Tokyo Food Safety Information Center » Tokyo Metropolitan Government food safety FAQ » If I get food poisoning, how long after eating will I feel ill?
If I get food poisoning, how long after eating will I feel ill?
If I get food poisoning, how long after eating will I feel ill?
- Please tell me how long the incubation period is for common food poisoning symptoms.
The incubation time of food poisoning symptoms varies depending on the
bacteria, virus, or other cause of the food poisoning. The shortest can
be from 30 minutes after eating; the longest may only show symptoms a week
or more after eating.
If you suspect you have food poisoning, it is recommended that you seek diagnosis from a doctor.
The most common symptoms of food poisoning are nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea. These symptoms may also be accompanied by fever.
The time between infection with the bacteria or virus which causes the food poisoning and the appearance of symptoms is called the incubation period. Incubation times differ depending on the bacteria, virus, or other cause of the food poisoning. For example, the incubation period for Norovirus, which has been a frequent cause of food poisoning in recent years, is between 24 and 48 hours. For Campylobacter, it’s two to seven days.
Food poisoning caused by the toxins produced by bacteria when they multiply (such as enterotoxin produced by Staphylococcus aureus when it reproduces), natural poisons from mushrooms or fish, and chemicals such as histamine can cause vomiting and other symptoms immediately after intake.
Note that incubation times for the same bacteria or virus can vary depending on the amount of contaminated food ingested and the physical health of the victims, among other factors.
The most common symptoms are as described above. Symptoms such as nervous disorders like paralysis can be caused by the natural toxins found in pufferfish and mushrooms, however. In addition, histamine-producing bacteria can produce histamine from histidine, an amino acid found in red meat fish like tuna and skipjack. Consumption of this histamine can cause food poisoning symptoms like headache, rash, and fever.
The time between infection with the bacteria or virus which causes the food poisoning and the appearance of symptoms is called the incubation period. Incubation times differ depending on the bacteria, virus, or other cause of the food poisoning. For example, the incubation period for Norovirus, which has been a frequent cause of food poisoning in recent years, is between 24 and 48 hours. For Campylobacter, it’s two to seven days.
Food poisoning caused by the toxins produced by bacteria when they multiply (such as enterotoxin produced by Staphylococcus aureus when it reproduces), natural poisons from mushrooms or fish, and chemicals such as histamine can cause vomiting and other symptoms immediately after intake.
Note that incubation times for the same bacteria or virus can vary depending on the amount of contaminated food ingested and the physical health of the victims, among other factors.
The most common symptoms are as described above. Symptoms such as nervous disorders like paralysis can be caused by the natural toxins found in pufferfish and mushrooms, however. In addition, histamine-producing bacteria can produce histamine from histidine, an amino acid found in red meat fish like tuna and skipjack. Consumption of this histamine can cause food poisoning symptoms like headache, rash, and fever.