Salmonella
salmonella; gastroenteritis; food; poisoning; diarrhoea; infectious; diseases; typhoid; fever ;
Contents
Salmonella is an infection which can cause outbreaks of gastroenteritis and is usually caused by contaminated food (food which has the salmonella germs in it). It can also be spread from person to person and from animals.
Illness caused by salmonella is sometimes called food poisoning. While many cases of salmonella are mild, it can cause severe illness.
What is salmonella?
- Salmonella is the name of a group of bacteria (germs) of which there are over 2000 types and which can cause many different sorts of infections in humans and other animals. Most infections in humans are caused by just a few of these types. The salmonella germs can also infect many animals that are food sources for humans, or which live near humans.
- Salmonella infection in humans often comes from animals. The germs can pass from the faeces (poo) of animals or humans to other animals or people.
- The way that humans get infected is usually through contaminated food, but it can be spread from person to person.
- Typhoid fever is one type of salmonella infection.
- Salmonella can cause several different types of illness, but the most common salmonella illness in humans is gastroenteritis.
Signs and symptoms
- Salmonella gastroenteritis can cause fever, diarrhoea, nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, and pains in the abdomen (stomach ache). These symptoms usually last only a day or so, and most people get well again without treatment.
- Sometimes there can be blood in the faeces (poo).
- People with salmonella gastro may become dehydrated (lose too much fluid because of the diarrhoea).
- Often the illness is mild, but it can be severe in young children, elderly people and those with other major illnesses.
- It can take several months for people with diarrhoea from salmonella to completely recover their normal bowel pattern.
- In rare cases salmonella can lead to joint pain, sore eyes and painful urination.
- Salmonella can spread from the gut into the blood stream and other parts of the body, and then it is very serious and the person needs to go to hospital.
- Many people who have a salmonella infection will not feel unwell.
- Salmonella is diagnosed by laboratory tests of the faeces (poo).
How long it takes to develop
Salmonella gastro usually develops quickly (within 12 to 36 hours), but may take up to 3 days to develop.
Treatment
- People usually recover from salmonella gastro within a couple of days without any special treatment (antibiotics can make the illness more of a problem).
- Some people with severe diarrhoea may need treatment for dehydration (loss of body fluid).
- Antibiotics may be used if the infection spreads.
What you can do
- Give lots of extra drinks (see 'Gastroenteritis' for more information about what to do for vomiting and diarrhoea).
- See a doctor if the child has abdominal pain, a high fever, blood in the faeces or does not recover within a few days. All babies under 12 months should be seen by a doctor if they have bowel motions that are looser or more frequent than usual or if there is vomiting.
- There is no vaccine to prevent salmonella.
- Careful hand washing and general hygiene is the most important way of preventing spread.
- Most salmonella gastro outbreaks are caused by contaminated food, so food preparation needs to be very careful. See 'Food safety' for more information.
- If you have gastro of any type, including salmonella, get someone else to prepare the family food and drinks until you are well.
- Salmonella can be passed from person to person. Keep children away from child care, kindergarten or school until the diarrhoea stops.
- Contaminated food is usually of animal origin (eg raw or undercooked eggs, milk, meat, chicken) but can be any food, including vegetables. Always use pasteurised milk.
- Remember that there can be raw eggs in caesar salads, some mayonnaise and in the cake mixture that is left in the mixing bowl.
- Cook meat and eggs well, before eating.
- Food with salmonella germs in it usually does not usually smell different.
- Salmonella can be spread from the faeces of animals, (especially reptiles such as lizards). Careful hand washing after handling these pets is important even if the pet is well. Pets like turtles and lizards should not be handled by young children.
- Breastfeeding prevents salmonella while a baby is fully breastfeeding (breast milk cannot be contaminated by salmonella).
The topic 'Feeling sick' has suggestions for caring for a sick child.
References
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).
This topic may use 'he' and 'she' in turn - please change to suit your
child's sex.