After eating a meal bought from the store, or perhaps something cooked at home, your stomach starts to churn, you feel sick, you vomit, you feel weak... Have you ever had an experience like this? We often call this "food poisoning". The main and most common cause of food poisoning in this way is the bacteria Salmonella. So today we will talk about what this salmonella is, what happens when it enters our bodies, and how to protect ourselves from it.
Simply put, what is Salmonella?
Salmonella is a type of bacteria. When this bacteria enters our body, we medically call it gastroenteritis, a condition that causes
stomach problems , such as
diarrhea , stomach cramps, and
vomiting . But in the language we speak, we directly call it "salmonella poisoning." This is the most common type of food poisoning caused by bacteria in the world. But one thing to remember is that there are different types of Salmonella bacteria. Some types cause serious diseases like typhoid
fever . But the salmonella that we are talking about today, which causes common food poisoning, is different.
What happens when Salmonella enters the body?
Imagine that you eat food that contains salmonella bacteria. This bacteria goes into our stomach. Normally, our stomach acid and our
immune system kill these
germs . But sometimes, if enough bacteria get past these defenses and into our intestines, that's where the problem starts. This bacteria
enters the cells that line the inside of our intestines and starts to destroy them. When this happens, it becomes very difficult for our body to absorb water and nutrients from the intestines.
- Why do I get a stomach ache ? It's when the intestines are damaged in this way that I get a stomach ache and a feeling of being thrown up.
- Why does diarrhea occur? Diarrhea is the extra water that the body cannot absorb. This is actually the body's attempt to expel the germs .
Who is at higher risk of contracting this disease?
Anyone can get salmonella. But some people are more likely to get it, and some people can get more serious if they do get it. Let's break this risk down into two categories.
| Risk category | Description |
|---|
| People who are more likely to get infected | - Children under 5 years of age: Because their immune systems are still developing.
- People who work or live with animals: People who interact with animals such as chickens, ducks, turtles, and lizards are especially at risk.
- People taking antacids or recently taking antibiotics: These medications reduce stomach acid, allowing bacteria to survive more easily.
- People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease ( IBD ): Infections can occur easily because the intestines are already damaged by these diseases.
|
| People who are more likely to have severe disease | - Babies under 12 months of age and people over 65 years of age: Both of these people have weak immune systems and may be more susceptible to the disease.
- People with weakened immune systems: For example, people with HIV, those undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, or those whose immune system is weakened due to other diseases/medications.
- People with sickle cell disease: These people are at increased risk of developing rare complications such as osteomyelitis, a bone infection caused by Salmonella infection.
|
What are the symptoms of salmonella?
Symptoms can appear within a few hours to two to three days after Salmonella bacteria enters the body. These symptoms mainly occur in our stomach and intestines.
- Diarrhea: This is the main symptom. Sometimes there may be a little blood in the stool.
- Fever: You can get a fever if your body gets too hot.
- Stomach cramps and pain: The pain may feel like your stomach is rolling over or twisting.
- Nausea and Vomiting: Vomiting and persistent nausea may occur.
- Headache: Some people also get headaches.
Important: You may have one or more of these symptoms. Not everyone will show all of them at once.
Is everyone going to vomit?
No. Not everyone who gets Salmonella will vomit.
The most common symptoms are diarrhea and fever. Vomiting is just another symptom that some people experience.
Normally, stools are liquid and can be passed frequently. That means they are watery. Sometimes
, if you see a little blood in your stool, that is something to be concerned about. If that happens, definitely see your doctor.
How does this salmonella get into our bodies?
Salmonella bacteria normally live in the intestines of humans and animals. So this bacteria can get into our food and drink and into things we touch in various ways.
The main ways in which Salmonella is transmitted are:- Undercooked foods: Eating undercooked meat, poultry, seafood, and especially raw or undercooked eggs.
- Germ-laden fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables eaten without washing.
- Unclean water and milk: Drinking unclean water, eating things like unpasteurized milk or cheese.
- Preparing food without washing hands: Not washing hands properly while preparing or eating food.
- From animals: This bacteria can be found in the fur, feathers, skin, scales, and feces of animals. If we touch these animals without washing our hands and then put our hands in our mouths, the bacteria can easily enter our bodies. It can be transmitted from any animal in the house, such as dogs, cats, chickens, and turtles.
- From an infected person: If someone with salmonella goes to the bathroom and prepares food without washing their hands properly, or if we touch something they touched, we can also become infected.
Importantly, food that contains Salmonella bacteria is usually not visibly altered. It does not change color, smell, or taste. So we cannot detect it by sight.
How does a doctor detect this?
If you have the symptoms mentioned above and they don't improve after a few days, it's best to see a doctor. The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and examine you. They will usually do several tests to confirm the diagnosis.
- Stool sample test:This is the main test. You will be asked to put a small amount of stool into a special container. The lab will test this sample for the presence of Salmonella bacteria.
- Blood sample: Sometimes, especially if the disease is severe, a blood sample is taken to see if the bacteria has spread to the blood.
- Other samples: Very rarely, a urine sample or pus from a wound on the body may also be tested.
How is it treated? How can it be managed at home?
The biggest question many people have is whether they need medication for this.
The good news is that most cases of salmonella infection do not require any special treatment. Our body's immune system can fight off the bacteria and win. Symptoms will gradually improve and resolve within 4 to 7 days.
However, if the disease is severe, or if you belong to one of the risk groups mentioned above, your doctor may decide to give you
antibiotics . For example, you may be given medications like Ciprofloxacin, Ceftriaxone, or Azithromycin.
The most important things to manage at home
The most important thing we need to pay attention to in this illness is
to prevent dehydration, or water retention. Diarrhea and vomiting cause the body to lose a large amount of fluid. This can be dangerous. Therefore,
- Drink as many fluids as possible: Drink small amounts of water, broth, porridge, soups, orange juice, and fruit juice (with a little water added) frequently.
- Rest: Resting your body helps you heal faster.
- Antidiarrheal medications: Adults can temporarily use over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications, such as loperamide, but never give these medications to young children without first consulting a doctor.
What complications can this cause?
Although salmonella usually resolves within a few days, it can sometimes cause complications, especially if left untreated or in people in risk groups.
- Dehydration: This is the most common and dangerous complication. If the amount of water and salts in the body decreases dangerously, it can even be life-threatening.
- Bacteremia: Bacteria can enter the bloodstream from the intestines and spread throughout the body. This can lead to a dangerous condition called sepsis.
- Reactive Arthritis:After the infection clears up, some people may experience symptoms such as joint pain and red eyes as a reaction to the immune system.
- Bone infection (Osteomyelitis): This is very rare, but there is a risk of it occurring in people with sickle cell disease.
The risk of death from salmonella is very low, but it is not completely impossible. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the symptoms.
The most important part: How to protect yourself from salmonella?
Staying safe from this disease is not really that difficult. It's enough to be a little careful in some of the things we do every day.
Be sure to do these things when preparing food
1.
Wash your hands often: Always wash your hands with soap and water before preparing food, before eating, after using the toilet, and after handling raw meat and fish. 2.
Separate raw meat and cooked food: Do not use cutting boards, knives, or other utensils to cut raw meat or poultry. Wash and clean them thoroughly after use. Do not place cooked food on a plate with raw meat. 3.
Cook food thoroughly: Cook meat, fish, poultry, and eggs until they are thoroughly cooked inside. If they are still pink, they are not cooked properly. 4.
Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly: Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating or cooking. 5.
Keep food at the right temperature: Refrigerate cooked food quickly. Do not leave it out for too long. 6.
Use only pasteurized dairy products: Check to see if store-bought milk, yogurt, and cheese have been pasteurized.
Think about this when interacting with animals.
1.
Wash your hands after handling animals: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling pets, including your pets, and after cleaning their food bowls and cages. 2.
Don't kiss animals: Avoid kissing animals on the mouth or face. 3.
Don't keep animals in the kitchen: Don't keep animals, especially turtles and lizards, in the kitchen or where food is prepared. 4.
Be careful with people with weakened immune systems: If you have a weakened immune system, or if you have a child under 5 years of age or someone over 65 at home, avoid touching high-risk animals (turtles, chickens).
When should you see a doctor?
Symptoms should usually subside within a few days. However, if you have any of the following symptoms, see a doctor or go
to the Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
- Severe diarrhea: If you have diarrhea for more than 3 days.
- Blood in the stool.
- Severe fever: If you have a fever higher than 102°F (39°C).
- Frequent vomiting: If you vomit so much that you can't keep anything down.
- Symptoms of severe dehydration:
- Very low frequency and amount of urine output.
- Dark yellow/orange urine.
- Dry mouth and tongue.
- Feeling dizzy when standing.
Take-Home Message
- Salmonella is a common bacteria that causes food poisoning. This usually clears up on its own within a few days.
- The most important thing in this disease is to prevent dehydration, so drink as much fluids as possible.
- By taking care of food safety (cooking well, washing hands), 99% of this disease can be prevented.
- Be sure to wash your hands after touching animals.
- If you have severe symptoms (high fever, blood in your stool, severe dehydration), see a doctor immediately.
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