Food Poisoning - Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
                     FOOD 
POISONING: 
SYMPTOMS, 
CAUSES, 
AND 
TREATMENT
WHAT IS FOOD 
POISONING?
Foodborne illness, more commonly 
referred to as food poisoning, is the 
result of eating contaminated, spoiled, 
or toxic food. The most common 
symptoms of food poisoning include 
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Source: www.healthline.com
FOOD POISONING 
SYMPTOMS
• abdominal cramps
• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• mild fever
• weakness
• headache
Source: www.healthline.com
HOW LONG DOES 
FOOD POISONING 
LAST?
• The length of time it takes for 
symptoms to appear depends on the 
source of the infection, but it can 
range from as little as 30 minutes to 
as long as 8 weeks.
Source: www.healthline.com
CAUSES OF FOOD 
POISONING
• Most food poisoning can be traced to 
one of three major causes: bacteria, 
parasites, or viruses.
• These pathogens can be found on 
almost all of the food humans eat
Source: www.healthline.com
BACTERIA
Bacteria are by far the most common 
cause of food poisoning. Bacterial 
causes of food poisoning include:
• E. coli, in particular Shiga toxin-
producing E. coli (STEC)
• Listeria monocytogenes
• Salmonella
• Campylobacter
• Clostridium botulinum
Source: www.healthline.com
PARASITES
Food poisoning caused by parasites isn’t 
as common as food poisoning caused by 
bacteria, but parasites that spread 
through food are still very dangerous. 
They include:
• Toxoplasma gondii
• Giardia lamblia
Source: www.healthline.com
VIRUSES
Food poisoning can also be caused by a 
virus, such as:
• norovirus, which is sometimes known 
as Norwalk virus
• rotavirus
• astrovirus
Source: www.healthline.com
FOOD POISONING TREATMENTS
STAY HYDRATED
If you have food poisoning, it’s crucial to 
remain properly hydrated. Sports drinks 
high in electrolytes can be helpful. Fruit 
juice and coconut water can restore 
carbohydrates and help with fatigue.
Source: www.healthline.com
TAKE OVER-THE-
COUNTER (OTC) 
MEDICATIONS
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications 
such as loperamide (Imodium) and 
Pepto-Bismol can help you manage 
diarrhea and suppress nausea.
Source: www.healthline.com
TAKE 
PRESCRIPTION 
MEDICATIONS
Although many cases of food poisoning 
clear up on their own, some people can 
benefit from prescription medications, 
depending on the pathogen responsible 
for their illness.
Source: www.healthline.com