Food poisoning how many days

You want to drink lots of fluids, and not just water. Water is isotonic. It really should be a not-isotonic fluid. That would be something with salt, sugar or electrolytes in it, like Gatorade, broth, ginger ale or juice. Consult your physician if you have a medical condition that limits your sodium consumption , such as heart, liver or kidney disease. It has soothing and anti-inflammatory effects. But be aware that it will turn your stool to black due to the bismuth.

A: For most of us with healthy immune systems, we can usually recover from food poisoning on our own. IV fluids can be administered for hydration and to replete lost electrolytes. You should also see a doctor if you develop a high fever, bloody diarrhea or extreme pain. For people who are on immunomodulating drugs or medications that suppress the immune system, or who have medical conditions that suppress the immune system, I recommend seeking immediate medical attention.

Learn more about vaccine availability. This will help the doctor find out which microorganism is causing the illness. Most of the time, food poisoning runs its course and people get better on their own. Occasionally, though, doctors prescribe antibiotics to treat more severe types of bacterial food poisoning. Someone with severe dehydration may be treated in a hospital with intravenous IV fluids.

Food poisoning usually goes away on its own in a few days. You can do a few things to take care of yourself:. Reviewed by: Ryan J. Brogan, DO. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Food Poisoning? Most of the time, someone with food poisoning will notice: nausea feeling sick belly pain and cramps vomiting diarrhea fever headache and overall weakness In rare cases, food poisoning can make someone feel dizzy, have blurry vision, or notice tingling in the arms.

P What Causes Food Poisoning? For example: Water that is used to grow food can become infected with animal or human feces poop. Meat or poultry may come into contact with germs during processing or shipping. Bacteria can infect foods stored at the wrong temperature or kept too long. Cooks or other food handlers can contaminate foods if they don't wash their hands or they use unclean utensils or cutting boards.

Which Germs Are to Blame? Germs that often cause food poisoning include: Salmonella. These include: extreme thirst making little or no pee dizziness sunken eyes lightheadedness or weakness If you've recently been to a foreign country and start having diarrhea or other stomach problems, it's also a good idea to call your doctor. How Is Food Poisoning Diagnosed? How Is Food Poisoning Treated? Taking Care of Yourself at Home Food poisoning usually goes away on its own in a few days.

You can do a few things to take care of yourself: Get plenty of rest. Drink liquids to protect against dehydration. Electrolyte solutions work, but anything except milk or caffeinated beverages will do. Take small, frequent sips to make it easier to keep the fluids down. Avoid solid foods and dairy products until any diarrhea has stopped.

Avoid over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medicines. They can make the symptoms of food poisoning last longer. When diarrhea and vomiting have stopped, eat small, bland, low-fat meals for a few days so you won't further upset your stomach.

If your symptoms become serious or you start noticing signs of dehydration, contact your doctor. To reduce your risk of food poisoning, follow these tips: Wash your hands well and often, especially after using the bathroom, before touching food, and after touching raw food.

Use soap and warm water and scrub for at least 20 seconds. Clean all utensils, cutting boards, and surfaces that you use to prepare food with hot, soapy water. Page last reviewed: 18 June Next review due: 18 June Food poisoning.

Check if you have food poisoning Symptoms of food poisoning include: feeling sick nausea diarrhoea being sick vomiting stomach cramps a high temperature of 38C or above feeling generally unwell — such as feeling tired or having aches and chills The symptoms usually start within a few days of eating the food that caused the infection.

Sometimes they start after a few hours or not for a few weeks. How to treat food poisoning yourself You can usually treat yourself or your child at home. The symptoms usually pass within a week.