Picture this—you went out with your friends for a fun dinner together yesterday at a new place and had a great time, but today you are starting to feel weird. Your stomach hurts, you start to experience some GI symptoms and you are nauseous.

While it could be a run-of-the-mill stomach bug, chances are that you contracted some type of food poisoning at that new restaurant. Food poisoning can occur from many different pathogens and bacteria, including salmonella.

If you are not feeling well and are trying to figure out why, our AFC Urgent Care Fountain City team explains more about salmonella infections below, so read on to learn more.

Why Can Food Make You Sick?

Salmonella and other types of harmful bacteria can be found on food if it is not prepared properly. Salmonella in particular often lives in the digestive tracts of animals. This means that if you don’t cook your meat or eggs all the way through, you could be ingesting the bacteria that way.

Since salmonella can live in animals, it can be found in animal feces, too. If you don’t wash your produce, you are opening yourself up to a potential infection. Once you contract the bacteria, you can expect to feel sick in a few hours or even after a couple of days.

5 Classic Salmonella Symptoms

• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Fever
• Nausea
• Headache

How Can I Recover Quickly From Salmonella?

Even though you probably feel pretty crummy right now, we have good news for you! The majority of people overcome their infections in a few days on their own without medical intervention. Your goal during this time will be just to lie low and get as much rest as you can. You also need to be drinking water throughout the day, as having diarrhea can dehydrate you quickly.

If your symptoms don’t improve after a week or you are in a higher risk category like being over the age of 65 or having a chronic medical condition, come see us. We can evaluate your symptoms and help determine next steps. Some salmonella infections can become severe or cause dangerous levels of dehydration, but we will work hard to help you make a full recovery.

Symptoms That Necessitate a Doctor’s Visit

• Symptoms last more than a few days
• Bloody stools
• A high-grade fever of 102 degrees or higher that won’t go away
• Severe dehydration

Stomach issues can be really frustrating. Come see us at AFC Urgent Care Fountain City for a diagnosis.