Have you ever experienced severe abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea without any known cause? It is possible that you could be dealing with a Salmonella infection.
Characterized by its rapid onset of symptoms like fever, chills, and headache in addition to the aforementioned ones—Salmonella infections can range from mild to life-threatening depending on the severity. In this article, we will discuss the symptoms of salmonella and who is at risk of contracting this infection.
What are the Symptoms of Salmonella?
Salmonella can be found in various foods that can become contaminated for unavoidable reasons. Chicken, turkey, beef, pork, eggs, fruits, vegetables, sprouts, frozen pot pies, nut butters, and stuffed chicken foods are all potential hosts for Salmonella bacteria. Be aware of these common signs and symptoms of salmonella infection:
- Gastroenteritis: These are the most common Salmonella infection symptoms, which are characterized by:
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain & cramps
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Loss of appetite
- Bloody stool
- Enteric fevers: Fevers like typhoid fever (caused by Salmonella Typhi) is the second most common manifestation of salmonella infection. This fever is characterized by:
- Chills
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Fever starts from and increases gradually throughout the day
- Skin rash
- Diarrhoea
- Septicemia: Salmonella septicaemia is a rare condition, that occurs particularly in people who have AIDS. The presence of salmonella in the blood causes a severe inflammatory response in the entire body that could be life threatening. It is characterized by:
- High fever & chills
- Abdominal pain
- Increased heart rate
- Red hot skin
- Confusion