Botulism is a rare but deadly form of food poisoning. It is caused by a bacteria (clostridium botulinum) that is found all over, even in soil and water. Botulism can happen when: You eat low-acid foods that are not properly canned or preserved at home.
Symptoms can range from mild to serious and can last for a few hours or several days. The most common symptoms of food poisoning are: Diarrhea. Stomach pain or cramps.
Most people fully recover from the most common types of food poisoning within 12 to 48 hours. Some types of food poisoning can cause serious complications. Death from food poisoning in people who are otherwise healthy is rare in the United States.
They are similar bacteria, salmonella evolved from E. coli about a million years ago, which explains their same means of transmission and common symptoms. But, they are different as E. coli is much more heterogeneous compared to salmonella, and therefore has more dangerous effects.
In some cases, adults can take over-the-counter medicines such as loperamide link (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate link (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate) to treat diarrhea caused by food poisoning.
Some people may also have nausea, vomiting, or a headache. Symptoms usually start within 6 hours–6 days after infection and last 4–7 days.
However, the key distinction is time: The symptoms of a stomach bug will take 12 to 48 hours to develop, while the symptoms of food poisoning typically develop much faster, usually with 6 hours of consuming an infected dish. Another common difference between the two is the length of illness.
“Most of the time, food poisoning will set in within a few hours of eating contaminated food,” Dr. Lee says. “The severity of your symptoms and how long it will last is mostly dictated by what strain of germs you ingested, how much you were exposed to and how strong your immune system is to fight it off.”
What causes food poisoning? Infections with microbes—viruses, bacteria, and parasites—cause most food poisoning. Harmful chemicals also cause some cases of food poisoning. Microbes can spread to food at any time while the food is grown, harvested or slaughtered, processed, stored, shipped, or prepared.
Staph food poisoning is characterized by a sudden start of nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. Most people also have diarrhea. Symptoms usually develop within 30 minutes to 8 hours after eating or drinking an item containing Staph toxin, and last no longer than 1 day. Severe illness is rare.
Since dairy products are less bland than BRAT foods, they might be more tough on your stomach. However, if you can tolerate yogurt, it might be good for your stomach, especially if it contains probiotics, which help with digestion. Plus, yogurt contains fluid, which helps to stay hydrated.
Antibiotics. Your health care provider may prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria. These are usually given if your provider suspects that salmonella bacteria have entered your bloodstream, your infection is severe or you have a weakened immune system.
Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and occasionally fever. About half of people with the infection will have bloody diarrhoea. People usually notice symptoms 3 to 4 days after they have been infected. But symptoms can start any time between 1 and 14 days afterwards.
There are no antibiotics for most E. coli infections. If you have contracted traveler's diarrhea, your doctor may recommend that you do take anti-diarrhea medications for a short period or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol). In some instances, doctors treat the infection with antibiotics.
One tried-and-true diet for diarrhea is the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Low in fiber, bland, and starchy, these foods can help replace lost nutrients and firm up your stools.
Food poisoning usually resolves on its own in 1-2 days, while the stomach flu can last 1-3 days (although sometimes longer). It's important you know what is causing your symptoms so you can properly treat your illness.
Ginger is rich in a variety of beneficial plant chemicals called phytochemicals. Ginger may also relieve other gastrointestinal problems, such as food poisoning. Ginger is unlikely to cause serious side effects.
Both fatty and spicy foods tend not to be well tolerated when you are suffering from diarrhea, so stay away from them until your recovery is complete to avoid the risk of making your diarrhea worse.