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Ways to Prevent Having Salmonella

It is important to protect yourself from harmful diseases and medical conditions. Salmonella, one of the more common food-borne illnesses, can cause an infection in a person that gives them serious symptoms and may grow worse if untreated. Read on to find out ways to prevent catching salmonella.

  1. About

    • Salmonella is a bacteria usually found in eggs, poultry, meat, water and unprocessed milk. When contracted, it usually causes an infection in the stomach and intestines. Salmonella does not discriminate and can be found in people of all ages. Salmonella can usually clear up in four to seven days provided the person gets a lot of rest and drinks plenty of fluids. More severe cases will require a doctor's care and use of antibiotics.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms for salmonella usually occur within 12 to 24 hours. Some symptoms that are associated with salmonella are diarrhea, headaches, fever, vomiting, nausea and stomach cramps. Dehydration may also occur from the loss of bodily fluids. Very young children and elderly people are most at risk for contracting salmonella.

    Prevention

    • To help prevent contracting salmonella, make sure you follow certain guidelines:
      --Do not eat raw eggs.
      --Make sure food is thoroughly cooked before you eat it. Wash your hands after preparing meals and handling raw foods.
      --When dealing with different types of food, make sure to wash your hands when you switch to another food to prepare in order to avoid cross contamination.
      --Completely wash kitchen utensils before and after preparing raw food.
      --Do not leave food out in the open. Store it properly in the refrigerator.
      --Cook your foods to safe temperatures. Many dishes should be cooked to a minimum of 160 degrees F.
      --Using antibacterial soap to wash your hands will help to prevent the spread of bacteria.
      --Avoid certain animals that may carry salmonella. Those would be turtles, snakes and pigs.
      --Make sure you keep up-to-date on food that has been recalled. Do not keep any of these products around, as they are being recalled for a good reason.
      --If you eat out, make sure the establishment you are dining at is clean. Take a good look around to make sure you don't spot anything that is questionable.
      As always, if you find your symptoms getting worse or not improving, please visit a doctor to get proper medical care.

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