Symptoms of Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis is an infection caused by Salmonella bacteria. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), salmonellosis causes an estimated 1.4 million cases of foodborne illness and more than 500 deaths annually in the United States.

Because salmonella lives in the intestines of infected humans and animals, the bacteria spreads through contact with feces of these infected individuals. Most humans contract salmonellosis through eating food that has been contaminated with the bacteria, but it's also possible to become infected by coming in contact with feces directly while handling pets or changing a baby's diaper.

Symptoms of salmonellosis include

Diarrhea
Abdominal cramps
Fever
Chills
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting

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Salmonellosis can threaten the lives of immunocompromised individuals, including

Infants
Young children
Pregnant women
Unborn babies
Elderly adults
People with weakened immune systems

Diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever usually occur within 8 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food. Many people with salmonellosis recover without treatment, and symptoms
usually completely disappear within 4 to 7 days. Some people with salmonellosis may develop Reiter's syndrome, which causes joint pain, eye irritation and painful urination. Reiter's syndrome
can last for month or years and sometimes leads to chronic arthritis.

How To Prevent Salmonellosis?

Salmonella does not always cause illness. The key to preventing salmonellosis is by maintaining
safe food preparation standards to keep bacteria at a harmless level. Use these guidelines for reference:

When preparing raw meats and animal products, keep them separated from other foods
Wash food preparation surfaces immediately after they have come in contact with raw meats
Cook raw meats and eggs thoroughly
Don't consume foods or drinks that contain raw eggs or unpasteurized milk
Wash hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and handling food or pets
Refrigerate foods promptly (within an hour)

EMSL Analytical provides salmonella testing for food producers, retailers and consumers.

Contact EMSL to learn more or send a sample to one of our salmonella testing labs today.