13 Symptoms of Food Poisoning

Food poisoning can be a debilitating and even life-threatening condition, but it also can be a challenge to identify because its symptoms are frequently mistaken for a gastrointestinal illness.

It's estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that about 48 million people in the United States get sick every year from food-borne illnesses, and of those, about 3,000 people die.

ALERT: Weird Gut Bacteria Linked to Digestion, Heart, Obesity, Brain Problems

Food poisoning is caused by bacteria or parasites that are present in food, and that can make it even more challenging to identify the cause of a GI upset. For instance, eating food contaminated with a Staphylococcus bacterium can make someone sick within an hour, whereas eating something that contains campylobacter bacteria may cause you to get sick up to 10 days later, WebMD said. Some parasite infections may take even longer to show symptoms.

Given the variety of underlying causes of food poisoning, it can be difficult to track and identify. These five symptoms are common in many food poisoning cases, according to FoodSafety.gov:

1. Abdominal cramps
2. Abdominal pain
3. Diarrhea
4. Vomiting
5. Nausea

Less common symptoms, generated by different underlying causes of food poisoning, include:

6. Fever
7. Blurred and/or double vision
8. Difficulty swallowing
9. Muscle weakness
10. Muscle paralysis
11. Ulcers
12. Sweating
13. Dizziness

SPECIAL: Doctor: You Can Stop Digestion Woes, Heartburn, Gas, Constipation, More

A chart on the FoodSafety.gov website breaks down different types of food poisoning and what symptoms people can expect.

According to the CDC, the top five causes of food-borne illness that cause hospitalizations, illness, and death are noroviruses, salmonella, clostridium perfringens, campyolobacter spp., and staphylococcus aureus. 

Anyone experiencing the following should consult a doctor, according to WebMD: severe abdominal pain; severe vomiting and diarrhea, especially that causes symptoms of dehydration, which include decreased urination, dry mouth, and sunken eyes; black, tarry, or bloody stools; fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher; or any of the more unusual symptoms like sweating or muscle paralysis.

Doctor: Not All Probiotics Are the Same, Some Are Dangerous! Read More Here

Related Stories:

• Probiotics and Food Poisoning: A Natural Cure
  
• 10 Best Supplements for Nausea