Abdominal Pain
Though not exclusive to food poisoning, food poisoning usually causes abdominal pain, when it does, the pain usually follows after food ingestion and may occur in combination with diarrhea and vomiting. The pain and cramping that occurs can be as a result of the body’s compensatory mechanism to get rid of the source of infection, the muscles of the stomach rapidly contract to get the food off the system or as result of the toxins acting on the mucosa of the stomach which leads to inflammation and is characterized by pain.
Fever
Though not a common presentation of food poisoning, fever occurs in food poisoning as a result of the action of the toxins on the central nervous system. The body temperature rises above 38.8oC. The fever is also another means by which the body seeks to compensate by making the internal body temperature higher and kill the toxin in the process. [5] When fever occurs in combination with any of the symptoms above, there’s a high likelihood that it is as a result of food poisoning.
Dehydration
Due to fluid loss from vomiting and diarrhea (especially if it is non-infective), patients with food poisoning can become dehydrated which can lead to hypovolemic shock. When this occurs it is necessary to present at the hospital to initiate the rehydration process and prevent its progression.