Salmonella
By: Carson Weichers
Common Contaminated Foods
- Raw eggs
- Poultry
- Meat
- Seafood
- Some fruits and vegetables
- Rarely spices
What Is It?
- Salmonella is a disease that affects the intestinal tract
- Found in the intestines of animals and humans
- Shed through feces
- Humans most oftenly get it through contaminated water or food
Symptoms
- Typically, there are no symptoms
- Others develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps within eight to 72 hours
- In some extreme cases, the diarrhea can be so dehydrating that it requires immediate medical attention
- Most healthy people recover with no specific treatment
Treatments
- Adults: Drink water or suck on ice cubes
- Children: Use oral rehydration (i.e. Pedialyte) unless your doctor says otherwise
Prevention
Wash hands after; Touching reptiles or birds, using toilet, changing diapers, handling raw meat/poultry/seafood, cleaning up pet feces
Cook foods thoroughly and properly
Treat salmonella like the flu; try not to give the disease to others
Keep things separate
Don’t eat raw eggs: cookie dough, homemade ice cream, and egg nog contain raw eggs. If someone wants to eat raw eggs make sure to use pasteurized eggs
Other Information
If salmonella spreads beyond the intestines, it may become life-threatening
- Risks become higher if one is traveling into a poorly sanitized country
- Lifestyle doesn't change after having salmonella
- There was a salmonella outbreak in October 2013 affecting 317 people in 20 different states
Works Cited
Mayo Clinic Staff, Salmonella Infection http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/salmonella/basics/definition/con-20029017