Four Facts About Salmonella That May Surprise You

Four Facts That May Surprise You

Food-borne Salmonella can be a real problem, but can be easily be avoided with proper food handling. Learn these five facts and tips for lowering your chance of getting a Salmonella infection.

How do I know if I have a Salmonella infection?

According to the CDC you should contact your doctor or healthcare provider if you have:

• Diarrhea and a fever over 101.5°F.
• Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving.
• Bloody stools.
• Prolonged vomiting that prevents you from keeping liquids down.
• Signs of dehydration, such as:
  • Making very little urine
  • Dry mouth and throat
  • Dizziness when standing up

How do I get Salmonella?

1. Salmonella from Food: You can get a Salmonella infection from a variety of foods. Salmonella can be found in many foods including beef, chicken, eggs, fruits, pork, sprouts, vegetables, and even processed foods, such as nut butters, frozen pot pies, chicken nuggets, and stuffed chicken entrees. When you eat a food that is contaminated with Salmonella, it can make you very sick (symptoms listed above). Contaminated foods usually look and smell normal, which is why it is important to know how to prevent Salmonella infection.
2. Warm Summer Weather and Salmonella: Salmonella illness is more common in the summer. Warmer weather and unrefrigerated foods create ideal conditions for Salmonella to grow. Be sure to refrigerate or freeze perishables (foods likely to spoil or go bad quickly), prepared foods, and leftovers within 2 hours. Chill them within 1 hour if the temperature is 90°F or hotter.
3. Symptoms can appear 6-48 Hours after being infected: Salmonella illness can be serious and is more dangerous for certain people. Symptoms of infection usually appear 6–48 hours after eating a contaminated food, but can take much longer. These symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. In most cases, illness lasts 4–7 days and people recover without antibiotic treatment. Some people may have severe diarrhea and need to be hospitalized. Anyone can get a Salmonella infection, but some groups are more likely to develop a serious illness: older adults, children younger than five years of age.
4. Weakened Immune Systems: People with immune systems weakened from medical conditions, such as diabetes, liver or kidney disease, and cancer or their treatment.

To avoid Salmonella, you should not eat raw eggs or eggs that have runny whites or yolks. You should make sure to wash your hands thoroughly when handling meat and poultry products. Make sure to wash all of your fruit and vegetables thoroughly.

Talk to your doctor immediately if you feel you have been exposed to salmonella.