Facts About Salmonella for Kids

Salmonella are bacteria that can cause an infection, a form of food poisoning known as salmonellosis, in humans. The bacterial infection often causes people to have flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, diarrhea, vomiting and a stomachache.

History

• American microbiologist and pathologist Theobald Smith discovered salmonella in 1885, when he found a strain of salmonella bacterium in pigs.

Duration

• People who are infected with salmonella often develop symptoms between 8 and 72 hours after contracting the bacteria, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. A salmonella infection usually lasts between four and seven days, according to the CDC.

Spread

• Salmonella bacteria can be spread through food or water that is contaminated by animal feces. People often develop a salmonella infection by eating raw eggs, poultry, meat, seafood, fruits or vegetables. They can also develop an infection from unpasteurized milk, cheese or other dairy products, according to the New York State Department of Health.

Risk Factors

• Babies, young children, elderly individuals and/or people with weak immune systems are most at risk for becoming infected by salmonella bacteria.

Treatment

• People with a salmonella infection are given fluid injections if they become dehydrated. If salmonella bacteria reach a patient's bloodstream, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics for the infection, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Prevention

• You can prevent the spread of the salmonella bacteria by washing your hands when handling food or animal feces, cleaning surfaces where you placed raw meat, washing fruits and vegetables and not eating raw meat or poultry.