- Food poisoning may be mistaken for cholera, acute bacillary dysentery and chemical (arsenic) poisoning. The differentiating points between cholera and food poisoning are given in Table1.
Table 1
Differential Points Between Cholera and Food Poisoning
| Cholera | Food poisoning | |
| Epidemiology | Occurs often in epidemic form associated with other cases in the neighborhood. Secondary cases occur. | Often a single group of persons who shared a common meal. No secondary cases. |
| Incubation | From a few hours up to 5 days. | 1–24 hours. |
| Onset | With purring. | With vomiting. |
| Nausea and retching | None. | Present. |
| Vomiting | Projectile, effortless, watery and continuous. | Often single, severe vomit mucus and blood streaked. |
| Stools | Copious rice watery, inoffensive. | Frequent, may contain mucus and blood, offensive. |
| Tenesmus | None. | Yes. |
| Abdominal tenderness | None. | Yes. |
| Dehydration | Very marked. | Distinct. |
| Muscular cramps | Constant and severe. | Less constant. |
| Surface temperature | Subnormal. | Often up to 100–102 deg F. |
| Headache | None. | Often. |
| Urine | Suppressed. | Seldom suppressed. |
| Blood | Leucocytosis. | Normal. |
