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Treatments for Salmonella

Salmonella infection is a potentially deadly, though somewhat common bacterial disease that affects your intestinal tract. Salmonella bacteria live in the intestines of animals and humans and can only be shed through feces. Humans have been known to be infected with salmonella through contaminated water, but more frequently become affected through the contamination of food, such as poultry, meat and eggs. Very recently, there have been major recalls on food items such as ground beef, bagged baby spinach and tomatoes of all kinds because of salmonella outbreaks.

  1. The Facts

    • Salmonella infection is the most common disease caused by the organisms and is characterized by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramping. Essentially, salmonella infection produces symptoms that are very similar to those experienced when suffering from food poisoning. Salmonella infection is considered quite mild medically speaking, but the nausea, vomiting and diarrhea experienced can lead to severe dehydration and even death if not treated properly. According to Dr. Jonathan Mirmen, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 500 people per year die of salmonella infection in the United States. Other organisms, such as the E coli virus and botulism, can also produce food poisoning-like symptoms.

    Types

    • There are many different types of salmonella bacteria. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Salmonella is just the genus name for more than 2,500 types of bacteria. For the most part, all 2,500 of the different types are very closely related, but Salmonella serotype, Typhimurium and Salmonella serotype Enteritidis are the most common in the United States.

    Effects

    • Typically, most people infected with salmonella poisoning experience diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours of coming into contact with the bacteria. The symptoms and signs of salmonella infection usually last around a week, though very healthy people can recover more quickly without medical treatment. Though it's rare, in some cases, the diarrhea experienced because of salmonella infection can cause a person to become so dehydrated that she will require prompt medical attention. Life-threatening complications can also occur if the infection spreads past the intestines.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Typically, salmonella infections resolve by themselves in five to seven days and don't require medical treatment. Making sure you consume lots of fluids, such as water, is your best bet at not becoming dehydrated. Those who suffer severe diarrhea as a result of salmonella infection may have to get rehydrated through the use of an IV. Antibiotics to clear the infection will only be issued if the bacteria have spread beyond the intestines, in which case medications such as ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or ciprofloxacin will be prescribed.

    Warning

    • Though it's very rare, some people with salmonella infection develop pain in their joints, irritation of the eyes and experience painful urination; this is called Reiter's syndrome. There is no way to determine how long it will last--weeks, months, or years--and it can lead to chronic arthritis.

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