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Salmonella
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Salmonella food poisoning will strike more than 3000 Americans today and over the course of a year result in more than 1 million cases, 23,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths. While viral infections receive more public notice, salmonella outbreaks may be more devastating.
Salmonella are bacteria that populate the intestinal tract of humans and animals with infection occurring by way of fecal contamination of our food or less frequently from person to person or pet to human. Foods typically contaminated with the bacteria include eggs, chicken, turkey, meat and even pet food. The CDC cautions avoidance of raw cookie dough.
While no one is exempt from food poisoning, those at increased risk for severe disease include infants, children under age 5, the elderly, people recently treated with antibiotics and the immunosuppressed. Antacids and medicines for heartburn reduce the stomach’s acidity which is normally responsible for killing over 95% of the bacteria.
Most people who eat contaminated food will not develop symptoms. Among those suffering clinical illness most cases remain unpleasant but not threatening. After incubating for 8-72 hours the bacteria cause sudden onset of crampy non-specific abdominal pain, diarrhea sometimes bloody, nausea, vomiting and headache along with generalized body aches. The fever rises to 100-102 degrees and may be associated with chills. Dehydration may result. In a relatively small number the bacteria invade the bloodstream and may target the heart, brain or joints.
Even without treatment, most people spontaneously recover. Until recently antibiotic treatment was standard practice. This outmoded concept actually resulted in more harm than benefit. Currently antibiotics are not routinely prescribed except to the very young, the elderly and those with impaired immune function.
Complaints of stomach flu falsely suggest the site of involvement involves the upper portion of the gut. Instead the pathology exists in the colon and lower reaches of the small intestine. Of course the flu virus is not involved.