Salmonella

Salmonellosis is a type of food poisoning caused by the Salmonella bacterium. Every year approximately 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported in the U.S. It is more common in the summer than in the winter. Children are the most likely to get salmonella. Young children, older adults, and people who have impaired immune systems are the most likely to have severe infections. Not everyone who ingests salmonella bacteria will become ill. Children, especially infants, are the most likely candidates to get sick from it. About 50,000 cases of salmonella infection are reported in the United States each year and about a third of those are in kids 4 years old or younger.

If your symptoms are mild, you probably don't need a doctor. If symptoms last beyond two days, you may need to have your stool, blood, or vomit tested to identify the cause of your illness. Chemical food poisoning can usually be diagnosed by a description of symptoms and by testing food potentially responsible for the poisoning.

You can get salmonella by eating food contaminated with salmonella. Food may be contaminated during food processing or food handling. Food may become contaminated by the unwashed hands of an infected food handler. That is by a food handler who does not wash his or her hands with soap after using the bathroom. Salmonella may also be found in the feces of some pets, especially those with diarrhea. You can become infected if you do not wash your hands after contact with these feces. Reptiles, baby chicks and ducklings, and small rodents like hamsters are most likely to carry Salmonella. You should always wash your hands immediately after handling one of these animals, even if the animal is healthy. Adults should also be careful that children wash their hands after handling reptiles, pet turtles, baby chicks or ducklings, or small rodents. Also besides animals beef, poultry, milk, and eggs are most often infected with salmonella. But vegetables may also be contaminated. Contaminated foods usually look and smell normal.