How Long Does Food Poisoning Last In Adults And How Is It Different From Food Infection? How To Treat Food Poisoning At Home (Simple Method).
Foodborne illness, commonly referred to as food poisoning, is the result of eating contaminated, rotten, or poisonous food. The most common symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Stay with us at EatingBeforeBed to learn the duration of symptoms of food poisoning in adults and home remedies.
Food poisoning, while annoying, is not a dangerous problem. According to researchers, 1 in 6 Americans experience some form of food poisoning each year.
If you have food poisoning, you will know it eventually. Symptoms can vary depending on the source of infection. The length of time it takes for symptoms to appear also depends on the source of infection, but can range from 1 hour to 28 days. Common cases of food poisoning include at least three of the following symptoms:
- 1. Abdominal cramps
- 2. diarrhea
- 3. Vomit
- 4. Loss of appetite
- 5. mild fever
- 6. weakness
- 7. nausea
- 8. Headache
Also, the symptoms of dangerous food poisoning include the following, if you have any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately.
- 9. Diarrhea lasts more than three days
- 10. Fever above 38 degrees Celsius
- 11. Difficulty seeing or speaking
- 12. Symptoms of severe dehydration that may include dry mouth, little or no urination
- 13. bloody urine
The doctor may be able to diagnose the type of food poisoning based on the symptoms. In severe cases, blood tests, stool tests, and tests on the foods you ate may be done to determine the cause of food poisoning. The doctor may also use a urine test to evaluate the person’s dehydration due to food poisoning.
How Long Does Food Poisoning Last In Adults
Symptoms of food poisoning usually appear within a few hours to a few days after consuming the contaminated food. How long symptoms appear and how long they last depends on a number of factors, including:
Type of food poisoning: Some poisonings cause symptoms immediately, but others may take several days.
Amount and type of polluting substances: A small number of polluting substances can cause more symptoms and have more behavior in the body!
General health: Some people’s health status and defenses are better to tolerate food poisoning.
In general, the symptoms of food poisoning last from a few hours to a few days, and the time for full recovery may vary from person to person. In case of severe symptoms, it is better to see your doctor.
How Long Can Food Poisoning Last In Adults
The duration of food poisoning depends on the type of contamination and the chemical composition of the contaminated substances in the food, as well as your body’s reaction to them. Symptoms of food poisoning may appear a few hours after consuming contaminated food and last for several days.
For example, if you get poisoned by eating contaminated eggs, it may take up to 18 to 36 hours for symptoms of food poisoning to appear. Also, food poisoning with some other foods may cause vomiting and diarrhea within a few hours and you may have these symptoms for several days.
In any case, if you get food poisoning, it is better to visit your doctor and report your condition. According to the type and severity of food poisoning, the doctor may prescribe you a special diet, medicine and even special liquids.
Differentiate Between Food Poisoning And Food Infection
Food poisoning and food infection are both medical conditions caused by consuming contaminated food. However, there are significant differences between the two modes:
Cause of contamination: In food poisoning, chemicals contaminating food cause symptoms of discomfort. While in foodborne infection, bacteria and viruses cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and other symptoms of infection.
Time of appearance of symptoms: usually in food poisoning, symptoms appear quickly. These symptoms usually appear within a few hours after consuming the contaminated food. But in a foodborne infection, symptoms may appear suddenly after a few hours or days.
Duration: The duration of food poisoning is shorter and its symptoms generally last for a day or two after consuming the contaminated food. But with a foodborne infection, the duration is significantly longer and it may take days or even weeks for symptoms to improve.
However, both conditions require treatment and if you are suffering from any of these conditions, it is better to see your doctor.
Food Poisoning Treatment
To treat food poisoning, if you or someone you care for has symptoms of food poisoning, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, or other symptoms, you should take steps to relieve the symptoms. Here are some solutions as follows:
1– Drink more fluids: Drink more natural drinks such as water, boiled water, tea without sugar and foods that contain more water such as soup and juices.
2– Sleeping and resting: Resting helps the body to heal and recover faster from food poisoning.
3– Use of anti-inflammatory drugs such as pain relievers
Finally, if symptoms are severe or persist for a long time, see your doctor.
How To Treat Food Poisoning At Home
Food poisoning can usually be treated at home, and most cases resolve within three to five days.
If you have food poisoning, staying hydrated is very important. Sports drinks containing high amounts of electrolytes can be helpful in this regard. Fruit juice and coconut water can restore carbohydrates and help relieve fatigue.
Avoid caffeine, which stimulates the digestive system. Decaffeinated teas with soothing herbs such as chamomile and peppermint may soothe an upset stomach.
Over-the-counter medications such as Imodium and Pepto-Bismol can help control diarrhea and suppress nausea. However, you should consult your doctor before using these drugs, because the body uses vomiting and diarrhea to get rid of the poison. Also, the use of these drugs can reduce the severity of the disease and delay your visit to a specialist.
Adequate rest is also very important for people with food poisoning.
In severe cases of food poisoning, people may need to be hydrated with intravenous (IV) fluids in the hospital. In the worst cases, hospitalization may be required for a longer period of time for the person to recover.
