Food poisoning

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Antibodies

Food poisoning

The symptoms from the most common types of food poisoning generally start within 2 to 6 hours of eating the food responsible. That time may be longer (even a number of days) or shorter, depending on the toxin or organism responsible for the food poisoning. The possible symptoms include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea (may be bloody)
• Fever and chills
• Weakness (may be serious and lead to respiratory arrest, as in the case of botulism)
• Headache

Your healthcare provider will examine you for signs and symptoms of food poisoning, such as stomach problems and dehydration. Your provider will also ask about foods you have eaten recently. Tests of your vomit, blood, stool, and any leftover food may identify the cause. Even if you have food poisoning, however, these tests may not be able to verify it.

In rare but possibly serious cases, your doctor may order one or more of the following procedures:

• Sigmoidoscopy (putting a thin, tube-like tool into the anus) to look for the source of bleeding or infection if these symptoms do not go away and the cause has not been found.
• Electromyography (a test to measure electric impulses in the muscles) to check for botulism.
• Lumbar puncture (a test of fluid from the spine) if you have signs of a nervous system disorder.

Review Date: 05/11/2006
Reviewed By: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.