Salmonella is a group of bacteria known to cause a type of food poisoning. It may be transmitted on nearly any type of food, though transmission through milk products is common. While raw, unpasteurized milk frequently gets the blame for spreading salmonella, pasteurized milk has also been known to spread the bacteria. According to Dr. William Douglass Jr., more than 1,500 cases of salmonella were documented due to pasteurized milk in Illinois in 1985. The University of Virginia Health System states that symptoms of salmonella poisoning can begin 12 to 72 hours after the bacteria are ingested.
Diarrhea and Abdominal Pain
The most prevalent symptom of salmonella is diarrhea. According to About-Salmonella.com, diarrhea occurs in varying degrees, based on the severity of the bacterial illness present. Mild cases may have infrequent and occasional diarrhea. Severe cases of salmonella infection are accompanied by frequent visits to the bathroom with bloody or mucous filled diarrhea. Dehydration is a major concern in these cases; it is difficult to replace fluids as quickly as they are lost. Diarrhea may last from 24 to 72 hours. Abdominal pain occurs with salmonella due to intestinal cramping accompanied by diarrhea. Abdominal pain generally subsides as diarrhea diminishes.
Fever
Individuals with salmonella frequently exhibit a fever of 100 to 102 degrees F. According to Dr. Alan Greene, children infected with salmonella may display high fevers. High fevers are classified as a fever over 103.5 degrees F.
Nausea
While not as common as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting can occur after becoming infected with salmonella. These symptoms further contribute to the risk of dehydration; therefore individuals should be careful to replace fluids lost to vomiting and diarrhea. If dehydration occurs, rehydration via intravenous fluids may be required.
Duration
Unless dehydration occurs or the infection spreads to the blood, salmonella generally resolves itself within five to seven days. Symptoms begin to subside after the third day in most cases, though individuals may still feel weak due to lack of nutrition and loss of fluids.
