{"id":5326,"date":"2019-04-11T05:46:41","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T05:46:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=5326"},"modified":"2021-05-31T23:42:44","modified_gmt":"2021-05-31T23:42:44","slug":"14-most-common-symptoms-of-salmonella","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-most-common-symptoms-of-salmonella\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Most Common Symptoms of Salmonella"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Salmonella is one of the most common causes of food poisoning in the United States. There are more than 7000 cases of the poisoning reported every year. However, many cases of food poisoning go unreported. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that there are over a million people in the United States contract salmonella every year and that there are over 20,000 hospitalizations caused by salmonella and nearly 400 deaths occur as a result of salmonella. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salmonella typically occurs because a person eats food that is contaminated with feces of humans or animals who carry the bacteria. Meat, poultry, and eggs are common culprits. However, fruits and vegetables can also become contaminated with bacteria. For this reason, it is important to know the signs and symptoms of salmonella. Here are 8 of the most common symptoms of salmonella to look out for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Vomiting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common symptoms of salmonella is vomiting<\/a>. The main reason for this is because this bacteria affects the digestive symptoms. Vomiting profusely can cause a person to lose important fluids. When these fluids are lost, a person may become dehydrated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dehydration can have serious consequences especially in small children and people who have compromised immune systems. For this reason, if you suspect a young child or a person who is elderly or those who have illnesses such as HIV or cancer, has salmonella poisoning it is important to take them to the doctor right away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also important to make sure that you give them plenty of fluids in order to help them to rehydrate. Noticing this symptom early on is important so that the person does not get totally dehydrated, which can cause them to become even sicker and can cause even more complications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Diarrhea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another common symptom of salmonella infection is diarrhea. Diarrhea involves passing stools that are watery or loose. Diarrhea <\/a>that is caused by an infection such as E. coli may be bloody. When salmonella is the cause of diarrhea there is typically no blood in it. Similar to vomiting, diarrhea that is caused by salmonella is because the salmonella is attacking the gastrointestinal tract. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bacteria will interfere with gut. This can cause half-digested foods to be eliminated. Diarrhea can be caused by numerous viruses, infections, and other bacteria as well as food poisoning. If diarrhea persists for several hours it can cause many complications, including dehydration. Dehydration can cause some serious complications as your body needs fluids in order to function properly. If you have become dehydrated it is important to make sure that you seek medical attention in order to avoid further health issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Fever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Like many other types of infections, salmonella <\/a>poisoning can cause a person to develop a fever. In many cases of salmonella, a person will develop a temperature of at least 102 degrees F. When the body detects the presence of bacteria it will start to try to fight it off. One of the ways that the body tries to fight off the bacteria is to raise the body temperature. The reason for this is to help kill off the bacteria that are invading the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The increase in body temperature can be detected by taking your temperature using a thermometer. Simply touching a person\u2019s forehead can also help you detect a fever. Most of the time a person who has developed a fever will feel clammy and cold. If you or a loved one has developed a fever and also has some of the other symptoms on this list, it is a good idea to consider seeking advice from a doctor in order to determine the underlying cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Abdominal Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Abdominal pain can be caused by many different types of issues. If you are experiencing abdominal pain it could be a sign that you have salmonella infection. The purpose of the digestive system<\/a> is to absorb the nutrients from your food through digestion and then removing the waste. When the digestive system is functioning properly you may notice movements within the system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, when an infection or an irritation of the digestive system occurs it can cause the sensory system of the gut it can cause it to go into overdrive. The reason for this is to clear the irritant from the digestive system. A salmonella infection may cause the stomach to have violent contractions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These contractions may be mistaken for appendicitis. If you are suffering from abdominal pain it is possible that you are suffering from salmonella. Chances are likely that you will also have one or more of the other symptoms on this list as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Nausea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As with many other types of abdominal issues, when you have salmonella poisoning it may cause you to feel nauseous. Nausea <\/a>refers to the feeling that you want to vomit, but you may not actually vomit. When it comes to salmonella, nausea is often accompanied by pain in the lower abdominal area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nausea may become very uncomfortable. It also may be followed by actual vomiting. For this reason, extreme nausea may also lead to a person becoming dehydrated. The reason for this is because when a person is nauseous they may not want to eat or drink anything because their stomach is uncomfortable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are feeling nauseous and not eating or drinking enough and you have other symptoms of salmonella, you may want to take the time to go visit your doctor to find out the underlying cause. Getting to the root of the cause as early as possible is the best way to feel better quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. Irritable Bowel Syndrome<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have never had any issues with your digestive system and you are currently experiencing irritable bowel syndrome, chances are good that you are suffering from a salmonella infection and not know it. There are studies that have shown that irritable bowel syndrome<\/a> may develop after a person has been infected with salmonella bacteria or other microbes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Irritable bowel syndrome is a post-infection issue that is often caused by severe infections that included diarrhea that lasted for more than a week, weight loss of more than ten pounds, and abdominal cramps. A female is most likely to get this type of IBS than males. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Irritable bowel syndrome can cause a lot of discomfort. It causes cramping, diarrhea, bloating, and constipation and can be very mild or quite severe. It is important to make sure that you talk to your doctor about these symptoms so that proper treatment can be provided. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7. Dry Mouth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who have salmonella may experience dry mouth<\/a>. The main cause of this symptom of salmonella is dehydration. Salmonella causes the body to lose fluids through vomiting and diarrhea. These symptoms cause a person to become steadily dehydrated. If these symptoms persist for a long period of time without the person getting replenished, it can lead to a person feeling like their mouth and tongue are quite dry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is because the body is producing less saliva. Other signs that a person may be dehydrated include muscle cramps, headaches, dry lips, sunken eyes, and a reduction in the amount of urine that they are producing. A person who is suffering from salmonella poisoning need to make sure that they are taking in plenty of water and other fluids whether they are being treated or not. Dehydration can be quite dangerous and cause many health issues, so it is important to make sure that you do everything you can to stay hydrated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8. Muscular Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another common symptom of salmonella infection is muscular pain. If you also are running a fever and have a headache, it can be easy to think that you have the flu. Muscular pain that is caused by salmonella poisoning will typically affect the abdominal muscles<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, other muscles can be affected as well, such as those in the thighs and the arms. There have been reports of people with salmonella poisoning causing back pain as well. The muscular pain may also be caused by an electrolyte imbalance or abdominal cramping caused by dehydration. An electrolyte imbalance affects the function of the muscles by interfering with the electrical signals that control the movements of the muscles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The salmonella infection can affect the bones and the muscles, causing weakness and pain. It may cause an abscess to develop as well. This muscular infection is not very common and typically will occur weeks or even months after an infection is diagnosed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

9. Chills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the body detects a bacterial or viral infection, the brain signals the hypothalamus <\/a>to turn up the temperature. This natural defense mechanism occurs due to pyrogens proteins binding to nerve endings. When this happens, the body creates a new temperature setpoint, inducing a fever.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient may notice that even though they have a fever, they suddenly experience situations where they find themselves cold or shivering. These chills occur due to the body catching up to the current setpoint temperature. While the patient may already have a temperature reading far above baseline, they still feel cold as the pyrogens keep elevating the setpoint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most doctors are hesitant to break a fever as it\u2019s the body\u2019s natural defense mechanism against bacterial or viral infection. Salmonella infection typically causes temperatures of up to 102F. However, should the patient experience a temperature above 103F, the doctor may choose to administer medication to break the fever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

10. Headache
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Salmonella bacteria cause inflammation of the sinus due to an elevation in body temperature. The patient may find that their nose runs and they have a postnasal drip. Congestion may start to occur as the infection set in, and the patient may begin to experience the onset of a headache due to rising cranial pressure.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tension may spark the onset of a migraine, producing painful throbbing sensations of pain at the base of the skull. If left unmanaged, these headaches <\/a>can persist for hours, leaving the patient in a state of extreme discomfort. Severe migraines may also resist treatment with medication, and only subside when the cranial pressure declines.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors treat headaches with painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication. OTC drugs such as Advil and ibuprofen will soothe the effects of a tension headache. Patients may also want to sit in a darkened room with minimal noise to reduce exposure to external environmental triggers that may exacerbate symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

11. Dehydration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dehydration <\/a>is possibly the most severe complication associated with salmonella infection. The bacteria may cause violent diarrhea that persists for 24-hours. During diarrhea, the patient loses body fluids that contain essential minerals and electrolytes.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sodium, phosphorous, calcium, and potassium are critical minerals, along with electrolytes \u2013 responsible for maintaining metabolic functions. When we start to experience mineral deficiencies and imbalances due to diarrhea, the patient runs the risk of developing seizures.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient should replenish body fluids and electrolytes after each bowel movement to prevent mineral loss. However, some patients find it very hard to keep anything down in the initial 6 to 12-hours of the infection. It\u2019s a good idea to feed these patients some dry toast or crackers to see if they can keep it down, then follow up with liquids afterward should they not vomit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

12. Inflammatory Complications
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Salmonella bacteria start to colonize in the gastrointestinal system after entering the stomach<\/a>. As a result, the patient begins to experience symptoms of gas and bloating, followed by sharp pains in the stomach and abdomen.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This inflammation spreads through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream where it starts to cause symptoms of inflammatory distress in other regions of the body. While uncommon, some patients may find that they develop symptoms of stiff or aching joints, particularly in those individuals with existing inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other inflammatory symptoms attributed to salmonella infection may include itchy or sensitive skin, swollen and itching eyelids, as well as a stinging sensation when urinating. While these symptoms may disappear once the infection clears, the symptoms of stiff and aching joints may persist for a few weeks or even a few months.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors can treat some signs of inflammation with NSAIDs and OTC anti-inflammatory supplements. However, since most of the symptoms remain in the acute phase, doctors may leave the patient to recover on by themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

13. Blood Complications
<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Salmonella bacteria enter the body through the mouth, and colonize the digestive system, causing a bacterial imbalance in gut flora<\/a>. In some cases, people who suffer from conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease or IBS may experience swelling of the intestinal wall. When this occurs, salmonella bacteria can pass through the permeable tissues and enter the bloodstream.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When salmonella bacteria enter the bloodstream, they start to create myriad health problems that have the potential of being life-threatening. The bacteria can infect tissues around the heart or heart valves, inducing conditions such as \u201cendocarditis,\u201d where the bacteria inflame the endocardial lining of the heart valves, resulting in the need for immediate medical attention to prevent congestive heart failure.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bacteria may enter the tissues around the brain and the spinal cord, resulting in a life-threatening condition known as \u201cencephalitis.\u201d Other areas of the body at risk of blood infection of the bacteria include the bones and bone marrow, as well as the lining of blood vessels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

14. Treatment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Salmonella infection typically presents mild symptoms of abdominal discomfort and pain that a patient can handle without the use of medications to control the symptoms. However, in cases of severe infection, or an infection of patients with weak immune systems<\/a>, the doctor may decide to administer antibiotic treatments to cure the bacterial infection.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The physician may also recommend the use of OTC pain-relief medication to stop symptoms of congestion and headache. The most important part of treatment is replenishing body fluids. Make sure the patient is rehydrating with purified water and an electrolyte supplement. It\u2019s essential that you don\u2019t use energy drinks like Gatorade for this purpose, as they can increase urination.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your doctor does prescribe antibiotics, it’s vital that you complete the course to prevent the bacteria from recuperating from the medication. Should you fail to adhere to the antibiotic protocol and don\u2019t finish the course, the bacteria may gain resistance to further treatment with antibiotics.
<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

<\/div>