Understand the various steps to recovery here. And when should you go to the doctor
I took a bite of my burger and immediately knew something was wrong. At first, I thought that the chef had accidentally overcooked it, eliminating the usual salty flavor. However, my hunch turned out to be right. Less than an hour later, I had horrible food poisoning.
Anyone who has dealt with food poisoning knows that it is not an experience you want to repeat. My better half at the time, who also fell ill, felt better after a few hours – but I only fully recovered two days later.
This happens because the time it takes the body to eliminate everything depends on the amount of disease-causing germs present in the food eaten, according to Mitzi Baum, executive president of Stop Foordborne Illness, a public health organization that advocates improvements in the food industry. Most cases of food poisoning are mild and improve after a few days of rest at home. However, there are rare cases in which a person will need immediate medical care.
There is no exact way to predict how long food poisoning will last, but there are ways to make the recovery process smoother.
How does food poisoning start?
Foodborne illnesses happen when you consume contaminated food or drink. Baum explained that this can happen when microorganisms enter an environment with ideal conditions for their growth and multiplication.
Most virus-causing bacteria or viruses grow exponentially in food whose temperature is in the so-called danger zone, between 4.4ºC and 60ºC. It can be the result of eating food left at room temperature for a long time, as well as undercooked and raw food. Bacteria such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus or salmonella can double their numbers in less than 20 minutes in food left in the danger zone, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
About one in six people living in the United States will experience food-borne illnesses, including food poisoning, every year, according to estimates from the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most common culprits are norovirus, salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, campylobacter and Staphylococcus aureus.
When can you get food poisoning?
People often think that food poisoning is something that happens immediately, but that’s not always the case.
The time it takes for someone to feel the effects of food poisoning depends on the type of bacteria, according to Nima Majlesi, director of medical toxicology at Staten Island University Hospital. Some bacteria can have an incubation period of one to two days.
Majlesi explained that when people feel sick right after eating, it’s probably Staphylococcus aureus, also known as staph. This bacteria creates toxins that can make you feel sick anywhere from 30 minutes to eight hours after eating. Food poisoning from this bacteria usually begins with stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.
How long does it take to recover from food poisoning?
If food poisoning originates from Staphylococcus aureus toxins, the illness should not last more than a day. People tend to recover from food poisoning within one to two days. However, there are cases that drag on for two to four weeks after exposure, according to Pratima Dibba, a gastroenterologist at Medical Offices of Manhattan.
“It depends largely. Some cases of food poisoning can last 14 days, with continuous diarrhea”, adds Majlesi. “In general, the more severe it is, the shorter the duration.”
Is there any way to quickly recover from food poisoning?
There is no single treatment that speeds recovery, Dibba explained. The body needs time to eliminate the toxins that cause food poisoning, generally between 24 and 48 hours.
To be comfortable and avoid dehydration, Majlesi recommends staying constantly hydrated. If you do so with an electrolyte solution, make sure the product has a low sugar content. “Some of the electrolyte solutions contain a lot of sugar and can make diarrhea worse. Therefore, you should be careful with this aspect,” she advised.
To add water, the National Institutes of Health in the United States recommends that adults make up for lost fluids with broths and sports drinks. Furthermore, he recommends drinking fruit juices with water to make them more diluted. Children, in turn, should use oral rehydration solutions, such as Pedialyte, to alleviate the symptoms of food poisoning.
It is also advised to avoid solid food for 24 hours, especially if you have difficulty keeping it down. Majlesi explained that doing this helps the digestive system have the time it needs to rest and recover during this time of inflammation. Adults can take over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications, such as bismuth subsalicylate or loperamide (also known as Imodium), to respond to diarrhea symptoms.
After 24 hours, Majlesi recommends eating small portions of foods that are light and rich in carbohydrates. A diet of bananas, rice, applesauce and toast is good if you have diarrhea. Salty biscuits, known as ‘crackers’, are also usually tolerated, helping to replace lost electrolytes.
If you have nausea and vomiting, Dibba advises not to eat very spicy foods, dairy products, foods that produce gas or foods rich in fiber. “Many people think that eating salads will help their immune system. However, fiber-rich foods can aggravate symptoms and create bloating and abdominal discomfort,” she explained.
When to see a doctor
There are some scenarios that require a trip to the hospital. The elderly and those with a weaker immune system should see a doctor immediately to treat food poisoning. Additionally, Majlesi said, people should go to the emergency room if their symptoms last for a week, if they feel dizzy or if they notice blood in their stool. A healthcare professional can do a complete evaluation to check for electrolyte imbalances or other problems.
“If your symptoms become very aggressive or you are not responding to initial treatment, seek medical help immediately,” concluded Dibba.
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira is a freelance journalist, dedicated to the areas of health and science. She works from New York
