How to Recover From Salmonella Poisoning

Salmonella is a bacteria that appears after ingesting poorly cooked chicken, eggs meat, unprocessed milk or contaminated water. It has all the symptoms of other types of food poisoning--nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramps--which can make life agony for those affected. When recovering from salmonella poisoning, take your time and don't rush things. Better to be off your feet for a few days than to try and push through it, only to make the condition worse.

Instructions

• 1

  Stay off your feet. Remain in bed or on the couch and keep movement to a minimum. Your body needs time to recharge its batteries and the less you use it, the better.

• 2

  Drink water. One of the biggest dangers of salmonella is dehydration caused by diarrhea or vomiting. Rehydrate by taking at least eight glasses of water a day. If you can't swallow water, try sucking on ice chips. You can also drink 7-Up, Gatorade or chicken broth. Take the liquid in frequent small sips rather than big gulps, and monitor the color of your urine to make sure you're getting enough water (the urine should be clear, not dark).

• 3

  Avoid any foods or liquids that may dehydrate you or make the bacteria worse. They include caffeine and alcohol, dairy foods, spicy foods and any deep-fried junk food. (This step may be fairly easy because it's hard to feel hungry when suffering from salmonella.)

• 4

  Ease your way back into food consumption slowly, taking just a bit at a time. While it's important to keep your strength up, it won't do you any good if you vomit food back out. Look for soft, bland foods like soda crackers, white rice, bouillon cubes or low-sugar cereals, and take them in small, frequent amounts.

• 5

  Talk to your doctor about taking antibiotics. In most cases of salmonella, you probably won't need them, but if the bacteria gets into your blood, then antibiotics will kill it. Always follow your doctor's advice carefully when taking antibiotics, and make sure to tell him if you're taking any other kinds of medication.