Vomiting and Diarrhea from Salmonella Poisoning
A Food Borne Illness Called Salmonellosis
Oct 6, 2009
Salmonella food poisoning is a common and extremely unpleasant bacterial infection. It is also referred to as salmonellosis. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) more than one million people in the United States are afflicted by salmonella yearly.
What is Salmonella?
Salmonella is a species of bacteria that cause severe diarrhea and vomiting. Believe it or not, salmonella is naturally present in the human intestine and is shed in the stool. However, if salmonella is accidentally eaten and ends up in the stomach, it can cause serious problems. There are two serotypes, or sub-species, of salmonella: Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritidis. The latter is the main serotype responsible for salmonella poisoning in the United States.
How does Salmonella Poisoning Occur?
Most people get salmonella infection from eating contaminated eggs or chicken. However, salmonella can also be transmitted through contaminated water, vegetables, fruit, and beef. Another source of contamination is the fecal-oral route. For example: A restaurant worker goes to the bathroom and does not wash his hands, then handles your food or its packaging and hands it off to you. When you handle the packaging, your hands become contaminated. Now all it takes is for you to touch your unwashed hand to your mouth or eye and the bacteria can enter your body.
Symptoms of Food Poisoning
After a person is infected with salmonella, symptoms usually occur anywhere from twelve to seventy two hours. The symptoms typically consist of abdominal cramps, severe diarrhea, vomiting and fever. The infection itself can last either a few days or one week. In most healthy people the infection resolves on its own. However, in some cases the diarrhea is severe enough that a person might end up in the hospital.
Salmonella and Weak Immune System
Children, the elderly, or persons infected with HIV have a lower immune system and are at risk for fatal complications from salmonella poisoning. Diarrhea and vomiting can cause dehydration, which many people don’t realize can be life threatening. Furthermore, the bacteria might spread to the rest of the body and that can lead to death, if not treated as soon as possible.
Food Poisoning Treatment
In most cases rest and plenty of fluids is what the body needs while it fights this infection. It is not recommended to take any medication to stop the diarrhea or nausea because this is the body’s way of getting rid of the bacteria. In cases of severe diarrhea a person may need to go to the hospital and receive intravenous fluid, in order to prevent dehydration. Antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole might be used in the rare occasion that salmonella spreads to other parts of the body.
Prevention of Salmonellosis
People get infected with this organism, if they come in contact with either contaminated food or fecal material. The best way to prevent salmonella infection is to avoid eating raw or undercooked meat and eggs, washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly and practice frequent hand washing. During food preparation all utensils, such as knives, cutting boards and anything else that might have come in contact with raw food needs to be washed. This is important in order to prevent food contamination through other foods or materials.
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References:
Owens, Michael D. "Salmonella Infection." Emedicine. Last accessed October 4, 2009.
"Salmonellosis." Centers for Disease Control. 21 May 2008. Last accessed 4 Oct. 2009.
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