Food poisoning typically feels like a combination of gastrointestinal and systemic symptoms caused by consuming contaminated food or drink. Common symptoms include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea, which may sometimes contain blood or mucus
- Stomach pain and cramps
- Fever and chills
- General weakness and fatigue
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle aches
These symptoms usually start within hours to a few days after eating the contaminated food and can vary in severity from mild to severe
. Severe symptoms that require medical attention include bloody diarrhea, persistent diarrhea lasting more than 3 days, high fever over 102°F, inability to keep liquids down due to vomiting, and signs of dehydration such as dizziness, dry mouth, or little urination
. Overall, food poisoning often feels like a sudden onset of stomach upset with cramping, nausea, and diarrhea, accompanied by general malaise and sometimes fever
