What Long-Term Effects Can Food Poisoning Have?

 Posted on January 14, 2025 in Food Poisoning

Food poisoning is often thought of as a short-term problem. When most people get food poisoning, they are expected to go through a very rough couple of days before recovering completely. Mild cases of food poisoning can clear up on their own within 12 to 24 hours. More serious cases can leave a person hospitalized for a week or more. The most severe cases, unfortunately, can have a long-term impact on a person’s health. Conditions like reactive arthritis can appear after a person has food poisoning. People who already had a weakened immune system or other serious health conditions are more likely to suffer permanent or long-term damage as a result of food poisoning. If you have been made ill by contaminated food, you should speak to a well-qualified Illinois food poisoning attorney. You may be entitled to compensation.

Possible Long-Term Health Complications From Food Poisoning 

A few of the possible long-term complications food poisoning might cause include: 

• Reactive arthritis - Reither’s Syndrome is a form of arthritis that primarily impacts younger men. If you notice lasting joint pain after having Campylobacter, Salmonella, or Shigella, you should be screened for this condition. 
• Kidney damage - A severe foodborne illness can damage a person’s kidneys. Kidney failure can occur during acute illness, and some people experience chronic kidney disease afterward. Hemolytic uremic syndrome sometimes develops during bouts of severe illness and causes lasting damage.
• Chronic bowel disease - Food poisoning affects a person’s digestive system. Some people develop inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome, which can cause considerable discomfort and embarrassment for sufferers. 
• Neurological damage - Food poisoning can sometimes lead to neurological damage. If you experienced neurological symptoms during your acute illness, you should be screened for lasting brain damage and neurological harm. Botulism and shellfish-borne toxins are most likely to lead to this type of harm. 

It is important to know whether you have suffered any long-term damage from your foodborne illness. The symptoms caused by these long-term complications may initially seem unrelated to your food poisoning. Few would automatically make the connection between a bout of food poisoning and joint pain that comes on weeks later caused by reactive arthritis. It is important to keep attending follow-up appointments and report any new or unusual symptoms to your healthcare provider.

Contact an Illinois Food Poisoning Attorney 

Newland & Newland, LLP is committed to helping people harmed by food poisoning recover compensation. Our experienced Illinois food poisoning lawyers will do all we can to ensure you are compensated for any long-term effects you are experiencing. Contact us at 312-981-0409 for a complimentary consultation.