Which symptom is NOT typically associated with S. aureus food poisoning?

Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning is characterized by a rapid onset of gastrointestinal symptoms due to preformed enterotoxins produced by the bacteria. The typical symptoms following ingestion of contaminated food include vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea. These symptoms can appear quite abruptly, usually within a few hours after consumption of the toxin.

Fever is not a typical symptom associated with S. aureus food poisoning. This is primarily due to the nature of the illness being attributed to the ingestion of toxins rather than an active infection caused by live bacteria. In cases of food poisoning caused by other pathogens, such as Salmonella or Campylobacter, fever may be common as a response to an ongoing infection. However, in the case of S. aureus, the body does not typically mount the same immune response to induce fever because the illness is caused by the effects of the toxins rather than a bacterial infection. Thus, fever is an atypical symptom in this specific context.