Summer Foods and Signs of Food Poisoning

It’s summertime in New York, which means certain foods are now in season. One day, you decide to have an afternoon snack – you choose cantaloupe and some berries. Hours later, you start to feel sick. Your stomach aches and rumbles. Did the fruit you ate earlier give you food poisoning?

Food poisoning happens when you eat contaminated foods. This could be anything contaminated with bacterial, viral or parasitic agents (like salmonella), but it’s most likely to occur with raw, ready-to-eat foods. Food poisoning is more common among these summer staples:

• Cantaloupe

• Berries

• Ice cream

• Leafy greens

• Tomatoes

• Eggs

• Oysters

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control state that 1 in 6 Americans gets sick from food poisoning every year. There are more than 250 different foodborne diseases, and most of them are infections.

So, how do you know if you have food poisoning or something else? Here are the primary signs to look for as told by the American Academy of Family Physicians:

Abdominal pain

Do you have sharp pains in your abdomen? This isn’t necessarily the same as nausea, but can be a sign of food poisoning.

Nausea

A stomach ache is a symptom of other conditions, like the flu, but it can also be a sign that something you ate was contaminated.

Vomiting

Eating something, feeling nauseous and throwing up is a common warning sign that you may have food poisoning.

Loss of appetite

Not feeling hungry even though you haven’t eaten much lately? This could be an indication that something is wrong.

Diarrhea

Another gastrointestinal problem, diarrhea is very common with food poisoning.

Fever

A fever can indicate other problems, such as flu or strep throat, or it could indicate food poisoning. Visit urgent care for a clear diagnosis.

Weakness and fatigue

Food poisoning can have a major effect on your energy levels – it can zap them and make you feel more tired than usual.

The effects of food poisoning can vary from person to person, even if everyone is exposed to the same contaminated foods. It really depends on how much of the germs each person consumed and how sensitive their bodies are to it.

If you think you might have food poisoning, don’t hesitate to visit a GoHealth Urgent Care center near you. We regularly treat patients dealing with the effects of food poisoning.