Salmonella poisoning symptoms include stomach pain, bloating, nausea, severe diarrhea, and fever. Dehydration can occur, and in rare cases, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and infect other organs. Proper food handling and cooking can prevent salmonellosis.
Many people experience mild symptoms of Salmonella poisoning and may not even make the connection between a stool-borne bacteria and their gastric discomfort. For the elderly, the young, and those with weakened immune systems, Salmonella symptoms can be more pronounced and persistent. Some victims of Salmonella-triggered food poisoning recover within 48 hours, while others may continue to experience symptoms of Salmonella infection for weeks or months.
One of the main symptoms of Salmonella is gastroenteritis or a general stomach pain. Sufferers may begin to feel bloated and nauseous within 24 hours of ingesting raw or undercooked foods or infected fecal material. Over-the-counter stomach pain medications may offer temporary relief, but the pain and bloating usually return and get worse. A persistent stomach pain accompanied by a painful feeling of gas in the intestines could be the first symptoms of salmonella food poisoning.
This general gastric discomfort is often followed by severe bouts of diarrhea which cannot easily be controlled with medication. This diarrhea can be particularly long-lasting and accompanied by painful cramps and spasms in the intestines. Due to the amount of fluids drawn from the body, dehydration can also be one of the symptoms of salmonella food poisoning. Continuous intake of clear fluids can be vital when dealing with severe cases of food poisoning, especially if the victim is elderly, young, or has immunity problems.
Since Salmonella is a bacterial infection, a victim’s body may also develop a pronounced fever as the bacteria remains in the intestinal tract. In rare cases, any Salmonella bacteria that survives the initial stage of food poisoning can enter the bloodstream and infect other organs. A condition known as Reiter’s syndrome can develop over several weeks if the victim continues to be infected. Symptoms include extremely high fever and substantial pain in the victim’s joints.
Technically speaking, Salmonella is the scientific name for the bacterial strain itself, not for the disease unleashed in humans who ingest it. Food poisoning victims who consume infected raw foods such as chicken, beef or eggs or undercooked foods kept out of temperature actually experience a condition known as salmonellosis. Salmonellosis can be prevented by thoroughly cooking raw meat at an appropriate temperature, washing eggs and fruit in clean water, washing hands before handling food, and avoiding cross-contamination between raw food juices and ready-to-serve foods.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
