Warning Signs Of Food Poisoning

Blood In Stool

Severe cases of food poisoning often have blood in their stool as a symptom. This symptom is particularly common when individuals are dealing with salmonella or Escherichia coli (E. coli). Patients often report bloody diarrhea, which combines this symptom with another common indicator of food poisoning (diarrhea). If individuals deal with blood in their stool, it is vital for individuals to seek immediate medical attention. They will need medical treatment for their food poisoning at this stage. In the case of salmonella, they can likely experience relief with antibiotics and hospitalization. Unfortunately, antibiotics are often not appropriate for Escherichia coli, and they may need other treatments from doctors.

Symptom Onset

Symptom onset for food poisoning varies based on the specific contaminant an individual ingested. Staphylococcus aureus, for instance, often has symptoms appear thirty minutes to six hours after ingestion. Salmonella, however, takes longer. This bacteria can cause symptoms to appear six hours to six days after ingestion. Norovirus, another common trigger for food poisoning, takes twelve to twenty-four hours for symptoms to appear. Escherichia coli often takes approximately three to four days for the food poisoning symptoms to appear. The varied symptom onset for food poisoning makes it even more important for patients to recognize their symptoms and understand the source of their food poisoning. This will help them with their treatment, both with home remedies and medical treatments from a doctor.