green beans, beets, and potatoes. Infants can get botulism from eating bacteria spores in soil or honey.

Symptoms of botulism include:

• Headache

• Skin tingling or numbness

• Double or blurred vision

• Ptosis (drooping eyelids)

• Slurred speech

• Paralysis
  

Timeline

How long does it take for food poisoning to get out of your system? You will liekly begin feeling better within a few hours or a few days after symptoms begin. However, symptoms might take weeks to resolve or even become life-threatening. When symptoms begin and how long they last depends on the pathogen.

Here are some common organisms and their general timelines.

Symptoms also vary based on your reaction to the pathogen. Certain risk factors can make you more susceptible to food poisoning and increase the likelihood of more severe symptoms. Risk factors include:

• Infants and children under the age of 5

• Adults age 65 and older

• Pregnant people

• People who are immunocompromised due to a medical condition, such as cancer or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Possible Complications

Dehydration is a common complication of food poisoning due to diarrhea, fever, or because you feel too sick to drink. It can prolong symptoms and lead to other potentially serious complications.

Dehydration symptoms include:

• Severe thirst

• Dry mouth

• Dry skin

• Sweating

• Urinating less than usual

• Darker-colored urine

• Fatigue

• Dizziness

Infants and children can experience severe dehydration within a few days. Symptoms of dehydration in infants and children include tearless crying, significant drowsiness, and irritability.

In more serious cases, you may develop complications from the initial food poisoning that can take weeks or months to resolve. They may even be permanent. Possible complications include:

• Pregnancy complications

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a chronic condition that affects your gastrointestinal tract

• Kidney damage

• Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a rare condition that destroys red blood cells and platelets (cells that help with blood clotting), leading to kidney failure

• Brain and nerve damage

• Meningitis, a condition usually caused by bacteria that leads to inflammation of the protective layers outside the brain and spinal cord

• Arthritis
  

How Do I Know It's Food Poisoning?

Food poisoning symptoms can resemble common symptoms of other illnesses, like the stomach flu. The definitive way for a healthcare provider to diagnose food poisoning is through testing a stool sample or other laboratory testing. These lab results can take several days or longer to come back.

Your healthcare provider may begin treatment before a confirmed diagnosis to prevent the worsening of your condition by waiting for test results. Reasons to suspect food poisoning include getting sick after eating improperly stored food or eating food that smelled "off." Other people getting sick after eating the same food is another sign.

What To Do

Most cases of food poisoning resolve on their own. However, symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and fevers all increase the likelihood of becoming dehydrated, which can prolong and worsen symptoms.

Here are some tips for helping your body recover:

• Focus on hydration: Drink water, diluted fruit juices, sports drinks, and broths to replace fluids and electrolytes lost due to diarrhea or vomiting. Electrolytes are essential minerals, including calcium, potassium, and sodium, that help your body use fluids and function efficiently.

• Try the BRAT diet: The BRAT diet includes bananas, rice, apples and applesauce, and toast. Bland crackers like saltines are another option. These foods can soothe digestive discomfort and replace electrolytes.

• Rest: Prioritize rest to help your body recover.

Anti-diarrheal medications like Imodium (loperamide) or Pepto-Bismol (bismuth salicylate) can help treat diarrhea, and probiotics might provide digestive support. Always check with your healthcare provider before taking any supplements.

If you have more severe symptoms or are at a greater risk of complications, your healthcare provider might suggest an oral rehydration solution (ORS) that contains glucose (sugar) and electrolytes. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe:

• An antiemetic to alleviate nausea and vomiting

• An antibiotic to treat food poisoning caused by bacteria

• An antiparasitic for parasites

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

Reach out to a healthcare provider if you develop any of the following symptoms:

• Diarrhea that lasts longer than three days

• Bloody diarrhea

• High fever of 102 degrees or greater

• Signs of dehydration, including reduced urine output or dark urine, dry mouth, or dizziness

• Vomiting so much you cannot keep any fluids down.

Reach out sooner if you or the person you suspect has food poisoning is at a higher risk for complications.

Prevention

Preparing and storing food safely can help prevent food poisoning. Here are a few steps you can take to keep you and your loved ones safe:

• Clean: Wash your hands before cooking and whenever they touch raw eggs, seafood, poultry, or meat. Wash fruits and vegetables before consuming, cutting, or cooking them. Wash surfaces and utensils that touch raw meat as soon as possible.

• Separate: Keep vegetables and raw meat on separate surfaces. Keep cooked food and raw food on separate surfaces.

• Cook: Use a food thermometer to ensure eggs, seafood, poultry, and meat are cooked to the recommended temperature. For example, cook meat to at least 140 degrees and ground poultry to 165 degrees.

• Refrigerate: Place leftovers in the fridge or freezer as soon as possible. Do not leave perishable foods out for more than two hours. If the temperature outside is above 90 degrees, do not leave foods that could spoil out for more than one hour.
  

A Quick Review

Most cases of food poisoning are mild and resolve within a week, but other cases are more severe and can lead to complications or even death. Symptoms and severity depend on the cause of food poisoning and your reaction to it. Some people, like young children and adults over the age of 65, are more susceptible to food poisoning and possible complications.

Practicing good hygiene and safe food preparation and storage can help prevent food poisoning. Reach out to your healthcare provider if you experience severe symptoms, especially if you're at a higher risk of complications.

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Read the original article on Health.