Food poisoning is unpleasant, and symptoms can begin in as little as 30 minutes from when you consumed the contaminated food or beverage, but how long do they last? Most cases pass within 12 to 48 hours, but some can last a week or longer, depending on the source of the illness.
How long food poisoning will last in your case depends on which microorganism infected you. Here are some time frames for the most common types of infections:
Symptoms begin 12 to 48 hours after exposure and last 1-2 days.
Symptoms begin within 30 minutes to 8 hours after exposure and usually last no longer than one day.
Symptoms begin 3-4 days after exposure and last 5-10 days.
Symptoms begin 6 hours to 6 days after exposure and last 4-7 days.
Symptoms begin within 2 weeks after exposure and last 1-3 days.
Food poisoning symptoms can vary based on the contaminate, but people most commonly experience a combination of:
Rare side effects include:
While many food poisoning cases do not require medical treatment, you should see a doctor if you suffer from more severe symptoms, such as a fever of 100.4 or higher, bloody diarrhea, or blurred vision. People with compromised immune systems, pregnant women, and older people are at higher risk and should always see a doctor for food poisoning. Additionally, if your illness does not improve within a few days, an appointment with your general physician should be scheduled to be safe.
The germs that often cause food poisoning can be found on a variety of foods and food sources, but some common culprits include:
There is no surefire way to prevent food poisoning, but you can lower your chances of it by preparing meals safely and keeping food safety in mind when dining out or traveling.
As a general rule, food should never sit out at room temperature longer than two hours.
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