Severe stomach cramps after eating an apple are abnormal. The cramping may be the result of fructose intolerance or food poisoning. Schedule an appointment with your doctor to determine the cause of your symptoms. If the abdominal pain subsides within a few hours, it is most likely related to fructose intolerance. Cramping from food poisoning will continue to increase in severity and will be accompanied with vomiting, diarrhea and nausea.
Fructose Intolerance
Fructose intolerance is a hereditary condition that occurs when your body doesn't produce the enzyme needed to break down the sugar in fruit, called fructose. Fructose is also used to sweeten beverages and baked goods. If you are fructose intolerant, your body will not absorb the sugar into the bloodstream, causing a drop in blood sugar. Abdominal cramping is common with this condition, accompanied by convulsions, jaundice, vomiting and sleepiness. This condition can cause liver failure if not treated by a doctor.
Food Poisoning
If the apple was contaminated with an infectious organism, you will develop food poisoning. Food poisoning occurs when you eat a food that is infected with bacteria, a virus, a toxin or a parasite. Contamination of the apple can occur during the growing, harvesting and preparation processes. Washing the skin of the apple with soap and hot water before eating it can reduce the risk of food poisoning. Food poisoning symptoms will form four to 36 hours after you eat the apple and can last for one to 10 days.
Allergy Consideration
Take into consideration anything else you may have eaten with the apple. For example, if you eat a caramel-covered apple, you may be experiencing an allergic reaction to one or more of the ingredients in caramel. The most common foods that cause an allergic reaction in 90 percent of people are wheat, milk, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, soy and fish, according to MayoClinic.com. An allergic reaction will cause other symptoms aside from just stomach cramping, such as rashes, sinus congestion and asthma.
Warning
If you develop vomiting for more than two days or diarrhea for more than three days, seek medical attention. If the pain in your stomach is so severe that you cannot function normally, call 911 immediately. Blood in your vomit or in your stool is a sign of a serious condition and needs to be evaluated by your doctor.
