5 early warning signs of food poisoning

Recognizing the first warning signs of food poisoning such as stomach ache, diarrhea, nausea, fatigue... helps you take timely care of your health.

Doctor, PhD Vu Truong Khanh (Head of Gastroenterology Department, Tam Anh General Hospital , Hanoi ) said that food poisoning occurs when a person eats food contaminated with infectious germs. In the hot summer, improper food preservation can cause food to spoil easily, creating favorable conditions for bacteria, viruses and parasites to multiply. Signs and duration of symptoms of food poisoning can vary depending on the germs causing the disease. However, you can know the common first signs of food poisoning to take care of yourself in time and quickly recover your health.

Stomach-ache

People with food poisoning often initially have signs of abdominal pain. Harmful toxins irritate the stomach lining, causing abdominal pain and cramps as the abdominal muscles work to push out foreign organisms. According to Dr. Khanh, abdominal pain and epigastric cramps can be caused by poisoning, but can also be caused by acute inflammation of the stomach and intestines.

When eating uncooked foods such as sliced meat, pudding, cakes, unsanitary sandwiches, you can get food poisoning from e.coli, campylobacter, staphylococcus, bacillary dysentery... Symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, stomach cramps often appear 30 minutes to 8 hours after eating.

Stomach pain is one of the common signs of food poisoning. Photo: Freepik — Stomach pain is one of the common signs of food poisoning. Photo: *Freepik*

Diarrhea

Watery, loose stools occur within 24 hours of food poisoning. Diarrhea is often accompanied by an urgent need to defecate, bloating, or abdominal cramps. However, diarrhea may occur because of inflammation that causes the intestines to absorb less water and fluids.

When eating some raw shellfish, especially oysters, you can get vibrio bacteria within 24 hours. Typical initial symptoms can be recognized as watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. People with severe poisoning often have symptoms of fever, chills, stomach cramps.

Meat, poultry, meat juices, foods cooked in large batches and stored at unsafe temperatures can cause food poisoning due to campylobacter and clostridium perfringens bacteria. Patients have initial symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach cramps lasting less than 24 hours, vomiting.

When eating raw fruits or vegetables, herbs contaminated with cyclospora, the patient may experience symptoms of watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, nausea, and fatigue for about a week.

Nausea, vomiting

According to Dr. Khanh, nausea and vomiting are common reactions that occur when the body tries to expel microorganisms and toxic substances from the body. Many people with food poisoning may vomit continuously for several days. You should supplement electrolytes and fruit juice to avoid dehydration when poisoned.

Raw or undercooked chicken, meat, eggs, milk, unpasteurized juice, raw fruits and vegetables... can cause food poisoning if they contain salmonella bacteria. Initial symptoms usually occur within 6 hours to 6 days such as diarrhea (possibly bloody), fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps.

Headache

Headaches are a common symptom. Headaches can be caused by stress, alcohol, dehydration, or fatigue, but they can also be caused by food poisoning. People with food poisoning who also have vomiting and diarrhea are at increased risk of dehydration headaches.

Norovirus can be found in green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, shellfish (raw oysters), contaminated water, surfaces with viruses... People poisoned by this virus may have headaches, body aches, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain. Symptoms usually last from 12-48 hours.

Fatigue, muscle weakness

Food poisoning often causes loss of appetite and fatigue as the immune system reacts to the infection. The body releases cytokines to fight the infection.

Canned or fermented foods, homemade wine... can cause food poisoning if contaminated with clostridium botulinum (botulism). Patients may experience initial symptoms such as muscle weakness, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing. These initial symptoms can become more severe within 18-36 hours.

In addition, the common pathogenic bacteria e.coli can be found in raw beef, milk, unpasteurized juice, raw vegetables, and contaminated water. Initial symptoms are similar to food poisoning caused by other bacteria. Dr. Khanh said that about 5-10% of people diagnosed with e.coli infection can progress to severe, life-threatening complications.

Food is often contaminated with bacteria such as campylobacter, salmonella, e.coli... Food poisoning is usually not serious. Most people who eat contaminated food will recover within a few days and do not need treatment. If the initial signs do not improve with vomiting, rapid heart rate, sunken eyes and little or no urine, bloody diarrhea, high fever, you need to see a doctor for timely diagnosis and treatment to avoid dangerous complications.

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