Salmonella

Salmonella, or salmonellosis, is a bacterial disease that disturbs the intestinal tract of its host. The bacterium is spread through the elimination of fecal matter and can contaminate food and water supplies. Learn more about salmonella from the health and wellness writers at Paper Masters.

Eating food that is not properly prepared or stored can lead to a person contacting salmonella. Specifically eating raw or undercooked meat and eggs can give a person salmonella. Produce can also be contaminated with salmonella bacteria. This is especially true of fruits and vegetables imported from other countries.

Facts About Salmonella for Your Research Paper

Salmonella can cause a person to have severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and a fever. Depending on the severity of the case, a person can become dehydrated caused by accompanying diarrhea. Severe dehydration can be very dangerous and requires immediate medical help. Other symptoms include the following:

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Boody stool

Salmonella can also lead to bacteremia, which is where the bacteria spread into the bloodstream. This can cause meningitis and endocarditis which can both be life threatening.

Most healthy people feel better within 72 hours of their first symptoms of salmonella. Some people never even realize they have come in contact with salmonella and never have any symptoms. People who travel to underdeveloped countries also have a high risk of contracting salmonella from unclean water due to poor sanitation processes.

The best ways to prevent the spread of salmonella is to wash your hands after using the bathroom, handling raw meat, changing diapers, and cleaning up after pets. Avoid cross contamination by storing meat away from other items in the fridge and using different plates, utensils, and cutting boards.