Salmonella Infections: A Common Cause of Food Poisoning

Salmonella is a group of bacteria and a common cause of foodborne illness in the United States.

Where it comes from

• Raw poultry, eggs and beef
• Sometimes, unwashed fruit and vegetables
• Handling pets, especially reptiles such as snakes, turtles and lizards

Symptoms

• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Headache
• Sometimes nausea and vomiting, and loss of appetite

They usually last 4–7 days.

Diagnosis and treatment

A stool test confirms the infection. Most people recover without treatment. It can be more serious in older adults, infants and people with chronic health problems, and serious if the bacteria reach the bloodstream; the usual treatment then is antibiotics.

Typhoid fever

Typhoid fever, a more serious disease caused by Salmonella, is uncommon in the United States but frequent in developing countries.

Sources

• MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Salmonella Infections," from the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. https://medlineplus.gov/salmonellainfections.html
• Rewritten in hubnx's own words.