ALL ABOUT SALMONELLA

What is Salmonellosis?

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Salmonellosis is an infection with bacteria called Salmonella. Salmonella germs have been causing illness for well over 100 years. Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and people usually recover without treatment. In some patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated immediately with antibiotics.

How Common is Salmonellosis?

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Every year, near 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported in the United States. Many milder cases are not diagnosed or reported. Therefore the actual number of infections may be several times greater. There are many different kinds of Salmonella bacteria. So it is therefore very common in the United States.