Food Poisoning: Types, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention, & More

What Is Food Poisoning?

Food poisoning refers to food-borne illnesses that arise from ingestion of food that is either rotten or contaminated with toxins, chemicals, or infectious agents such as bacteria or viruses. Millions of people each year suffer from food poisoning & food-borne illnesses, making them an extremely common health ailment.  Food poisoning is not a critical condition in most cases. 

Food Poisoning Symptoms

Symptoms differ from case to case depending on the type of food poisoning you may have contracted. The most common food poisoning symptoms include:

• Nausea: A feeling of discomfort or unease in the stomach often accompanied by an urge to vomit.
• Diarrhoea: Frequent, loose, or watery bowel movements that may be accompanied by urgency and abdominal cramping.
• Abdominal cramps: Sharp or dull pains in the abdomen, often associated with gastrointestinal distress.
• Vomiting: The forceful expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth, often as a reflexive response to nausea or abdominal discomfort.
• Disruption of appetite: Loss of interest in eating or aversion to food due to gastrointestinal discomfort.
• Fever: Elevated body temperature, which may indicate an immune response to infection caused by ingesting contaminated food.
• Fatigue and weakness: A general feeling of tiredness or lack of energy, often resulting from dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, or the body's effort to combat infection.
• Headache: A pain or discomfort in the head, which can be caused by dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, or the body's inflammatory response to foodborne pathogens.
• Goosebumps: The involuntary raising of the hair on the skin, which may occur as a response to stress or discomfort associated with food poisoning

Other serious symptoms that may appear include the following:

Certainly, food poisoning can lead to a variety of symptoms beyond those affecting the digestive system. Some foodborne pathogens can affect the nervous system, leading to specific neurological symptoms or causing diseases known as foodborne intoxications. Here are some additional details:

Neurological Symptoms: Certain toxins produced by bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum (responsible for botulism) can affect the nervous system. Symptoms may include blurred vision, difficulty swallowing or speaking, muscle weakness, and paralysis. Moreover, some individuals may experience tingling sensations or numbness in their extremities due to nerve damage caused by certain foodborne toxins.

Foodborne Intoxications:

• Botulism: Caused by the neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria, botulism can lead to symptoms such as double vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty breathing, and progressive paralysis.
• Ciguatera poisoning: This type of food poisoning occurs after consuming contaminated fish that have accumulated ciguatoxins. Symptoms may include neurological symptoms such as tingling sensations, temperature reversal (hot things feeling cold and vice versa), and muscle and joint pain.
• Shellfish poisoning: Certain types of shellfish can contain toxins such as saxitoxin or domoic acid, which can cause symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal distress to neurological symptoms like confusion, memory loss, seizures, or coma.

Diseases and Syndromes:

• Listeriosis: Caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, listeriosis can lead to symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal symptoms. In pregnant women, it can also cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious illness in new-borns.
• Neurocysticercosis: This is a parasitic infection caused by the larvae of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. It can occur when food or water is contaminated with faeces containing tapeworm eggs. Symptoms may include seizures, headaches, confusion, or neurological deficits depending on the location of the cysts in the brain

When to See A Doctor for Food Poisoning

You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms:

• Persistent diarrhea (lasting more than three days)
• High fever
• Dehydration
• Blood in urine
• Bloody  diarrhea
• Bloody vomit
• Blurred vision
• Severe abdominal pain & cramps

These symptoms indicate severe food poisoning that can be life-threatening. Prompt diagnosis & treatment is required in these cases.