Salmonella Infection: Symptoms, Causes & Prevention | CDC

Salmonella is a type of bacterium that infects the intestinal tract. Typically, salmonella is contracted by eating or drinking contaminated products. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 40,000 cases are reported in the United States each year.

Symptoms

• Salmonella infection symptoms are characterized by nausea, abdominal pain, fever and diarrhea. Additional symptoms may also occur, such as headache, blood in stool and muscle ache.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosis of salmonella infection can only be confirmed by sending a stool sample to the laboratory for testing.

Complications

• Persons infected with salmonella may experience long-term complications. According to the CDC, salmonella infection can develop into Reiter's syndrome, a form of reactive arthritis.

Time Frame

• According to the Mayo Clinic, individuals infected with salmonella will begin to experience symptoms between 12 and 72 hours after being exposed to the bacterium. Typically, a healthy individual will recover from the infection within four to seven days without treatment.

Risk Factors

• According to the Mayo Clinic, individuals who own a pet bird or reptile or live in shared quarters, such as a college dorm, are at a greater risk of contracting a salmonella infection.