Food poisoning is a common illness that many suffer from, especially around the holiday season. Although commonly thought to be contagious, food poisoning occurs when you consume contaminated food and is not contagious. Food poisoning can cause a variety of harmful and long lasting symptoms which is why it is important to idetnify the symptoms early to help prevent severe illness from developing. Learn more about the causes and symptoms of food poisoning. Visit AFC Urgent Care Aurora Saddle Rock today for same-day illness treatment without an appointment.
What Causes Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is caused by an infection that occurs due to eating contaminated food. Depending on the source of contamination, food poisoning can either be caused by a viral infection or a bacterial infection. The source of contamination and type of infection that occurs may impact your course of treatment.
Food can become contaminated many different ways. Often times, viral illnesses cause food poisoning due to improper cooking of an animal product which fails to kill any viruses present in the food prior to eating. Improper food storage or eating expired foods can lead to food poisioning from bacteria exposure. Due to the fact that food poisoning is not caused by a contagious infection, it is easy to prevent with a few food safety rules:
- Always follow the storage instructions and expiration dates on food packaging
- Smell your food before cooking or eating it, and don’t eat it if it smells off
- Always cook meats using a meat thermometer to ensure they are cooked through
Symptoms Of Food Poisoning
If you do find yourself with food poisoning, the symptoms are known to be unpleasant. Food poisoning symptoms often occur 1-3 days after eating contaminated food, however, it can also occur up to 30 days after eating contaminated food in rare cases. Symptoms usually resolve within 48 hours of appearing, however, they can last much longer depending on the kind of virus or bacteria you were exposed to.
Common symptoms of food poisoning include:
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Vomitting
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle Aches
- Chills
- Fever
- Headaches
Food Poisoning Treatment At Urgent Care
Luckily, food poisoning rare requires medical intervention. For most healthy adults, the symptoms can be managed at home. It is important to stay hydrated when you have food poisoning, as dehydration can quickly occur and lead to further illness. Dehydration can usually be managed at home with electrolytes, however for children, the elderly or other at-risk populations it may require medical care to treat.
Food poisoning treatment usually requires patience as your body has to fight off the virus on it’s own over time. In order to manage the uncomfortable symptoms, over-the-counter medications can be used to reduce neusea and fevers. It is important not to eat if you’re feeling unwell, as eating could worsen symptoms by upsetting your stomach. If you have severe symptoms, or your symptoms last more than a few days, you should seek immediate medical care for a medical diagnosis and treatment.
Visit AFC Urgent Care Aurora Saddle Rock For Walk-In Illness Treatment In Aurora, CO
If you’re suffering from food poisoning symptoms, AFC Urgent Care Aurora Saddle Rock is here to help. Our state-of-the-art medical facility is equipped with a laboratory on-site which allows our medical staff to accurately diagnose the cause of your symptoms at the time of your visit. Our board-certified medical staff will review your test results and help create a personalized care plan to ensure you have a swift recovery.
AFC Urgent Care Saddle Rock offers same-day illness diagnosis and treatment on a walk-in basis. We never require an appointment, simply walk into our clinic or pre-register your visit online. We accept most medical insurance plans and offer affordable treatment options. If you’re experiencing illness symptoms, visit AFC Urgent Care Aurora Saddle Rock for comprehensive medical care available 7 days a week. For additional information regarding our clinic, contact us directly by calling (303) 529-3300.
