Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Salmonellosis

Over 2500 Salmonella serotypes, also refers to as serovars, are known to cause illness in humans. 

Salmonellosis is a term that refers to infections caused by Salmonella serotypes.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection are associated with mucosal invasion with inflammation or production of toxins.

Salmonella gastroenteritis is the most common form of salmonellosis. The incubation period is 6-72 hours. Nausea, vomiting and loose watery stools are the common symptoms.

Fever, abdominal cramps, myalgias and headache are also common. Fever which rarely exceeds 39° C occurs in approximately one-half of infected patients. Patients usually recover uneventfully within a week without antibiotic treatment.

In some cases, severe diarrhea requires medical interventions such as intravenous fluid rehydration.

Children are at greatest risk; late summer and fall are the times of peak incidence. Although most episodes of salmonellosis are mild, debilitated patients are at risk for serious bacteremia.
Salmonellosis

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