Salmonellosis Symptoms and Treatment
Salmonellosis is the most common food-borne diarrheal illness in the United States. While most salmonellosis victims recover within a week, salmonella bacteria kill about 600 people every year. In addition, about 10-15 percent of salmonellosis victims develop serious complications, such as severe dehydration, blood infection and Reiter's syndrome. If these conditions are not diagnosed and treated promptly, they can have fatal consequences. Sadly, young children are especially prone to developing salmonellosis complications, and in this group the fatality rate is about five times greater than that of the general population.
Salmonella Infection
Salmonella bacteria are present in soil and water, as well as in the intestines of birds, reptiles and large animals. Once the animals are slaughtered, the bacteria sometimes spread from the intestines to other tissues, infecting the meat. If the poultry and meat products are not cooked thoroughly, salmonella can survive and be transferred to the human gastrointestinal tract. In the human intestines, salmonella can cause inflammation, which prompts the body to get rid of the harmful bacteria through violent diarrhea.
Food-borne infections account for about 85 percent of all salmonellosis cases. However, it is also possible to contract salmonella bacteria from other people if they are sick and do not follow proper hygiene practices. In addition, salmonella-infected restaurant chefs and servers can contaminate the food if they do not wash their hands thoroughly after using the restroom. Another source of salmonella infection is reptiles, especially small turtles. Most small turtles are infected with salmonella, and the bacteria are often present on their skin, making turtles extremely contagious. In order to limit turtle-related salmonella outbreaks, the sale of small turtles in the United States was banned in 1975.
Salmonellosis Symptoms
Salmonellosis symptoms typically appear within 6 to 72 hours after ingesting the bacteria. Most victims notice a sudden onset of violent diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach cramps and fever. In some cases, salmonellosis victims also experience headaches, muscle pain, fatigue and irritation. If the salmonella bacteria spread from the intestinal tract to the bloodstream, victims might experience shock as the blood rapidly becomes toxic. Salmonellosis victims who develop Reiter's syndrome might also notice increasing joint pain due to arthritis, conjunctivitis (eye irritation) and painful urination.
Salmonellosis Treatment
In most cases, salmonellosis symptoms resolve by themselves within five to ten days. However, some salmonellosis victims might require intravenous rehydration therapy if the diarrhea and vomiting has caused severe dehydration. Salmonellosis victims who develop sepsis (blood poisoning) require immediate antibiotic treatment to prevent shock that might lead to lethal consequences. For salmonellosis victims who are diagnosed with Reiter's syndrome, treatments might be provided to relieve the symptoms, such as eye drops to ease eye irritation and pain medications to relieve joint discomfort.
Salmonellosis Legal Help
In the United States, producers and distributors of food products are required to provide consumers with reasonably safe food items. Failure to carry out this responsibility might make the respective companies financially liable for any damages sustained by victims who have been injured after consuming the tainted products. If you suspect that your salmonella infection or the illness of your loved one was caused by a salmonella-tainted product, you might be entitled to compensation. Contact the law offices of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz at (888) 255-2956 to discuss your case and learn about your legal rights. In addition to helping you file a salmonella personal injury lawsuit, the attorneys of AWKO Law are experienced at negotiating and litigating cases arising from e. coli, shigella, cholera and campylobacter food poisoning.
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Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz
803 North Palafox St.
Pensacola, Florida 32501
55 Baybridge Dr.
Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561
