Salmonella food poisoning can be spread from eating meat from infected animals or by ingesting the feces of an infected animal or person. Food handlers who do not practice proper hygienic techniques of washing hands can spread the infection. Salmonella can result in the onset of nausea, abdominal cramping and bloody diarrhea with mucous. Other symptoms include fever, vomiting, headaches, muscle pain and joint pain. The symptoms may occur within six to 72 hours after being infected. Salmonella infections often do not require treatment and usually end in about five to seven days, according to the Foodborne Illness website.
Re-hydration
If a person becomes severely dehydrated through diarrhea caused by the food poisoning, re-hydration may be an option. Oral hydration may be performed with solutions that help bring fluids and salts into the intestinal wall. Intravenous fluid replacement is another method. Sterile water solutions that contain small amounts of salt or sugar are injected into the body through a tube that is inserted into a vein. Dehydration interferes with the body's normal functioning of carrying electrical impulses from cell to cell. Intravenous fluid replacement returns electrolytes to the body to achieve fluid balance.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics may be prescribed to kill the bacteria if your doctor suspects that salmonella bacteria have entered the bloodstream, according to the Mayo Clinic. Antibiotics are used only if the infection has spread from the intestines or continues to cause problems.
Antidiarrheals
Antidiarrheals, such as Imodium, may be prescribed to help relieve cramping brought on by the diarrhea caused by a salmonella infection. The bacteria can be discovered through blood samples or in stool cultures.
Injections
A rare result of salmonella poisoning is Reiter's syndrome, or reactive arthritis. It may occur between one and three weeks following infection. It can affect the knees, ankles, feet, wrists, fingers and other joints, causing pain and swelling. Treatment includes anti-inflammatory drugs and steroid injections into the affected joints. Corticosteroid injections are used for people with severe joint inflammation.
Options
Although salmonella usually clears up on its own, if your symptoms are severe, it might be a good idea to consult a physician who can offer you treatment options. It's also important to take preventative steps, such as washing your hands thoroughly to avoid the transfer of salmonella bacteria to your mouth or to any food you are preparing, the Mayo Clinic advises.
