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How Do You Get Salmonella Poisoning?
It’s usuallytransmittedto humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.
Often, food and water contaminated with salmonella look and smell normal.
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Other foods like fruits and vegetables can carry salmonella if they have been contaminated by manure.
Typically, because eggs are washed before they reach stores, it’s not a problem.
However, salmonella can get inside the eggs when the egg forms inside the chicken.
While rare, avoiding eating raw eggs and cooking eggs thoroughly is still important.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables may be contaminated with salmonella through water or soil.
Washing hands after using the toilet, changing diapers, or assisting someone sick with diarrhea is essential.
Even pets that appear to be healthy can carry salmonella.
Refrigerate foods within two hours or one hour if the temperature outside is 90F or hotter.
However, salmonella infection can be more serious in older adults, infants, and people with chronic conditions.
Is Salmonella Contagious?
An infected personspreads salmonellathrough food handling and the sharing of utensils or food.
The most common way to contract salmonella is by eating or drinking food or water that contains it.
How Long Does Salmonella Last?
The duration and severity of symptoms will depend on the infected person and the serotype they are infected with.
Some types cause severe illness, while others cause mild symptoms.
How Do I Know If I Have Salmonella?
Salmonella can be detected in a person’s stool (poop), body tissue, or fluid.
If they suspect a salmonella infection, they may or may not require additional testing.
How Is Salmonella Treated?
Most people recover in four to seven days without treatment.Antibiotics are typically used only for severe illness.
People with salmonella infection should drink extra fluids and rest.
Small sips of fluids withelectrolytesor ice chips may help if you have trouble keeping beverages and foods down.
Hospitalization may be needed fordehydration.
Over-the-counter pain medication can help with headaches, belly pain, and fever.
A heating pad can also soothe stomach cramping.
Although rare, the infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and other body parts.
This can become serious and, without prompt antibiotic treatment, could lead to death.
Cooking food properly kills off potential bacteria.
Perishable food items should be appropriately chilled and not left out for more than two hours at room temperature.
Cook eggs until both the yolk and white are firm.
Do not consume raw eggs or foods that contain raw eggs like cake batter or cookie dough.
Pets
Pets can pass salmonella through their stool or contaminated saliva.
Your pet is more likely to have salmonella and another infection and will experience the same symptoms as humans.
However, proper storage, preparation, and cooking techniques can prevent infections.
Understanding food safety and good hygiene can prevent salmonella infection.
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