Food poisoning and diarrhoea are very common, especially in hot weather when food spoils easily. In most cases the symptoms improve on their own within a few days if you care for yourself correctly. The most important thing to focus on is preventing the body from becoming dehydrated, which is a more dangerous condition than the loose stools themselves.
Understanding the illness and its causes
Food poisoning is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with germs such as bacteria or viruses, or with toxins the germs produce. It often comes from food that is undercooked, left out at room temperature for too long, kept overnight, or stored without proper hygiene. When the germs or toxins enter the digestive tract, the body responds by vomiting and passing loose stools to expel them.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually begin within a few hours to 1–2 days after eating the contaminated food, and include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal cramps and griping pain
- Frequent loose stools, sometimes with a mild fever
- Fatigue, due to the loss of fluids and salts
Caring for yourself
The heart of care is to "replace the fluids and salts you have lost", so you should sip oral rehydration solution (ORS) a little at a time but frequently. Do not fast, and gradually return to bland, easy-to-digest foods as the vomiting eases.
- Sip ORS a little at a time, frequently, to replace lost fluids — don't drink very sugary drinks instead
- Eat bland, easy-to-digest foods such as rice porridge, congee, banana and bread, and rest enough
- Avoid greasy and spicy foods, milk, caffeine and alcohol until you feel better
Don't rush to take anti-diarrhoeal medicine
Passing stool is the body's way of expelling germs and toxins, so in general it is not advisable to rush to take anti-diarrhoeal medicine, especially in children and older adults. What matters more is sipping ORS to replace lost fluids. If you have a high fever or blood and mucus in the stool, see a doctor before taking any medicine.
Prevention
Food poisoning can be prevented with the simple principle of "eat it hot, use a serving spoon, wash your hands" — choose food that is freshly cooked and hot, use a serving spoon when eating together, wash your hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet, store food in the refrigerator properly, avoid food that has been left out for a long time or smells off, and drink clean water.
At Doctor Chat Clinic, a doctor examines and treats food poisoning and diarrhoea, assesses dehydration, offers blood testing to check for infection where needed, and gives advice on prevention as well as related vaccines. If your symptoms are severe or do not improve, you can consult us.
Danger signs that mean you should see a doctor promptly
- Severe diarrhoea or vomiting so that you cannot eat or drink, or vomiting every time you drink water
- A high fever, severe abdominal pain, or blood and mucus in the stool
- Signs of dehydration — dry mouth, sunken eyes, a clear drop in urine output, marked fatigue, drowsiness
- Young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with underlying conditions should see a doctor sooner