Salmonellosis: Causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention

It is a food poisoning caused by a bacterium known by the name of Salmonella . This bacteria habitually lives in the intestines of animals, including those of humans, and is expelled abroad through feces. It is a bacterial disease that occurs relatively frequently and affects the intestinal system. It should be noted that humans suffer from this disease with some frequency for not implementing adequate hygienic habits, as we will see below.

YES, salmonellosis is a contagious disease , it is transmitted by contact with the bacteria called Salmonella that lives in the intestines of animals and people, which, as we have already indicated, are expelled abroad through feces. It is a very resistant bacteria, so it can survive for weeks in dry environments and for months in water.

Salmonellosis can be transmitted directly, when contaminated food is consumed , or indirectly when contagion is through infected animals and people and, for example, in this case it is common for it to occur through hand contact when they have not been washed properly.

The habitat of the Salmonella bacteria is found in the intestines of humans as well as animals, this occurs, as a direct form of contagion, when ingesting food contaminated with feces particles. Among the foods that are most easily contaminated with Salmonella we have:

• Raw meat of poultry, beef and fish: when the feces come into contact with the aforementioned meats during the slaughter of these animals. In the case of contaminated fish or shellfish, it is the product of water contamination.
• Raw eggs: the presence of infected chickens can give rise to eggs contaminated by Salmonella. The consumption of raw eggs such as mayonnaise or creams and sauces can put the population at risk.
• Fruits and other vegetables: they can run this risk of being contaminated, either by having been watered with water contaminated with Salmonella or, the contamination can occur in the kitchen, when preparing juices or handling fruits and vegetables.
• Another form of contamination is when foods such as vegetables or salad greens come into contact with the juices of raw meats, beef, or poultry.

Other causes that are not eating food, that is, in the form of indirect contagion, are bad habits such as:

• People who do not take proper hygiene measures , such as washing their hands after handling baby diapers or going to the bathroom.
• The handling of animals can also be a cause of contamination, especially birds or reptiles, and then putting the hands in or near the mouth or, after touching a food that we later eat.

At the same time, your chances of getting this disease increase if:

• You have a weak immune system.
• In case you have recently taken antibiotics.
• You are close to people who have recently suffered from salmonellosis.

To learn more about this topic, you can consult this other article by FastlyHealin which we offer you complete information about Salmonellosis, its symptoms, causes and treatment .

Salmonella infections frequently cause bacterial gastroenteritis . The symptoms of salmonellosis that can occur more easily are the following:

• Diarrhea.
• Fever.
• Chill.
• Sickness.
• Vomiting
• Abdominal cramps
• Headache.
• Loss of appetite
• Dehydration
• Blood in the stool.

These symptoms begin to become evident between 2 and 72 hours after eating a contaminated food. They can last about 2 to 7 days, but the diarrhea could last for 10 days, even several months until the intestines return to normal.

The treatment of salmonellosis will be indicated after medical consultation due to the care that must be taken for the symptoms that contaminated people present, taking special care with dehydration.

In mild cases, the prescription of drugs for salmonellosis is enough, as well as in cases of other types of intestinal bacterial infections.

• Antibiotics: this is the first option when it comes to salmonellosis, through it the bacteria are killed safely, preventing the patient’s clinical condition from worsening.
• Antipyretic: in case of fever such as acetaminophen.
• Antispasmodics: with this the presence of colic that characterizes this alteration is alleviated.

If you are in the presence of dehydration, the administration of fluids and electrolytes is indicated to restore the lost fluids. This is achieved with the intake of serum orally or with the indication of intravenous fluids in severe cases, after hospitalization of the patient.

If you want to know more information about this intestinal disease and learn about the natural options to treat it, do not hesitate to consult this other article in which we talk about the best home remedies for salmonellosis .

To prevent the spread of salmonellosis, it is important to implement the following measures:

• Keep food refrigerated, especially eggs or meats, as the cold prevents these bacteria from growing.
• Raw meat, poultry, and fish should be stored away from other foods in the refrigerator.
• You should not put other foods on a plate where raw meat or raw fish used to be.
• Cook the food at at least 65 ° C for about 10 minutes.
• Maintain minimum hygiene measures, such as washing hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers.

Salmonellosis is a disease that can be safely prevented and treated by the hand of your trusted doctor, so if in your case you have these symptoms, or other similar ones, do not hesitate to go to the doctor , he / she will indicate the treatment appropriate to the symptoms you present.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Is salmonellosis contagious? , we recommend that you enter our Digestive System category .