Causes and Symptons

Organisms that can bug you.

Salmonella

Can come from a variety of sources, such as raw meat, milk, eggs, poultry, carriers, pets, rodents, terrapins, sewage/water.  The onset period is 6 to 72 hours, usually 12 to 36 hours.  The symptons are abdominal pain and diarrhoea, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. Symptoms last a day or less and are usually mild. Can be more serious in older or debilitated people.

Campylobacter

Can come from raw poultry, meat, unpasterised milk, pets and soil.  The onset period is usually 2 to 5 days after comsumption although is can be from 1 to 11 days.  Symptons include diarrhoea, abdominal crampling, fever and sometimes bloody stools.  Lasts 7 to 10 days.

Clostridium perfringens

Comes from animal and human excreta, soil, dust, insects and raw meat.  Onset is 8 to 22 hours, usually 12 to 18 hours.  Symptons include abdominal pain and diarrhoea, and sometimes nausea and vomiting (rarely). Symptoms last a day or less and are usually mild. Can be more serious in older or debilitated people.

Staphylococcus aureus

Normally from human nose, mouth, skin, boils and cuts. Raw milk from cows or goats with mastitis.  Onset is 1 to 7 hours.  Sympton include diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, cramps, and prostration. Lasts 48hours, rarely fatal.

Bacillus cereus

Normal comes from cereals, especially rice, dust and soil.  Onset it usually 1 to 5 hours.  The symptons include vomiting. Abdominal pain and some diarrhoea (12 to 24hrs).

Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Main cause is seafood.  Onset is 2 to 48 hours, usually 12 to 18 hours.  Symptons include

diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain and dehydration (1 to 7 days).

Escherichia coli VTEC

Main causes are human sewage/water, raw meat, contact with infected animals.  Onset is 1 to 6 days.  Main symptons are abdominal pain, fever, diarrhoea and vomiting (1 to 5 days). The main symptom is diarrhoea. In some cases, particularly in children under the age of 6 and in the elderly, infection can lead to diarrhoea, which may be bloody and severe, kidney failure, and sometimes death.

Listeria monocytogenes

Main causes are soft cheese, unpasturised milk, imported seafood products, frozen cooked crabmeat, cooked shrimp, and cooked surimi. The Listeria bacteria resist heat, salt, nitrite, and acidity better than many other micro-organisms. They survive and grow at low temperatures.  Onset can be from 7 to 30 days after eating, but most symptoms have been reported 48-72 hours after consumption of contaminated food.  Symptons can include fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Primarily affects pregnant women and their foetuses, newborns, the elderly, people with cancer, and those with impaired immune systems. Can cause foetal and infant death.

Shigella

Main causes can be milk, dairy products, poultry, and water.  Onset is usually 1 to 7 days.  Symptons can include abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, fever, sometimes vomiting, and blood, pus, or mucus in stool.

Giardia lamblia

Most frequently associated with consumption of contaminated water.  Onset can be 2 to 25 days.  Symptons include sudden onset of explosive watery stools, abdominal cramps, anorexia, nausea and vomiting. Especially infects hikers, children, travellers, and institutionalised patients.

This is not an exhaustive list.  Please always seek medicial attention.