Salmonella in Children

Salmonella are a type of bacteria that cause food poisoning. Many cases go undiagnosed and most resolve on their own, but it can become dangerous if the infection spreads outside the digestive system. Typhoid fever is a severe form that usually occurs in developing countries.

Salmonella Risk

• According to Kids Health, children who are 4 years old and younger make up one-third of the 50,000 reported salmonella infections every year in the United States. The risk is greatest in infants and people with compromised immune systems.

Causes

• Causes of salmonella in children include eating raw or undercooked eggs or meat, drinking unpasteurized milk, oral contact with human feces and transmission from animals. Livestock, reptiles and amphibians can carry the bacteria.

Time Frame

• Healthy children usually begin to show symptoms within three days of exposure and recover in a week or so. Those with existing medical conditions are much more likely to experience complications.

Symptoms

• Common symptoms include diarrhea, fever, vomiting, nausea, cramps and headache. A rose-colored, spotted rash is a sign of typhoid fever.

Prevention

• Most salmonella infections can be prevented with proper food handling techniques. Children should wash hands before eating, after using the bathroom and after handling animals.