Food poisoning is a common condition caused by consuming contaminated food or beverages. Symptoms can be intense and often include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and a fever. Treating food poisoning effectively involves managing symptoms, staying hydrated, and allowing the body to recover while avoiding foods that might aggravate the condition. In severe cases, medical attention may be necessary to address dehydration or infections. Understanding how to treat food poisoning promptly can help alleviate discomfort and prevent complications. If you’re experiencing symptoms of food poisoning, visit AFC Urgent Care Southcenter. Our board-certified medical providers are available to treat food poisoning symptoms Monday through Saturday!
What Causes Food Poisoning?
Food poisoning is caused by consuming food or drinks contaminated with harmful microorganisms, toxins, or chemicals. The most common culprits are bacteria like “Salmonella,” “E.coli,” and “Listeria,” as well as viruses such as norovirus. These pathogens can contaminate food during processing, handling, or storage if proper hygiene and safety practices are not followed. Additionally, consuming undercooked meats, unwashed produce, raw shellfish, or foods past their expiration date can increase the risk of foodborne illness.
Treatment for Food Poisoning
Food poisoning often causes severe symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, a fever, stomach cramping, and more. There is no medication that you can use to treat food poisoning. Instead, treating food poisoning involves managing symptoms, staying hydrated, and allowing the body to recover on its own over time. The most important step is to replace lost fluids and electrolytes by sipping water, clear broths, or oral rehydration solutions. Avoiding caffeine and alcohol is also important as these substances can cause more gastrointestinal upset and are dehydrating. Rest is essential to help the body heal, and once you can tolerate food, stick to a bland diet like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (BRAT diet). Spicy, fatty, or dairy-based foods should also be avoided, as they aggravate symptoms.
While most cases of food poisoning resolve on their own with proper care, seeking medical attention is crucial if symptoms become severe or persistent. Signs such as high fever, blood in stool, continuous vomiting, severe dehydration, or symptoms lasting more than two days may indicate a more serious condition. Prompt treatment can prevent worsening symptoms, protect your long-term health, and ensure a quicker recovery.
How to Reduce Your Risk of Contracting Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is preventable with proper food preparation and storage. However, it is difficult to know if the food that you’re eating is contaminated - especially if you didn’t prepare it yourself. Reducing the risk of food poisoning requires proper food handling, preparation, and storage practices. When you’re preparing food, always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling food, and ensure that kitchen surfaces and utensils are clean. Avoid cross-contamination by separating raw meat, poultry, and seafood from ready-to-eat foods. Cook food to the appropriate temperatures to kill harmful bacteria, and use a food thermometer when necessary. If you’re eating at a restaurant, always order your meats well done to cook off any potential contaminants. Store perishable items in the refrigerator at or below 40°F (4°C) and avoid consuming expired foods.
Visit AFC Urgent Care Southcenter for Same-Day Urgent Care
If you’re experiencing food poisoning symptoms, AFC Urgent Care Southcenter is here to help. Our walk-in urgent clinic accepts walk-in patients. We maintain shorter wait times than other clinics in the area, making us a convenient option for patients in Kent, Tukwila, SeaTac, Southcenter, and Renton, WA. Our board-certified medical providers are trained to diagnose food poisoning symptoms and provide supportive care so that you can get on the road to recovery. Our clinic is open Monday through Saturday, and we accept most medical insurance plans - walk in today!
