With Halloween around the corner, food poisoning may ramp up in our communities. Whether you’re planning to host a Halloween party, or your kids are getting ready to go trick or treating, protect your family and friends by educating yourself on how to prevent foodborne illness.
Anyone can experience food poisoning– even healthy children and adults. Some groups of people are at a greater risk, including young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems or chronic illness. When we are affected by foodborne illness, we may ask ourselves… How long does food poisoning last? If you’re experiencing persistent food poisoning symptoms, visit the walk-in clinic at AFC Urgent Care Stoneham for proper treatment.
What are Common Food Poisoning Symptoms?
Food poisoning symptoms can vary based on the contaminate that’s consumed. The symptoms can be anywhere from mild to severe, and can take hours or days to start being noticeable. Regardless of the severity, foodborne illness is uncomfortable and often requires medical treatment.
Common symptoms may include a combination of:
- Nausea
- Stomach pain or cramping
- Vomiting
- Watery diarrhea
- Headache
- Fever
How Long Do Food Poisoning Symptoms Last?
In most cases, food poisoning will pass within 12 to 48 hours. However, if you have a weakened immune system, or you are suffering severe symptoms, then your illness could last for over 10 days. On rare occasions, food poisoning symptoms can take days to notice, so you can’t always expect an immediate reaction if you possibly consumed contaminated food.
Sometimes, food poisoning may require medical treatment and antibiotics. If your symptoms persist, visiting the urgent care clinic at AFC Stoneham would provide you with much needed relief. Everyone’s severity of illness varies based on several factors, including how strong your overall health and wellness is.
How Can Food Poisoning Be Treated?
Treatment of food poisoning may include replacement of lost fluids. In serious cases of food poisoning, some patients may lose a lot of fluids due to diarrhea or vomiting. Treatment may involve receiving salts and fluids to prevent any further dehydration.
Additionally, your medical provider may prescribe antibiotics if you have a certain strain of bacterial food poisoning. The sooner you recieve treatment, the quicker your illness will pass. However, antibiotics do not help food poisoning caused by viruses. By visiting the clinic at AFC Urgent Care Stoneham, you will be able to understand what type of foodborne illness you’re experiencing with a proper and accurate diagnosis.
General Illness Treatment at AFC Urgent Care Stoneham
If your food poisoning symptoms last more than two days, or you are in a high-risk group, you should walk-in or contact us at AFC Urgent Care Stoneham to receive food poisoning treatment. Professional medical care is beneficial to prevent any serious illnesses from occurring, allowing you to get back to feeling good.
Whether you’re experiencing food poisoning symptoms and require treatment, or simply want to learn more about preventative practices you can take before Halloween, come visit us! You can walk-in to the clinic any day of the week. Our team will provide you with comprehensive, affordable urgent care services. If you have any additional questions or concerns, call us today at (781) 279-4000.
