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.
Any person can get salmonellosis, but it is recognized more often in infants and children.
Salmonella are spread by eating or drinking contaminated food or water or by contact with infected people or animals.
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.
The symptoms generally appear one to three days after exposure.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Source: NY State Department of Health