Should I Go to Urgent Care for Food Poisoning?

Should I Go to Urgent Care for Food Poisoning?

Food poisoning can hit quickly and severely. Suddenly, you’re knocked down with nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea. But what causes foodborne illnesses, and when should you go to an urgent care when it strikes?

What Is Food Poisoning?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that approximately 1 in 6 Americans contracts food poisoning each year.

Foodborne illness occurs when you eat or handle contaminated food. Uncooked or improperly prepared food is the most common cause. Food items like meat, shellfish, eggs, dairy products, fruits, or vegetables can become contaminated with bacteria, viruses, toxins or parasites due to improper cooking, storage or handling.

Different viruses, bacteria, toxins or parasites cause different types of food poisoning.

Examples include the following:

• Clostridium botulinum from improperly canned foods at home and homemade infused oils
• Cryptosporidium from unpasteurized milk or apple cider, shellfish or raw meat
• E. coli from under-cooked beef or unpasteurized juices
• Giardia from raw produce grown in contaminated soil or undercooked meats like pork and lamb
• Listeria from unpasteurized milk or contaminated deli meats
• Norovirus from under-cooked shellfish
• Rotavirus from contaminated salads or shellfish
• Salmonella from under-cooked poultry or raw eggs
• Staphylococcus enterotoxin from contaminated bakery or dairy products

What Are the Symptoms of Food Poisoning?

Symptom duration depends on the cause of your illness, but most cases are short-lived (even if it doesn’t feel like it). Mild cases typically last from a few hours to a couple of days, while some rare infections may persist for up to a week. If you have a severe case of food poisoning or symptoms last longer than three days, visit an AdventHealth Centra Care urgent care center near you.

Mild food poisoning symptoms that can typically be managed at home include the following:

• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Mild fever or chills
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle aches
• Nausea
• Vomiting

However, if you’re experiencing more intense symptoms like the ones below, visit an urgent care center:

• Dehydration (dry mouth, dizziness, low urine output)
• Diarrhea or vomiting that lasts for more than two to three days
• Extreme stomach pain or cramps
• Fever above 101.5°F
• Inability to keep fluids down

In some severe cases, your symptoms may require emergency medical care.

If you’re experiencing more severe symptoms, call 911 or go to the ER:

• Blood in stool
• Blood in vomit
• Blurry or double vision
• Breathing issues
• High fever above 102°F
• Inability to keep any fluids down due to constant vomiting
• Loss of consciousness
• Muscle weakness or paralysis
• Severe abdominal pain
• Signs of severe dehydration, including confusion, fainting, rapid heartbeat and sunken eyes

Treatment for Food Poisoning

In most instances, mild food poisoning symptoms can be treated at home.

You can treat food poisoning from home by:

• Drinking water and replenishing electrolytes
• Eating light foods like saltine crackers, broth and toast
• Getting lots of rest
• Taking over-the-counter medications to help with symptoms like stomach cramps

In cases where food poisoning symptoms are more moderate and include a higher fever and signs of dehydration, your best bet is to visit an AdventHealth Centra Care urgent care center for food poisoning treatment, which may include:

• Diagnostic tests, including blood and stool tests, to identify which bacteria, parasite or virus is causing your food poisoning
• Evaluation of your food poisoning symptoms and their severity
• Oral fluids for hydration to help replace lost fluids.
• Prescriptions for antibiotics or antiparasitic medications, as well as over-the-counter meds as needed

When to Visit Urgent Care for Food Poisoning

When experiencing moderate food poisoning symptoms, urgent care centers like our AdventHealth Centra Care clinics can evaluate your symptoms, help prevent dehydration and determine if antibiotics or IV fluids are necessary.

Urgent care services can help you get quick relief from mild to moderate food poisoning symptoms lasting for more than 24 to 48 hours, such as:

• Inability to stay hydrated despite at-home care
• Persistent mild fever of 101.5° F or over
• Persistent mild stomach pain
• Needing a diagnosis to confirm whether you have foodborne bacteria, a parasite or a virus
• Signs of dehydration
• Vomiting consistently for more than two days

What to Expect During Your Urgent Care Visit

When you visit your local AdventHealth Centra Care for food poisoning treatment, there are a few steps you will follow to help ensure you get the care you need:

1. You can either walk right in to your nearest AdventHealth Centra Care location or let us know you’re coming by making an appointment online.
2. Upon arrival, check in with the front desk attendant to let them know you’re there and fill out any necessary paperwork.
3. Be prepared to tell your doctor about the food poisoning symptoms you’ve been experiencing and their severity.
4. Your doctor will conduct a quick health evaluation that may include a hydration status check and stool or blood testing.
5. Once your doctor has identified the bacteria or virus causing your symptoms, they’ll provide you with a treatment plan, which may include drinking fluids, prescription or over-the-counter medications and instructions for rest and recovery at home.

When to Seek Care Based on Symptom Onset

Certain contaminants take longer to affect you than others. The table below can help you identify what you might have and when you should visit an urgent care center.

Food Poisoning Recovery and Hydration Tips

When recovering from food poisoning, the most important thing to focus on is staying hydrated. Dehydration will make you feel worse and can lead to other health problems like kidney and heart issues, gastrointestinal problems and even seizures.

To ensure you or a loved one recovers from food poisoning quickly, make sure to:

• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, soda, greasy foods and dairy until symptoms subside
• Don't prepare foods or beverages for other people until you've been symptom-free for at least 48 hours
• Get plenty of rest
• Prioritize rehydration by drinking water, broth or sports drinks with electrolytes
• Watch for worsening or returning symptoms that may require medical attention

When to Resume Normal Eating

Food poisoning hits fast and hard. But you’ll likely start to feel better within 24 to 48 hours. Once you can stomach more than liquids and saltines, try introducing lean protein or fruits and veggies. When you do get your appetite back, go ahead and eat, but stick to lighter foods and smaller portion sizes until you’re confident you won’t get sick.

Keep in mind, you should also avoid food or drinks that could exacerbate food poisoning symptoms for at least a week, such as:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Dairy products
• Greasy and fatty fried foods
• High-fiber foods and supplements
• Spicy foods
• Sugary foods and drinks

Food Preparation, Cooking and Storage Tips to Avoid Foodborne Illness

Preventing food poisoning starts before your first bite. Proper storage, thawing and cooking methods make all the difference when it comes to protecting yourself and your loved ones from food poisoning at home. Learn more about the dangers of uncooked food.

Safe Food Handling Guidelines

Quick Food Poisoning Safety Tips

• Wash your hands before, during and after preparing food, as well as before eating or after handling anything that may be contaminated with a virus or bacteria that could pass to others through food.
• Use separate cutting boards and utensils for meats and vegetables to prevent cross-contamination.
• When cooking, refer to a list of cooking temperature charts and use a food thermometer to ensure you reach the minimum safe temperatures.
• Refrigerate or freeze leftovers in containers within two hours of cooking.
• When in doubt, throw it out.

Get Food Poisoning Treatment at Urgent Care

If you experience food poisoning, don’t worry — it’s common and usually improves with rest and hydration, though your local urgent care center can provide treatment if needed. Our team at AdventHealth Centra Care is here to help you recover quickly and safely. Whether you’re not sure if it’s food poisoning or something else, our board-certified providers can help you feel better fast.

Reserve your spot online or walk into an AdventHealth Centra Care location near you.