Why is salmonella dangerous

Clean Wash hands with soap and clean, running water for 20 seconds before and after handling food, especially after touching raw or undercooked eggs, meats, poultry like chicken and turkey , seafood, or their juices.

Washing can spread germs to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. Sanitize kitchen surfaces with a freshly made solution of one tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach in one gallon of water. Separate Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs separate from other foods in your grocery cart and in your refrigerator. Keep eggs in the original carton and store them in the main part of the refrigerator, not in the door. Keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood separate from ready-to-eat foods, such as salads and deli meat.

Use separate cutting boards and plates for produce and for raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs. Never place cooked food on a plate that previously held raw or undercooked eggs, meats, poultry, seafood, or their juices. Do not eat raw eggs or eggs that have runny whites or yolks. Never leave perishable foods out of refrigeration for more than 2 hours. More Information. Food Safety Features.

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People at risk for more serious complications from a Salmonella infection include those who:. In these higher-risk groups, most doctors will treat an infection with antibiotics to prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body.

Antibiotics do not appear to help a healthy person whose infection is not severe — and may actually lengthen the amount of time the person will carry the bacteria. Because many different illnesses can cause similar symptoms such as nausea, fever, cramping, and diarrhea , doctors may send a stool poop sample to the lab for testing.

A severe Salmonella infection will require more testing to see which specific germ is causing the illness and which antibiotics can be used to treat it. If your child has salmonellosis and a healthy immune system, your doctor may let the infection pass without giving any medicines. But any time a child develops a fever, headache, or bloody diarrhea, call the doctor to rule out any other problems.

If your child is infected and has a fever, you may want to give acetaminophen to lower the temperature and relieve cramping. As with any infection that causes diarrhea, it's important to give your child plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration.

Salmonellosis symptoms can take from 6 to 72 hours to start after someone ingests the bacteria. In most people, the illness lasts for 4 to 7 days after symptoms begin. Hand washing is a powerful way to guard against Salmonella infections. So teach kids to wash their hands well and often, particularly after trips to the bathroom and before handling food. Reviewed by: Rebecca L. Gill, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size.

What Is Salmonella? What Is Salmonella Infection? A Salmonella infection typically causes: nausea and vomiting abdominal cramps diarrhea sometimes bloody fever headache Because many different kinds of illnesses can cause these symptoms, most doctors will take a stool sample to make an accurate diagnosis.

Salmonella infections usually clear up without medical treatment. It can also make your diarrhea last longer. These include if you:. Most people with Salmonella recover without treatment. Typically, the illness lasts between 4 and 7 days. However, you could find that it takes a few months for your bowel habits to return to normal. However, always make sure to take the complete course of medication as prescribed or the infection may not completely clear.

Antibiotic resistance can be a problem with Salmonella. Some groups of people are more susceptible to serious illness or even death from Salmonella infection due to things like severe dehydration and invasive infections. These groups are:. Depending on your condition, you may need to be hospitalized so that healthcare professionals can closely monitor your treatment and recovery. Although an infection with Salmonella can often clear without treatment, it can lead to serious illness or death in some groups of people.

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