Food poisoning can occur due to a variety of different circumstances, including improperly stored food, expired food, or bacterial growth on food. Regardless of the cause, food poisoning can lead to some very unpleasant symptoms. Most commonly, food poisoning leads to gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea as your body attempts to purge the food from your system. These symptoms can lead to complications, including severe dehydration, without proper management. Keep reading to learn more about common food poisoning symptoms and treatment options.
If you’re feeling under the weather and think you may have food poisoning, AFC Urgent Care North Bergen is available to help. Our walk-in clinic offers same-day care for minor conditions, including food poisoning and dehydration care. Simply walk into the clinic when it’s convenient, or schedule your visit in advance below.
What Causes Food Poisoning
Food poisoning occurs when you ingest spoiled food. A few common circumstances that can lead to food poisoning include eating food after its expiration date, food that was not properly kept refrigerated, or keeping leftovers for too long. Eating food after its expiration date can lead to food poisoning due to the growth of bacteria. Similarly, not properly washing your fruits and vegetables or eating meat that has been exposed to a virus and not properly cooked through can lead to cases of food poisoning.
Symptoms of Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is generally a very identifiable illness. Symptoms of food poisoning can begin as early as a few hours after you eat something that is contaminated. Although in some cases, symptoms may take a few days to appear. Symptoms are typically short-lived and often resolve on their own within 24 hours. Food poisoning usually only impacts the stomach and can lead to symptoms including:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Body aches
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
Treatment Options
If you find yourself experiencing symptoms of food poisoning, don’t panic. Most cases only last a day or two. Your body is usually able to purge contaminated food effectively without further treatment. Although in some cases, food poisoning can lead to complications such as dehydration.
When your body is purging, you lose water that your body needs to function. It can be difficult to replenish your body with fluids if you’re nauseous or actively vomiting, which can lead to dehydration. If you experience symptoms like dizziness, loss of consciousness, or extreme confusion, you may require medical care to help rehydrate your body. In most cases, food poisoning will resolve on its own within a day. Just try to get plenty of rest and stay as hydrated as possible without causing further irritation to your stomach.
Visit AFC North Bergen for Walk-In Treatment for Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is a common condition, and it can lead to a variety of unpleasant symptoms. One common complication of food poisoning is dehydration. If you’re experiencing symptoms of food poisoning and are worried you may be experiencing severe dehydration, you may need to seek medical care. At AFC Urgent Care North Bergen, our walk-in clinic offers same-day care for cases of food poisoning and dehydration. Our board-certified medical staff is available 7 days a week to provide supportive care and ensure you get on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.
Our walk-in clinic is available to provide prompt, same-day care to patients near North Bergen, NJ, 7 days a week. We don’t require patients to schedule their visit in advance; simply walk in when it’s convenient. We work with most medical insurance plans and offer affordable rates for self-paying patients. For more information, walk into the clinic or give us a call at (201) 588-1300.
