Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis is an acute intestinal infection caused by certain pathogenic strains of Salmonella.

What is salmonellosis?

Acute intestinal poisoning can be caused by salmonella. Salmonella is a bacteria that can invade cells. They come in different types and cause different diseases. Salmonellosis is classified as enteritis, that is, inflammatory bowel disease.

There is a type of salmonella that causes typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever. But these diseases are classified as a separate group, as they have a number of significant differences. The causative agents of typhoid and paratyphoid fever cause diseases only in humans; animals do not become infected. They penetrate from the intestines into the blood and cause systemic disease of the entire body and can cause dangerous blood poisoning (sepsis). In developed economic countries, these diseases practically do not occur.

Salmonella, pathogens of enteritis, infect both humans and animals. They do not spread throughout the body, but remain in the intestines. This type of salmonella adapts well to the environment and can survive for several months even in the freezer.

Salmonella mainly affects the ileum and colon . In response to Salmonella infection, an inflammatory reaction occurs in the mucous membrane.

There are four forms of salmonellosis:

• gastrointestinal (acute gastroenteritis),
• typhus-like (typhoid fever),
• septicopyemic,
• asymptomatic bacterial carriage.

Symptoms

Acute gastroenteritis (gastrointestinal form) begins acutely:

• body temperature rises,
• chills appear,
• vomit,
• profuse watery stools
• stomach ache.

The first signs of the disease appear 5-72 hours after the pathogen enters the body. This period depends on the number of bacteria, the age of the person and the state of his immunity. The disease usually lasts 7-10 days.

With this disease, the cardiovascular system may suffer. This may manifest as tachycardia, hypotension and extrasystole. Collapse develops in 5-7% of patients.

In severe cases, there is a large loss of fluid (hypohydration), loss of electrolytes, disturbances in the acid-base balance, up to metabolic acidosis (oxidation of the body). In the blood, the level of hemoglobin and the number of erythrocytes and leukocytes increase with a sharp shift in the leukocyte formula to the left.

Typhoid fever and septicopyemic form of salmonellosis begin with the same symptoms as acute gastroenteritis. These forms are severe and are characterized by long, wave-like rises in body temperature with a protracted or chronic course.

After suffering from salmonellosis, some people remain carriers of this bacterium (bacterium carriers).

How is salmonellosis transmitted?

In most cases, infection with this intestinal infection occurs by eating contaminated food or through direct contact with sick people.

Salmonella is especially common on raw eggs, as well as in insufficiently heat-treated meat (especially poultry and shellfish).

It is important not to store food in the refrigerator unopened, as salmonella can be transferred from contaminated food to other foods, such as vegetables and fruits.

Sometimes infection occurs from domestic animals, mainly reptiles.

At-risk groups

Salmonella is especially dangerous for infants, young children, old and weakened people. People with immunodeficiency, as well as with inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, are also at risk.

Research and diagnostics

The diagnosis is confirmed by the detection of salmonella in the stool, vomit, urine and blood of patients.

It is also important to recognize the signs of dehydration and assess their severity. Dehydration occurs due to loss of fluid and salt through vomiting and diarrhea.

A blood test can also confirm this diagnosis. Serological tests of liquids are also carried out.

Differential diagnosis

Some symptoms of salmonella poisoning are similar to those of other diseases. First of all, exclude infection with other infections (for example, staphylococcal). Symptoms similar to typhoid fever also occur with malaria, heart problems, tuberculosis and other intestinal diseases (for example, ulcerative colitis ).

The first symptoms may also be similar to dysentery, cholera, viral gastroenteritis, as well as poisoning with heavy metal salts.

Treatment

For salmonella gastroenteritis and bacterial carriage, antibiotics are useless.
Therapy is carried out aimed at detoxifying (cleansing) the body and restoring blood circulation.

Treatment depends on the type of salmonella and the form and severity of the disease. In all cases of salmonella poisoning, special attention should be paid to maintaining good hygiene.

It is necessary to restore and maintain water-electrolyte metabolism.
To do this, it is recommended to eat the right diet to get enough salts and glucose.

home remedies to reduce diarrhea .

Typhoid fever and septicopyemic salmonellosis should be treated with antibiotics. Treatment is carried out for 10-12 days or more.

In cases of bacterial carriage, the main role is played by restorative treatment methods aimed at increasing the body's reactivity.

Course of the disease and prognosis

Salmonellosis goes away with proper treatment, usually without consequences. In each specific case it depends on many factors, such as the age and physical characteristics of the patient. Severe complications occur most often in weak people (especially young children and the elderly). Death as a result of complications from salmonella poisoning with timely treatment occurs extremely rarely.

Recovery does not come immediately. The duration of treatment until complete recovery can be several weeks or even months. Functional intestinal disorders are often observed in the form of an alternation of various factors, such as diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, abdominal pain, poor tolerance to milk and other products containing disaccharides.

Complications of salmonellosis

Due to large loss of fluid, vascular insufficiency may occur.
The consequences of this can be kidney or heart failure.
Other possible consequences of salmonella poisoning include intestinal bleeding, intestinal ulcers and breakouts. Intestinal rupture is suspected when the body temperature suddenly drops during the course of the disease.

Prevention

1. The main measure of protection against salmonella poisoning is drinking clean drinking water and maintaining food hygiene.
2. Products that may contain salmonella (for example, meat, eggs) should be stored separately from other products and at temperatures below ten degrees.
3. These products should also be prepared separately so as not to transfer salmonella, for example, to products intended to be eaten raw. Poultry, fish and meat must be well cooked. This kills salmonella. Minced meat should not be stored for more than a day.
4. Dishes that contain raw egg should be consumed as soon as possible after preparation.

List of products susceptible to salmonella contamination

There are several food groups that are most vulnerable to salmonella bacteria, these include:

• raw or undercooked eggs, as well as products made from them,
• meat, especially raw chicken and minced meat,
• raw milk and dairy products,
• raw fish,
• seafood,
• ice cream,
• fruits and vegetables,
• ice cubes and water (especially in tropical areas with poor hygiene),
• all products whose production is accompanied by poor hygienic processing.