Most people experience food poisoning at least once in their life, whether it’s a one-off reaction or a week-long bout of vomiting and diarrhoea. The good news is that food poisoning is rarely serious and usually gets better on its own within a week, without the need for any treatment.Symptoms of food poisoningFood poisoning symptoms vary from person to person, but will typically include:NauseaDiarrhoea e.g. three or more loose and watery stools in 24 hoursVomiting, which may only last one or two days Stomach crampsFever and chillsGenerally feeling unwell e.g. having aches and painsAfter the sickness and diarrhoea has passed, you’ll probably feel very tired and drained, and not have an appetite for a few days.It’s normal for food poisoning symptoms to start within a few hours or days of eating the food responsible. However, sometimes symptoms don’t set in for a few weeks, and in some cases, food poisoning can lead to dehydration.Dehydration from food poisoningDehydration is a common side effect of food poisoning, especially if the illness is accompanied by sustained diarrhoea and vomiting. A person who is dehydrated may often experience the following symptoms:Tiredness and weaknessFeeling dizzy and lightheadedUrinating lessDark yellow urine that smells strongHeadachesMuscle crampsDry mouth and tongueIf you think you’re becoming dehydrated, you should get medical advice as soon as possible. Mild dehydration is easy to treat, but if it progresses it can be life-threatening.Causes of food poisoningFood poisoning is exactly what it sounds like – consuming food that’s been contaminated with a harmful germ or toxin. There are lots of reasons why food might become contaminated:It hasn’t been stored correctly e.g. milk that hasn’t been refrigeratedIt hasn’t been cooked properly e.g. undercooked chicken that’s pink in the middleIt was prepared by someone who didn’t wash their handsIt was prepared in the same area as other foods like raw meat – this is called cross-contaminationIt was washed with contaminated water – this is more likely to be a problem in countries with poor sanitationIt’s a dairy product made with unpasteurised milkInfections that cause food poisoningFood poisoning can be caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites, as well as toxins and chemicals. In the UK, the most common cause of food poisoning is campylobacter bacteria. Other infections that can cause food poisoning include:SalmonellaE. coliNorovirusToxoplasma gondiiHow to avoid food poisoningIf you want to avoid food poisoning, you’ll need to make sure that you’re following some simple rules for hygiene and food preparation, including the following:Wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling food, and after touching anything dirty or going to the toilet.Use separate chopping boards for different foods e.g. one for raw meat and fish, and one for vegetables.Keep raw meat and fish away from other foods, and store it on the bottom shelf of the fridge.Clean counters, knives, utensils and chopping boards with hot, soapy water.Replace dirty dishcloths and tea towels regularly, washing used ones in hot water.Cook all your food thoroughly e.g. make sure meat is cooked until it’s hot all the way through and there are no pink areas when you cut into it.Keep your fridge below 5°C and don’t overfill the shelves or leave the door open for long periods.Get leftovers from hot meals in the fridge or freezer as soon as possible (ideally within 90 minutes) and eat them within two days.Stick to the use-by dates on your food labels!Avoiding food poisoning while travellingWhen you’re travelling abroad it can be a bit harder to steer clear of food poisoning, especially in countries with poor sanitation. Some simple tips include washing your hands regularly, avoiding seafood or pink meat, and sticking to bottled water.More tips can be found in this article: How to avoid travellers’ diarrhoea.How to treat food poisoningIf you’re sick with diarrhoea and vomiting, the first thing to know is that you should stay home, so there’s no risk of the illness spreading. The NHS advises that you stay home from school or work until you haven’t had diarrhoea for at least 48 hours.Most cases of food poisoning will pass on their own within a week and can be managed at home by doing the following:Getting plenty of restDrinking lots of fluids to avoid dehydrationAvoiding fruit juice or fizzy drinksEating when you’re able toTaking paracetamol to help with fever, aches and pains##product-carousel:imodium-instants-6-melt-in-the-mouth-tablets, silicolgel-for-gastro-disorders-500ml, imodium-original-2mg-capsules-6-capsules, lloydspharmacy-rehydration-treatment-6-sachets, dioralyte-citrus-6-sachets, dioralyte-relief-sach-bcurrnt, imodium-plus-comfort-tablets-x-6, doctor-gut-diarrhoea-relief-liquid-sticks, imodium-instants-6-melt-in-the-mouth-tablets, j-collis-browne-s-mixture-100ml, pepto-bismol-liquid-120ml, doctor-gut-diarrhoea-relief-sachets##Help from a pharmacistA pharmacist can help if you think you might be getting dehydrated, or having a bout of diarrhoea. They might offer oral rehydration sachets or a tablet to help with the symptoms.Prolonged and severe food poisoningThere are some circumstances where it’s important to get medical advice for food poisoning – you can do this by calling 111. In emergency situations, you’ll need to call 999 or go to A&E.You should call 111 if:You’ve had diarrhoea for more than seven days, or vomiting for more than two daysYou’re having bloody diarrhoea or you’re bleeding from your bottomYou keep being sick and can’t keep any fluids downYou’re still showing signs of dehydration after using oral rehydration sachetsYou should call 999 or go to A&E if:There’s blood in your vomit or it looks green or yellow, or like ground coffeeYou think you swallowed something poisonousYou have a stiff neck and it hurts to look at bright lightsYou’re having sudden and severe pain in your head or stomachReferenceswww.nhs.uk/conditions/food-poisoninghttps://patient.info/digestive-health/diarrhoea/food-poisoningwww.nhs.uk/conditions/dehydrationwww.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/10-ways-to-prevent-food-poisoningwww.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting
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