Some toxins in fish may take only a few minutes to cause symptoms. Food poisoning is often suspected when several people become ill after eating the same food. The doctor will try to determine what is causing your illness by asking about your symptoms and the kind of food you ate just before you became ill. The doctor may ask for samples of the food you ate, bowel movements, or vomit. The samples can be tested in a lab to determine if the food was contaminated.
Treatment depends on the cause of the food poisoning.
Generally the doctor will recommend resting, following a specific diet, and drinking plenty of fluids. If you have botulism, the doctor will prescribe an antitoxin. Other types of food poisoning have no antidote. Antibiotics are usually not helpful in food poisoning. Medicine to stop vomiting and stomach cramping may be given.