Food poisoning treatment in Patong
It nearly always begins a few hours after a meal. Cramps, then vomiting, then a night you would rather forget. Street food, a seafood barbecue, ice in a drink, a buffet that sat out too long. Food poisoning treatment in Patong is one of the most common reasons travellers walk through our door, and it is usually sorted quickly.
Most cases settle within one to three days. The real danger is not the bug itself but dehydration, especially in this heat, when you cannot keep fluids down.
Symptoms of food poisoning
- Stomach cramps and pain
- Vomiting, often repeatedly
- Watery diarrhoea
- Fever and chills
- Headache, weakness and aching muscles
Symptoms can start within an hour or take a couple of days to appear, depending on the cause. Bacteria like salmonella and E. coli, and viruses like norovirus, are the usual culprits here.
When to see a doctor
Come in, or call us to your hotel, if any of these apply:
- You cannot keep water down for more than a few hours
- There is blood in your stool or vomit
- Fever above 38.5°C
- Severe stomach pain that does not ease between cramps
- Signs of dehydration: dizziness, dark urine, barely passing urine
- Symptoms lasting more than three days
- It is a young child, an older traveller, or someone pregnant
How we treat food poisoning
The first job is rehydration. If you can drink, we give oral rehydration salts, which replace the salts and minerals plain water cannot. If you are vomiting too much for that, we put up an IV drip so fluids go straight into your bloodstream.
We give anti-nausea medicine, often as an injection, so the vomiting stops and you can start drinking again. That single step makes most people feel human within an hour.
Antibiotics are not always the answer. Many cases are viral, and antibiotics do nothing for those. If the pattern or a stool test points to a bacterial cause, we prescribe them. If not, we will tell you honestly that you do not need them.
Ruling out something more serious
This part matters in Patong. Food poisoning, dengue and appendicitis can all start with fever, vomiting and stomach pain. So can a urinary infection. Treating everything as food poisoning without looking properly is how serious illness gets missed.
The doctor examines your abdomen and, where it will change what we do, runs blood tests or a dengue test. If your pain sits low on the right side and gets worse, we take that seriously and arrange imaging.
What to eat and drink while you recover
Start with small sips of water or rehydration solution, not big gulps, which often come straight back. Once that stays down, add plain food: rice, toast, bananas, clear soup. Skip alcohol, dairy, fried food and coffee for a day or two.
Keep drinking even when you feel better. In Patong heat you lose more fluid than you think just walking to a shop.
Staying well for the rest of your trip
Eat where it is busy, since high turnover means fresher food. Choose dishes cooked in front of you over anything sitting warm. Be careful with raw seafood and shellfish, peel your own fruit, and if a place looks unclean, trust that instinct.
Common questions about food poisoning in Patong
How long does food poisoning last?
Most cases clear in one to three days. Tiredness can hang on a few days more. If you are still unwell after three days, get checked.
Should I take anti-diarrhoea tablets?
Sometimes they help, but not if you have a fever or blood in your stool. In those cases they can trap the infection. Ask the doctor first.
Can you treat me at my hotel?
Yes. If you cannot leave your room, a doctor comes to you anywhere in Patong with fluids, injections and medicine.
How much does treatment cost?
It depends on whether you need an IV drip, injections or tests. Message us on WhatsApp describing your symptoms and we will quote before you come.
Can I still fly home?
Usually yes, once the vomiting has stopped and you are rehydrated. If your airline wants confirmation, we can issue a fit to fly certificate.