Salmonella Infection

Salmonella infection, called salmonellosis, is caused by bacteria and typically lasts four to seven days. Salmonella bacteria are found in the intestines of humans or animals and transferred through feces. It is diagnosed by testing a stool sample.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of salmonella infection usually develop within 12 to 72 hours of contamination and can include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, chills, muscles aches, headache and blood stool.

Causes

• Salmonella infection is usually caused by consuming food that is contaminated with feces, such as raw poultry, meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables or fruit.

Treatment

• Treatment includes antibiotics to eliminate the bacterial infection and anti-diarrheal medications, such as loperamide (Imodium) to relieve the abdominal pain from cramping.

Risk Factors

• Owning a pet reptile or bird increases your risk of salmonella infection, as do international travel, living in a nursing home or a dorm, having intestinal disorders and having immune system conditions.

Complications

• Complications may include dehydration, reactive arthritis and bacteremia, which can affect the tissues around your brain and spinal cord, the linings of your heart or valves or your bones.

Prevention

• Salmonella can be prevented by thorough hand washing after handling raw poultry, meat or seafood; or after changing a diaper, using the toilet, cleaning pet feces or handling a bird or reptile.