Salmonella enterocolitis

Salmonella enterocolitis is an infection in the lining of the small intestine that is caused by salmonella bacteria. It is a type of food poisoning.

Causes

Salmonella infection is one of the most common types of food poisoning . It occurs when you swallow food or water that contains salmonella bacteria.

Food poisoning

Food poisoning occurs when you swallow food or water that contains bacteria, parasites, viruses, or the toxins made by these germs. Most cases are c...

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The salmonella germs may get into the food you eat in several ways.

You are more likely to get this type of infection if you:

• Eat foods such as turkey, turkey dressing, chicken, or eggs that have not been cooked well or stored properly
• Are around family members with a recent salmonella infection
• Have been in or worked in a hospital, nursing home, or other long-term health facility
• Have a pet iguana or other lizards, turtles, or snakes (reptiles and amphibians are carriers of salmonella)
• Handle live poultry
• Have a weakened immune system
• Regularly used medicines that block acid production in the stomach
• Have Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis
• Used antibiotics in the recent past

Most people with this condition are younger than 20 years old.

Symptoms

The time between getting infected and having symptoms is 8 to 72 hours. Symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain , cramping, or tenderness

  Abdominal pain

  Abdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.

  

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• Chills

  Chills

  Chills refers to feeling cold after being in a cold environment. The word can also refer to an episode of shivering along with paleness and feeling ...

   

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• Diarrhea

  Diarrhea

  Diarrhea is when you pass loose or watery stool.

  

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• Fever

  Fever

  Fever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...

  

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• Muscle pain

  Muscle pain

  Muscle aches and pains are common and can involve more than 1 muscle. Muscle pain also can involve ligaments, tendons, and fascia. Fascia are the s...

  

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• Nausea

  Nausea

  Nausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up is forcing the contents of the stomach ...

  

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• Vomiting

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. You may have a tender abdomen and tiny pink spots, called rose spots, on your skin.

Tests that may be done include:

• Blood culture
• Complete blood count with differential
• Test for specific antibodies called  febrile/cold agglutinins

  Antibodies

  An antibody is a protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include micr...

  

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  Febrile/cold agglutinins

  Agglutinins are antibodies that cause the red blood cells to clump together. Cold agglutinins are active at cold temperatures. Febrile (warm) aggluti...

  

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• Stool culture for salmonella

  Stool culture

  A fecal culture is a lab test to find organisms in the stool (feces) that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and disease.

  

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• Examination of stool for white blood cells

Treatment

The goal is to make you feel better and avoid dehydration. Dehydration means your body does not have as much water and fluids as it should.

These things may help you feel better if you have diarrhea:

• Drink 8 to 10 glasses of clear fluids every day. Water is best.
• Drink at least 1 cup (240 milliliters) of liquid every time you have a loose bowel movement.
• Eat small meals throughout the day instead of 3 big meals.
• Eat some salty foods, such as pretzels, soup, and sports drinks.
• Eat some high-potassium foods, such as bananas, potatoes without the skin, and watered-down fruit juices.

If your child has samonella, it is important to keep them from getting dehydrated. At first, try 1 ounce (2 tablespoons or 30 milliliters) of fluid every 30 to 60 minutes.

• Infants should continue to breastfeed and receive electrolyte replacement solutions as recommended by your child's provider.

  Electrolyte

  Electrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways...

   

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• You can use an over-the-counter drink, such as Pedialyte or Infalyte. Do not water down these drinks.
• You can also try Pedialyte freezer pops.
• Watered-down fruit juice or broth may also help.

Medicines that slow diarrhea are often not given because they may make the infection last longer. If you have severe symptoms, your provider may prescribe antibiotics if you:

• Have diarrhea more than 9 or 10 times per day
• Have a high fever
• Need to be in the hospital

If you take water pills or diuretics, you may need to stop taking them when you have diarrhea. Ask your provider.

Outlook (Prognosis)

In otherwise healthy people, symptoms should go away in 2 to 5 days, but they may last for 1 to 2 weeks.

People who have been treated for salmonella may continue to shed the bacteria in their stool for months to a year after the infection. Food handlers who carry salmonella in their body can pass the infection to the people who eat the food they have handled.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your provider if:

• There is blood or pus in your stools.
• You have diarrhea and are unable to drink fluids due to nausea or vomiting.
• You have a fever above 101 ° F (38.3°C) and diarrhea.
• You have signs of dehydration (thirst, dizziness, lightheadedness).
• You have recently traveled to a foreign country and developed diarrhea.
• Your diarrhea does not get better in 5 days, or it gets worse.

If your child has symptoms, call your provider if your child has:

• A fever above 100.4°F (38°C) and diarrhea
• Diarrhea that does not get better in 2 days, or it gets worse
• Been vomiting for more than 12 hours (in a newborn under 3 months, you should call as soon as vomiting or diarrhea begin)
• Reduced urine output , sunken eyes, sticky or dry mouth, or no tears when crying

  Reduced urine output

  Decreased urine output means that you produce less urine than normal. Most adults make at least 500 ml of urine in 24 hours (a little over 2 cups)....

  

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Prevention

Learning how to prevent food poisoning can reduce the risk for this infection. Follow these safety measures:

• Properly handle and store foods.
• Wash your hands when handling eggs, poultry, and other foods.
• If you own a reptile, wear gloves when handling the animal or its feces because salmonella can easily pass to humans.