Food poisoning

Food poisoning

Food poisoning is rarely serious and usually gets better within a week. You can normally treat yourself or your child at home.

Symptoms of food poisoning include:

• feeling sick (nausea)


• diarrhoea


• being sick (vomiting)


• stomach cramps


• a high temperature of 38C or above


• feeling generally unwell – such as feeling tired or having aches and chills

The symptoms usually start within a few days of eating the food that caused the infection.

Sometimes they start after a few hours or not for a few weeks.

How to treat food poisoning yourself

You can usually treat yourself or your child at home.

The symptoms usually pass within a week.

The most important thing is to have lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration.

Read about how to treat diarrhoea and vomiting

Diarrhoea and sickness

Stay off school or work until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days.

Food poisoning is caused by eating something that has been contaminated with germs.

This can happen if food:

• is not cooked or reheated thoroughly


• is not stored correctly – for example, it's not been frozen or chilled


• is left out for too long


• is handled by someone who's ill or has not washed their hands


• is eaten after its "use by" date

Any type of food can cause food poisoning.

Read tips to avoid food poisoning