Food Poisoning

Food poisoning happens when you eat food that contains harmful germs. Most people get better at home within a week without needing special treatment.

What Does Food Poisoning Feel Like?

The main signs of food poisoning are:

• Feeling sick or being sick
• Runny poo (diarrhoea)
• Tummy pain
• High temperature
• Feeling generally unwell

These symptoms usually start within a few hours or days of eating contaminated food. Sometimes they don't appear for several weeks.

How to Look After Yourself at Home

The most important thing is to drink plenty of fluids to stop your body getting dried out (dehydrated).

Do:

• Stay at home and rest
• Drink lots of water or squash - take small sips if you feel sick
• Keep breastfeeding or bottle feeding your baby as normal
• If your baby is being sick, try smaller feeds more often
• Give babies small sips of water between their usual feeds
• Eat when you feel able to - avoid fatty or spicy foods
• Take paracetamol for pain - check the packet before giving to children

Don't:

• Drink fruit juice or fizzy drinks - these make diarrhoea worse
• Water down baby formula - use normal strength
• Give children under 12 medicine to stop diarrhoea
• Give aspirin to children under 16

When to Get Help from a Pharmacist

Speak to a pharmacist if:

• You or your child (over 5) have signs of being dried out, like dark, smelly wee or not weeing much
• You're older, have a weak immune system, or other health problems
• You need to stop diarrhoea for a few hours

They might suggest special drinks to replace lost fluids or medicine to help.

When to Call 111

Call 111 straight away if:

• You're worried about a baby under 12 months
• Your child stops feeding while ill
• A child under 5 has fewer wet nappies than usual
• You or your child still seem dried out after using special drinks
• You or your child keep being sick and can't keep fluids down
• You or your child have blood in your poo
• Diarrhoea lasts more than 7 days or being sick lasts more than 2 days

Emergency Signs - Call 999

Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if you or your child:

• Vomit blood or coffee-coloured sick
• Have green sick (adults) or yellow-green sick (children)
• Might have eaten something poisonous
• Have a stiff neck and pain looking at bright lights
• Have sudden, severe headache or tummy pain
• Have blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
• Are struggling to breathe or breathing very fast
• Seem confused or not responding normally

How Does Food Poisoning Happen?

Food poisoning comes from eating food with harmful germs. This happens when food is:

• Not cooked or reheated properly
• Not stored correctly (not frozen or chilled)
• Left out too long
• Handled by someone who's ill or hasn't washed their hands
• Eaten after its use-by date

The most common causes in the UK are campylobacter bacteria, salmonella bacteria, E. coli bacteria, and norovirus (the winter vomiting bug).

Remember, if you're concerned about symptoms, speak to your GP for advice about your specific situation.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.