Almost all of us might have experienced food poisoning at some point of our lives. In spite of practicing strict hygienic measures, we might end up falling ill because of something bad that we ate. During such situations, we might become curious to find out how long does food poisoning last, its symptoms & management.
In the majority of cases, you will be able to manage food poisoning easily at your home. But, if you are unable to control the diarrhea, vomiting, or fever associated with the food poisoning, then you must seek medical attention at the earliest. Excessive vomiting and diarrhea can make you dehydrated, and this can even put you in emergency situations.
But, if you are able to control the symptoms of food poisoning with proper rest and home remedies, then you will be good to go within a few days. So, without further delay, let’s check how long this illness lasts.
Know how long does food poisoning last
The duration of a food poisoning infection might vary in accordance with a number of factors, such as-
- Symptoms and their severity
- Amount of the concerned food that the patient has ingested
- The substance(strain of germ) responsible for the food contamination
- Response of the body
Depending on the factors listed above, food poisoning can be classified into numerous categories. As of now, around 250 different cases of food poisoning have been recorded from around the globe. This diversity makes it very difficult when it comes to assigning a particular time frame for this condition.
However, in the majority of the food infection cases, it has been observed that the patient feels better within 12 hours – 48 hours. This scenario is observed in people who have a healthy body. But, if you have any other illnesses, then it might worsen the food infection. In that case, it might take longer for your body to purge the infection.
It has been observed that in the case of certain germ strains, the infection can last for 10 days or more. The reaction of your body to the infection is also very important. If your body is not responding adequately, then the infection might showcase symptoms for weeks. Such long durations have been observed when the food poisoning is caused by the bacteria campylobacter.
In addition to that, it should be kept in mind that some of the food poisoning illnesses are latent. This means the causative organism will reproduce in the body of the patient before any symptoms manifest. This is seen in the case of the Hepatitis A virus. During such instances, it can take varying amounts of time for the illness to subside.
Symptom of Food Poisoning
In case you are wondering how long does food poisoning last, then you might also want to know in detail about the symptoms of this illness.
An important characteristic of food poisoning symptoms is that they come all of a sudden without any hint. In addition to that, these symptoms will completely overpower you, and will thereby make you extremely weak. Sometimes, the symptoms might become so severe that hospitalization becomes a necessity. Severe cases of food poisoning can even lead to death.
However, most food poisoning cases showcase manageable symptoms. These symptoms can be considered as the body’s way of taking care of the poisoning. Our body essentially tries to expel the toxin that has resulted in food poisoning. Some of these food poisoning symptoms are listed below:
- Fever
- Headache
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
But, if you are finding it difficult to manage these symptoms, then you can always seek medical assistance. Thereby, you will be able to alleviate the symptoms of food poisoning to a great extent.
Management of Food Poisoning
Now that we know how long does food poisoning last, and what its symptoms are, let’s take a look at the management of food poisoning.
- If you want to manage food poisoning properly, then you should drink adequate quantities of water. Vomiting and diarrhea can make you lose a lot of water from your system. This can make you extremely dehydrated. So, you should drink adequate fluids whenever you are ill.
- The healthcare providers suggest that you drink fluids which contain sugar, electrolytes, and salt. The advantages of drinking such fluids is that they will remain in your body without getting expelled through urine. You can try drinking different fluids, such as ginger ale, juices, and broths.
- While drinking these fluids, you should try to take small sips at a time. Taking big gulps might induce vomiting. So, in order to avoid such instances, you should sip the fluid slowly. Also, avoid drinking cold beverages and cold drinks while you have an upset stomach.
- You should try having simple and bland foods, such as toast, rice, bananas, etc. When your stomach becomes better, you can consider taking chicken noodle soup, potatoes, oatmeal, crackers, etc. Avoid spicy and oily foods for a few days. You should give your stomach sufficient time to heal.
- There are some medications that can be taken for the management of food poisoning. You can consider taking bismuth subsalicylate for managing the common symptoms of food poisoning.
- If your condition is caused by a bacteria, then your healthcare provider might prescribe a suitable antibiotic. On the other hand, if the food poisoning has been caused by parasites, then you will be prescribed antiparasitic medications.
Conclusion
So, we have seen how long does food poisoning last, what its symptoms are, as well as how to manage it. As we can see, the condition might last for different time durations in different people. Mild cases of food poisoning will subside within two days. However, if your case is severe, then it might take you several days to recover from the food poisoning. If your symptoms are not getting better within 2-3 days, then you should seek the help of a healthcare provider. They will prescribe the necessary medications which will help in a faster and smoother recovery.