Recently, our entire family had vomiting and diarrhea after eating at a local restaurant. How do we know if we had food poisoning or if this was a stomach virus? Are there any long-term concerns regarding food poisoning?
Food poisoning is caused by eating foods that have been contaminated with certain types of bacteria or toxins. The symptoms of food poisoning are similar to the symptoms of stomach viruses and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever.
Food poisoning typically occurs within several hours following ingestion of contaminated food. In some cases, however, the symptoms might not appear until one to three days following ingestion.
Most of the time, food poisoning cannot be differentiated from a stomach virus because the symptoms are so similar. If several family members become ill around the same time after eating the same foods, this would increase the likelihood that they are suffering from a food-borne illness. Some of the most common causes of food poisoning include salmonella, shigella, E. coli, listeria, staph aureus and campylobacter.
Regardless of whether a person is suffering from food poisoning or an intestinal virus, the most important thing is to drink fluids to stay hydrated. Signs of dehydration include a dry mouth, decreased urine production, fatigue and sunken eyes. It is important to seek medical care if any of the following are present:
Signs of dehydration.
- Bloody stools.
- Worsening symptoms after the first 24 hours.
- Muscle weakness or confusion.
Special caution should be taken for infants, elderly, pregnant women and anyone who has a weakened immune system.
Laboratory testing is rarely necessary, especially if the symptoms end within 12-24 hours. In more serious cases, the doctor may do blood tests to check for electrolyte abnormalities or stool studies to identify the cause.
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