About-Salmonella



Salmonella is a common type of bacteria that usually causes the food borne illness Salmonellosis. They are microscopic living creatures that pass from the feces of aminals and humans to other animals and humans. The //Salmonella// family includes over 2,300 serotypes of bacteria which are one-celled organisms too small to be seen without a microscope. Two types, //Salmonella// Enteritidis and //Salmonella// Typhimurium are the most common in the United States and account for about 50% of all human infections. At times the certain strain may not effect humans and effect animals instead, and another strain may be the other way around. The Salmonella bacteria lives in the intestines of the infected human or animal. //Salmonella// bacteria have been known to cause illness for over 100 years. They were discovered by an American scientist, Dr. Daniel E. Salmon.



Salmonellosis is an infectation with Salmonella. Most people infected with Salmonella expirance diarrhea, fever, vomiting and abdomanal cramps. Usually salmonellosis lasts around 3-7 days and shows up 12-72hrs after eating the contaminated food. The majority of the time Samonellosis goes away without the need for treatment. However sometimes the diarrea associated with Salmonella infectation is so severe the person becomes seriously dehidrated, and they may need to be hospitalized. At the hospital the pateint will be given fluids through an IV and possibly something to ease the fever. In severe cases, the //Salmonella// infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness. Some people afflicted with salmonellosis later experience reactive arthritis, which can have long-lasting, disabling effects.