The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year food poisoning, also called foodborne illness or food-related illness, affects approximately 76 million people in the in the United States. About 325,000 of those people will become sick enough to warrant hospitalization, while approximately 5,000 will die from a foodborne illness and related complications. Learn signs and symptoms of food-related illness, possible complications related to food poisoning, and chronic autoimmune disorders that may be triggered as the result of an illness due to contaminated food.
Signs and Symptoms of Food Poisoning
Food poisoning often catches people off guard. The food may have looked, tasted, and smelled fine, but unpleasant symptoms may appear after eating food or drink contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Sometimes only one or a few people may become quite sick from eating the item while others may not feel ill at all. The most common symptoms of food poisoning include:
- nausea
- vomiting (often accompanied by abdominal cramping)
- diarrhea (may be bloody)
- fever (may be greater than 101.5ºF measured orally)
- confusion
The body’s natural defenses will try to protect itself from bacteria and other harmful contaminants. People with a healthy and strong immune system may be able to fight off pathogens from contaminated food or drink without treatment. However, at-risk populations, such as older adults, those who have a lowered immunity, pregnant women, unborn babies, or very young children, are particularly vulnerable to becoming seriously ill due to food poisoning.
Complications of Food Poisoning
Complications of food poisoning often result from dehydration if the vomiting and/or diarrhea is prolonged. Dehydration can develop rather quickly in those who are at risk for complications. Signs of dehydration include:
- dry mouth and lips
- saliva that is absent or thick and sticky
- urination that is darker, decreased, or absent
- difficulty with balance or problems with dizziness
- sunken eyes
- faster heart rate or pulse (often increases if the person rises from a lying or sitting position)
- breathing that is more rapid than usual
- low blood pressure (often decreases if the person rises from a lying or sitting position)
A person who has food poisoning can also develop shock. Common symptoms of shock include a weak, fast pulse and/or shallow breathing. Another possible complication of food poisoning is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) – this rare complication of food poisoning tends to be more common in children aged one to ten, may last one to 15 days, and tends to appear five to ten days after the symptoms of food poisoning began.
Although most people who develop HUS completely recover, the condition has the potential to cause serious illness, particularly if acute kidney failure develops. Some people with HUS may develop:
- multiple organ failure
- seizures
- heart failure
- pancreatic inflammation
- diabetes
Chronic Disorders Related to Food-related Illness
According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse’s (NDDIC) May 2007 article entitled “Bacteria and Foodborne Illness,” some people who develop food poisoning may experience lasting effects with possible permanent tissue and/or organ involvement.
The immune system may begin to attack the person’s body rather than the foodborne pathogen. Examples of chronic and autoimmune disorders that may be triggered by food poisoning include:
- arthritis
- inflammatory bowel disease (certain types of colitis or Baçet’s Syndrome)
- renal (kidney) failure
- Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
Food Poisoning Symptoms
People who experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or fever after eating food or drink contaminated with pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites may be experiencing food poisoning. How sick a person gets with food poisoning depends on many different factors, such as the organism involved and the person’s immune system. Complications of foodborne illnesses may include dehydration, shock, HUS, or the trigger of certain autoimmune disorders.
People who suspect they have food poisoning should contact their healthcare provider. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.
Readers may also wish to read:
- How to Prevent Food Poisoning – A Practical Guide for Seniors
- Step-by-step Guide for People Who Have Food Poisoning
- Turkey Safety & Labeling – What do Food Labels and Terms Mean?
- Is Fever Serious? (includes several practical articles related to body temperature)
- Washing Hands Saves Lives
- Alcohol-based Hand Sanitizer Not Effective Against C. Difficile
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.
Source:
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) online pamphlet entitled “Food Safety for Older Adults: A Need-to-know Guide for those 65 years of age and older”
Katrena Wells - Katrena Wells is a RN in NC with 17 1/2 years of experience in oncology, an educator since 1995, and has taught exercise classes since ...
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