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Salmonellosis
What is salmonellosis?
Salmonellosis is a bacterial infection that generally affects the intestinal
tract and occasionally the bloodstream. It is one of the more common causes
of gastroenteritis with several thousand cases occurring in New York State
each year. Most cases occur in the summer months and are seen as single
cases, clusters or outbreaks.
Who gets salmonellosis?
Any person can get salmonellosis, but it is recognized more often in
infants and children.
How are salmonella bacteria spread?
Salmonella are spread by eating or drinking contaminated food or water
or by contact with infected people or animals.
What are the symptoms of salmonellosis?
People exposed to the salmonella may experience mild or severe diarrhea,
fever and occasionally vomiting. Bloodstream infections can be quite serious,
particularly in the very young or elderly.
How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?
The symptoms generally appear one to three days after exposure.
Where are salmonella found?
Salmonella are widely distributed in our food chain and environment.
The organisms often contaminate raw meats, eggs, unpasteurized milk and
cheese products. Other sources of exposure may include contact with infected
pet turtles, pet chicks, dogs and cats.
For how long can an infected person carry the salmonella germ?
The carrier stage varies from several days to many months. Infants and
people who have been treated with oral antibiotics tend to carry the germ
longer than others.
Do infected people need to be isolated or excluded from work or school?
Since salmonella are in the feces, only people with active diarrhea
who are unable to control their bowel habits (infants, young children,
certain handicapped individuals, for example) should be isolated. Most
infected people may return to work or school when their stools become
formed provided that they carefully wash their hands after toilet visits.
Food handlers, health care workers and children in day care must obtain
the approval of the local or state health department before returning
to their routine activities.
What is the treatment for salmonellosis?
Most people with salmonellosis will recover on their own or require
fluids to prevent dehydration. Antibiotics and antidiarrhea drugs are
generally not recommended for typical cases with intestinal infections.
How can salmonellosis be prevented?
Source: NY State Department of Health
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