NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS

Dr. Tassia Samona, a Henry Ford West Bloomfield physician, will be located
at the practice of Lisa Elconin, M.D., Amy Goldfaden, M.D., Laurie Katz, M.D.,
William Jason Sulaka, M.D., and Maribeth Knight, D.O. who are on staff at
Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital.

These physicians specialize in Internal Medicine with the goal of preventing
and managing chronic diseases.

Call 248-406-1000 to schedule an appointment.

Tassia Mekani Samona, M.D.
Internal Medicine
5777 W. Maple Rd., Suite 140
West Bloomfield, MI 48322

To learn more about our physicians, visit henryford.com and click on Doctors.

Ask Dr. Vieder

If I ate something bad, how long would it take before I’d feel the symptoms and how would I know if its food poisoning?

The term food poisoning is oftentimes misused and applied to a broad range of gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses. However, generally speaking if food that you have eaten was tainted
with a virus, bacteria or parasite, the symptoms often begin within an hour of ingestion. Most often, this type of gastrointestinal illness is self-limited and will spontaneously resolve
once your immune system gets to work on the infecting agent. Tolerating and keeping up with the symptoms is usually the challenge.

How can I tell the difference between food poisoning and a stomach bug or an upset stomach or food allergy?

It can be very challenging to differentiate the cause of stomach upset initially. Generally speaking, food borne illnesses come on very quickly after eating, are very intense for a
short period of time and then quickly resolve. More signifi cant viral, bacterial or parasitic GI illnesses often come on gradually and may last for several days. GI infections have many
similar symptoms regardless of cause and may include fever, nausea, with vomiting and/or diarrhea. Most mild foodborne illnesses do not have the feature of fever.

Food allergy typically presents with different symptoms including skin rash, tongue or lip swelling, diffi culty swallowing and diffi culty breathing. Simple food intolerance, such
as, lactose intolerance, will have symptoms of gas, bloating and possibly mild isolated diarrhea. If you believe that you are having an allergic reaction to a food, try taking
diphenhydramine and contact your primary care physician for follow-up. However, if you are having diffi culty breathing or swallowing as a result of a possible food allergy you
should seek care in a certifi ed urgent care or emergency center.

If I think I have food poisoning, what should I do?
When is a stomach problem serious enough to see a doctor?

The greatest concern associated with foodborne illness is the intensity and length of the symptoms experienced. If there is a signifi cant amount of
fl uid loss associated with vomiting and diarrhea, this can lead to electrolyte imbalances and dehydration. These more advanced symptoms typically will
not occur unless the illness has lasted more than 24 hours and are the initial reason to seek medical attention. The signs of dehydration will include
dry mouth, increased thirst and a reduction in urine output. If you begin to feel weak, lightheaded and unable to tolerate oral fl uid rehydration to
keep pace with fl uid losses, it is wise to seek care in a certifi ed urgent care like Lakes Urgent Care, where you can be treated with IV hydration and
medications to mitigate the nausea and vomiting. If you begin to experience confusion, intolerable abdominal pain, notice yellowing of your skin or
eyes (otherwise known as jaundice) or see any blood in your stool, you should seek care in an emergency center.

For more health information, visit the Ask Dr. Vieder page at LakesUrgentCare.com
Dr. Sanford Vieder, DO, FACEP, FACOEP, Medical Director at Lakes Urgent Care, West Bloomfi eld/Livonia

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December 27 • 2018

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