How to recognize salmonellosis and how to treat it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Sometimes this intestinal infection can be fatal.

What is salmonellosis

Salmonellosis is an acute intestinal infection caused by bacteria of the genus Salmonella Salmonella (non-typhoid) / WHO.

These microbes enter the body through food or unwashed hands. They create colonies on the walls of the small intestine and cause inflammation. At the same time, in the process of life, salmonella secrete toxins, which also worsen a person's well-being.

What are the symptoms of salmonellosis

Most often, the signs of salmonellosis are similar to those of intestinal flu. This is Salmonella infection / Mayo Clinic:

• a sharp rise in temperature (fever);
• diarrhea;
• twisting pain in the abdomen;
• nausea and vomiting;
• headache;
• sometimes - bloody marks in loose stools.

Symptoms usually appear within hours to a couple of days after infection. And they last on average from 2 to 7 days, although diarrhea after suffering salmonellosis can persist for up to several months. But diarrhea is not the only problem.

Why salmonellosis is dangerous

Most often, nothing. Most people will recover completely from Salmonella / CDC after a few unpleasant days, even without specific treatment. But in some cases, salmonellosis becomes life threatening.

These are the serious consequences Salmonella infection / Mayo Clinic can have.

Dehydration

This is the most obvious danger. With diarrhea and vomiting, a person loses a lot of fluid, and a lack of moisture can disrupt the functioning of internal organs, including the brain or heart.

Bacteremia

This is the name of the condition when bacteria enter the bloodstream. Together with the bloodstream, Salmonella is carried throughout the body. And they can settle in other organs and tissues, causing their inflammation.

Here are some of the common complications of salmonellosis:

• Meningitis. That is, inflammation of the tissues surrounding the spinal cord and brain.
• Endocarditis. This is an inflammation of the lining of the heart or heart valves.
• Osteomyelitis. They talk about such a disease when the bones and bone marrow become inflamed.
• Vasculitis. This is an inflammation of the inner lining of the blood vessels.

Reactive arthritis

People who have had salmonellosis are more likely to develop reactive arthritis. He's also Reiter's syndrome. This disease manifests itself:

• joint pain. It can last for months and interferes with life: worsens the mobility of the limbs, does not allow to go in for sports;
• eye irritation;
• soreness when urinating.

What to do if you suspect salmonellosis

It is impossible to predict exactly how the disease will develop in your case. Therefore, at the first suspicion of salmonellosis, you should consult a therapist.

This is especially important if the person you suspect has an infection is in one of the Salmonella groups. Questions and Answers / CDC Risk. Here are some people with salmonellosis that can be especially difficult:

• Children under 5 years old.
• Infants (children under 12 months of age) who are not breastfeeding.
• People over 65.
• Those on certain medications. For example, drugs that reduce stomach acid, Salmonella infection / Mayo Clinic antibiotics, or corticosteroids.
• People with pre-existing inflammatory bowel disease.
• People with weakened immune systems. For example, those who have been diagnosed with sickle-cell anemia, malaria, AIDS.

How to treat salmonellosis

First, you need to establish a diagnosis. To find salmonella, a stool sample is examined. A blood test may also be needed if the doctor suspects that an infection has entered the bloodstream.

If salmonellosis is confirmed, you will be prescribed Salmonella infection / Mayo Clinic treatment. Its main purpose is to keep you hydrated. Therefore, your doctor will recommend drinking more fluids (or, if you feel sick, dissolving ice cubes) and taking remedies to restore electrolyte balance.

If you are severely dehydrated, you will be hospitalized and put on an IV to give you intravenous fluids.

In addition, you may be prescribed:

• Anti-diarrhea drugs. They help stop diarrhea and relieve abdominal pain.
• Antibiotics Antimicrobial agents are needed if the infection has entered the bloodstream. They are also prescribed if salmonellosis is severe or you have a weakened immune system. With a mild course of the disease, these drugs are useless.

How not to get sick with salmonellosis

Most often, people become infected with salmonella when they eat poorly processed foods that are contaminated with feces. For example:

• raw meat, poultry, seafood;
• raw eggs. Pathogens can be found both on poorly washed shells and inside: some infected chickens lay initially infected eggs;
• fruits and vegetables. Salmonella can get on them if you cut the salad on a cutting board that has not been washed well after raw meat. Or if you just took an apple with your hands not washed after the toilet.

You can also get infected if you touch an infected surface. Let's pet Salmonella. Questions and Answers / CDC poultry or animal, and then, forgetting, pull your fingers into your mouth.

Considering the possible routes of infection, the prevention of salmonellosis looks like this.

1. Wash your hands regularly

Especially after you went to the toilet, changed your baby's diaper, cooked something from raw meat, cleaned up the feces of pets, stroked a cat, bird or reptile.

2. Separate food in the kitchen

• Store raw meat, poultry, and seafood separately from vegetables and fruits.
• Get different cutting boards for raw meat and vegetables and fruits.
• Never put cooked food in unwashed dishes that have previously contained raw meat.

3. Try not to eat raw eggs

If you put them in dough, don't taste it until it's baked. For homemade mayonnaise, ice cream, and eggnog, use pasteurized eggs whenever possible.