1. Initial or major signs and symptoms of upper gastrointestinal tract (nausea, vomiting)

1/2 hour

Epigastric pain, vomiting, excessive salivation, perspiration, tremors, contraction of the pupils, lack of muscular coordination

Blood, urine

Carbamates

< 30 minutes

Burning, burning pain, numbness around the lips, dizziness, difficulty in walking, respiratory paralysis

Gastric lavage

Saxitoxin and other toxins producing Paralytic Molluscum poisoning (IPM)

< 1 h

Nausea, vomit, strange taste or burning feeling in the mouth

Vomit, urine, blood, stool

Antimony, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, zinc, tin

< 1 h

Nausea, vomit, retching, diarrhea, abdominal pain

Vomit

Acute-onset gastroenteritis

1 to 2 h

Nausea, vomiting, cyanosis, headache, dizziness, dyspnea, tremors, weakness, loss of consciousness

Blood

Nitrites

1 to 6 hours

(average of

2 to 4 hours)

Nausea, vomiting, retching, diarrhea, abdominal pain, prostration

Vomit, stool

Nasal swab, swab of the cutaneous lesion

Staphylococcus aureus and its enterotoxins, Bacillus cereus

6 to 24 hours

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, thirst, dilated pupils, collapse, and coma

Urine, blood, vomit (SGPT and SGOT enzyme tests)

Amanita phalloides (mycotoxins)

2. Initial or major signs and symptoms of the lower gastrointestinal tract (abdominal cramps and diarrheal diseases)

8 to 22 hours (average of 10 to 12 hours)

Abdominal cramps, diarrhea

Stool

Stool, rectal swab

Clostridium perfringens, Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus faecalis

12 to 72 h (average of 18 to 36 hours)

Abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, chills, discomfort

Stool, rectal swab

Stool, rectal swab

Salmonella, E. coli, Arizona, Shigella

1.5 to 3 days

Diarrhea, fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, possible respiratory symptoms

Stool

Stool

Pathogenic Escherichieae and other Enterobacteriaceae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Yersinia enterocolitica, Campiloba c ter spp., Aeromonas, Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1 to 5 days

Prolonged diarrhea (rice water stools), vomiting, abdominal pains, dehydration, collapse, acidosis

Stool, rectal swab

Stool, rectal swab

Vibrio cholerae

1 to 12 days

Prolonged diarrhea, abdominal pain, anorexia, light fever

Stool, intestinal biopsy

Cryptosporidium

1 to 6 weeks

Mucoid diarrhea (fatty stool), abdominal pain, weight loss

Stool

Stool

Giardia lamblia

1 to several weeks (average, 3 to 4 weeks)

Abdominal pain, diarrhea with mucus and blood, constipation, headache, somnolence, ulcers. Variable: often asymptomatic

Stool

Stool

Entamoeba histolytica

1 to 6 h

Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, anorexia, weight loss, confusion

Blood, urine, stool, gastric washing

Chlorinated hydrocarbons

12 to 72 h

Vertigo, double or blurred vision, loss of papillary reflex, difficulty swallowing, speaking and breathing, dryness of the mouth, weakness, respiratory paralysis

Blood, stool

Clostridium botulinum and its neurotoxins

>72 h

Hypoesthesia, weakness in the legs, spastic paralysis, deterioration of vision, blindness, coma

Urine, blood, stool, hair

Organic mercury

>72 h

Gastroenteritis, pain in the legs, difficulty walking, limpness in feet and wrist

Tissue from gastrocnemius muscle (for biopsy)

Triorthocresyl phosphate

3. Allergic signs and symptoms (facial pruritis and/or flushing)

<1 h

Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomit, peppery taste, burning in the throat, facial flushing and swelling, stomach pains, pruritis

Vomit

Histamine

<1 h

Hypoesthesia around the mouth, ringing in the ears, flushing, dizziness, headache, nausea

Blood

Monosodium glutamate

<1 h

Redness, hot flashes, pruritus, abdominal pain, swelling of face and knees

Blood

Niacin

4. Signs and symptoms of generalized infection (fever, chills, malaise, prostration, pains and/or swelling of the lymph nodes)

4 to 28 days (average term 9 days)

Gastroenteritis, fever, edema around eyes, sweating, muscle pain, chills, prostration, shortness of breath

Serum, muscle tissue (for biopsy)

Trichinella spiralis

7 to 28 days (average 14 days)

Malaise, headache, fever, cough, nausea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, chills, rose spots, presence of blood in stool

Stool, blood, urine

Stool, rectal swab

Salmonella typhi

7 to 21 days

Fever, chills, sweating, malaise, headache, weight loss

Blood

Brucella spp.

3 to 70 days

Fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, abortion, meningitis, encephalitis, sepsis

Blood, urine

Lysteria monocytogenes

15 to 50 days

Fever, discomfort, anorexia, abdominal pain, dark urine, jaundice, pigmented feces

Stool, urine, blood

Viral hepatitis A

15 to 65 days

Fever, discomfort, anorexia, abdominal pain, dark urine, jaundice, pigmented feces

Stool, urine, blood

Viral hepatitis E

10 to 13 days

Fever, headache, myralgia, skin rash

Serum (IgG and IgM), tissue from lymph node (for biopsy)

Toxoplasma gondii

8 to 14 weeks

Minor discomfort, weight loss

Stool

Taenia spp.