Food Poisoning Treatment Clinic in Rockville, MD

There are over 250 different bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause what is known as food poisoning or stomach flu. These are the most common types:

• E. coli bacteria – This is most often found in undercooked meat or contaminated vegetables.

• Salmonella bacteria are usually associated with raw or undercooked chicken and eggs, pork and beef, spoiled or past due milk and dairy products, and produce.

• Listeria bacteria – Can be very dangerous to infants, pregnant women, or anyone who is immunocompromised. Usually found on uncooked or undercooked meat and vegetables, and some processed foods like deli meat.

• Norovirus – Can be found on any food that has been handled by someone who doesn’t practice proper food safety measures.

• Botulism bacteria – Most frequently associated with canned or cured foods like vegetables, fruits, and meats. The bacteria produce a neurotoxin that can be very dangerous.

• Campylobacter – Another bacterium commonly found on poultry and poultry products. Campylobacter is very frequently seen as causing food poisoning in the US and Europe.

• Shigella bacteria – Spread by vegetables handled by food preparers who don’t use proper food safety hygiene.

The symptoms depend on the cause of the food poisoning. Most people who become ill from foodborne pathogens experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. These gastrointestinal symptoms come on suddenly and can range from mild discomfort to severe sickness. These symptoms can last for just a few hours or a few days. If a person has been ill with food poisoning for more than a few days, or if they have been vomiting frequently or having severe, prolonged, or bloody diarrhea, they should seek medical care. It is very easy to become dehydrated from food poisoning, and this can be easily treated.

Some types of food poisoning also have more serious symptoms.

• Listeria can be extremely dangerous in a pregnant woman and can cause miscarriage, premature labor, stillbirth, or pass the infection on to the infant.

• Botulism can cause paralysis, body aches and weakness, and even death.

• Campylobacter infections can cause, in addition to gastrointestinal symptoms, fever, joint pain, and Guillain-Barré syndrome (which is severe muscle weakness).

If any of these more severe symptoms appear, medical attention is needed. Physicians Now Urgent Care in Rockville, MD, can treat you for any food poisoning-related symptoms, from helping manage your digestive system distress, getting you rehydrated, identifying serious infections, and beginning appropriate treatment.

Most cases of food poisoning are related to improper cleaning, preparation, undercooking, or storage of food.

Food poisoning can be prevented by following food safety and using proper hygiene practices, such as:

• Wash hands well before and while preparing food.

• Always wash produce well.

• Store food properly. Keep all raw food on a lower level than any cooked food in a refrigerator. Keep food in a sealed container or safely wrapped.

• Have separate cutting boards for meats, poultry, and vegetables.

• Never use the same knife for different foods without washing it in between.

• Frozen food should be thawed safely, in the refrigerator, in cold or running water, or in a microwave. Do not thaw meat at room temperature. Once the meat is thawed, do not re-freeze it.

• Do not consume raw or undercooked meat. When cooking meat, use a meat thermometer to make sure the food is cooked to a safe temperature.

• Avoid unpasteurized cheese, milk, and dairy products. Pasteurization heats the food during processing to a temperature that kills dangerous bacteria.

• Don’t keep prepared food at room temperature for longer than two hours.
• Store hot foods above 140 degrees F.

• Cold foods must be stored below 40 degrees F.

• If eating leftover food, make sure it was stored at a safe temperature and re-heated only once.

• Do not eat food that is past its expiry date or that has been stored for too long after cooking.

Urgent care clinics can treat food poisoning, especially when symptoms are mild to moderate. They are equipped to handle common foodborne illnesses such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. Urgent care providers can quickly assess your symptoms and determine the appropriate treatment, which may include rehydration, medications to control nausea and diarrhea, and rest. They can also offer basic lab tests to identify the cause of the illness if needed.

For more severe symptoms, such as high fever, blood in stool, or prolonged vomiting, urgent care may refer you to a hospital or specialist for further evaluation. However, most cases of food poisoning can be effectively managed at an urgent care clinic, where you can receive timely relief without the long wait times associated with emergency rooms.

At Physicians Now Urgent Care in Rockville, MD, we provide compassionate and efficient care for food poisoning. Dr. Chinedum Olisemeka, DO, and our experienced team are here to assess your condition and offer the necessary treatments to help you recover quickly and comfortably.

With over 21 years of experience, Dr. Chinedum Olisemeka, DO, offers a patient-centered approach to food poisoning treatment at Physicians Now Urgent Care in Rockville, MD. Dr. Olisemeka begins by thoroughly assessing each patient’s symptoms to ensure a clear understanding of their condition. He then provides personalized care and advice on managing symptoms at home. His goal is to relieve discomfort quickly while ensuring the patient’s safety and well-being.

Dr. Olisemeka’s compassionate care extends beyond symptom treatment. He takes the time to listen to each patient’s concerns, explaining the nature of food poisoning and the expected recovery process. With his expertise, patients feel confident that they are receiving the best care possible. At Physicians Now Urgent Care, Dr. Olisemeka and his team prioritize both effective treatment and a supportive environment, ensuring a comfortable and speedy recovery for all food poisoning patients.

Contact us today for more information. Our urgent care is conveniently located at 15215 Shady Grove Rd., Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850. We serve patients from Rockville MD, Travilah MD, Lone Oak MD, Colesville Park MD, Redland MD, Darnestown MD, Anscroft MD, and Wheaton-Glenmont MD.