Salmonella Poisoning Symptoms

Food poisoning is a sort of acute illness that follows by eating food that is contaminated by certain harmful bacteria, natural poisons or bacterial and chemical toxins. Various symptoms of food poisoning include vomiting, stomach ache, headache, diarrhea, prostration, etc. There are various types of food poisoning that can affect the human as well as health of the animals and salmonella infection is one of them.

Salmonella Food Poisoning
Salmonella is a motile kind of enterobacteria, most often occurring pathogenically in the intestines of the animals and humans. These bacteria gain energy from oxidation. Most species of salmonella produce hydrogen sulfide and are very closely related with the Escherichia genus. Salmonellae is found in all kinds of cold and hot blooded animals, humans and many of the nonliving habitats as well. Salmonella can cause illnesses like typhoid and paratyphoid fever and several food borne illnesses.

Salmonella infections are actually zoonotic, meaning, they can be transmitted to humans through the animals or the other way round. Salmonella infections are mostly caused by infected food. More than 40,000 cases are reported in the US, every year and more than 600 people die off the disease caused by the salmonella infection, known as salmonellosis. Salmonella food poisoning symptoms grow many fold in summer time than in winters.

Symptoms of Poisoning
Salmonella bacterium attacks the intestines and the abdominal region. In severe cases of salmonella poisoning, it may also enter the lymph tracts that carry body fluids and proteins to the blood. The symptoms are commonly observed in the people who are already suffering with weak immune system. Most common sources of salmonella bacteria are contaminated eggs, chicken and such dairy products. Following are salmonella poisoning signs and symptoms.

• Vomiting and Nausea: First symptoms are excess vomiting and nausea. This can be said as body's first reaction in order to get rid of the toxins. Persistent and excessive vomiting can lead to dehydration which needs a special attention.
• Diarrhea: The group of salmonella bacteria often causes diarrhea that can also lead to severe medical conditions like vomiting and sometimes, bloody diarrhea. This leads to loss of body fluids and minerals, and can result into dehydration and weaknesses that needs hospitalization.
• Abdominal Pain: Abdominal pain and cramps can be one of the most primary signs and symptoms of salmonella poisoning. Person affected by salmonella poisoning can suffer from severe abdominal pain that is often accompanied with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as well.
• Fever: Along with the above mentioned gastrointestinal symptoms of salmonella poisoning, one might also suffer with several other symptoms like fever. As is already known, fever is also body's means of reporting that there are some problems with the proper body functioning. There are chances of severe and sudden fever that comes along with sudden chills and it can also lead to typhoid and paratyphoid fever.

Along with the above mentioned major symptoms, there are several other signs and symptoms that will require immediate medical attention. These signs may include, severe headache, constipation, dry mouth and chapped skin, increased thirst, weakness, dark urine with decreased or increased release and lack of energy.

Treatment and Precaution
Symptoms of salmonella poisoning fade away within a week, without any serious medication. Nevertheless, this doesn't clear out the chances of transmission of the poisoning to the blood stream. Hence, treatment and proper medical attention is needed if the person is severely dehydrated and weak. Proper intake of important fluids and several antibiotics that are suggested by the health care providers, is all that the patient needs.

Recovery from the salmonella food poisoning is a relatively easy process and the patients get cured totally. In some extreme cases, patients have shown signs of eye irritation, joint pain (condition called Reiter's syndrome that can last longer or for lifetime as well) and painful urination.

To avoid all the aftermaths and all the signs and symptoms of salmonella food poisoning one must take care and prevent it from getting into the body system. As there are no vaccinations available for salmonella food poisoning, one has to follow all the precautionary measures to avoid it. Some of this includes maintaining proper hygiene, avoiding consumption of raw and undercooked meat and poultry, avoiding direct or indirect contact between reptiles and the infants, etc. Visiting the doctor when there are some primary and severe salmonella poisoning symptoms, is something that one should do to stay healthy and fit! Take care!