How To Treat Salmonella

Salmonella is the name of a bacteria found in numerous animals such as reptiles, birds, cows, dogs, and cats. The bacteria spread from their feces. Salmonella may invade the intestinal tract through contaminated food and water sources, such as undercooked eggs and meats, along with unpasteurized milk and cheese, as well as products made with these ingredients.

Furthermore, individuals who aren't careful can develop the illness from contaminated fruits and vegetables. Additional sources of salmonella are nuts, spices, and juices. Salmonella counts for one of the most frequent causes of food poisoning in the United States as the disease affects more than 1.4 million Americans per year. It is shown to be especially prevalent in children below five years old.

Drink Plenty Of Water

One thing you can do to reverse the effects of salmonella is to drink plenty of water. Symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting can cause your body to lose a lot of fluid, resulting in dehydration. However, you do not have to force yourself to drink more water than you can handle. Have small sips at a time instead. Consult your doctor if you aren't sure about the amount of water to consume.

Individuals with salmonella should cut out beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee, soft drinks, energy beverages, and alcohol, as these are quite dehydrating. In addition, a few sources have recommended salmonella victims to drink bottled water instead of tap water. This reason is tap water has been linked it to several salmonella outbreaks, such as the 2008 salmonella outbreak in Alamosa, Colorado from its drinking water supply. Fortunately, boiling tap water is typically useful in killing bacteria.

Rehydration Beverages

Rehydration beverages, besides water, are commonly used for treating salmonella. Sports drinks with electrolytes are considered rehydration beverages. Additionally, many patients use drinks called oral rehydration solutions, which are defined as the combination of water mixed with salt and sugar. These drinks may also contain potassium, sucrose, and citrate.

Oral rehydration beverages are shown to be very useful in treating children with salmonella, though adults can benefit as well. Unless you prefer to make an oral rehydration beverage yourself, you can purchase the packets or pre-mixed bottles from the market. When making this drink, regulate the water, sugar, and salt you use.

Fever Reducer

Besides diarrhea and vomiting, salmonella patients may come down with severe fever symptoms. Typhoid fever is a common form of fever to develop from salmonella infection. The type of salmonella responsible for this illness is S. Typhi. Depending on the individual, the effects of the fever can be mild or severe. Patients with typhoid fever can experience a variety of symptoms such as skin rashes, stomach pains, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, constipation, coughing, loss of appetite, and weakness.

In some cases of salmonella, a patient will develop paratyphoid fever, a condition made possible by several types of S. Paratyphi. Symptoms of this illness aren't much different from the typhoid fever. Fever reducers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, may come in handy in the development of either typhoid or paratyphoid fever.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone and cefotaxime, can be used in the treatment of salmonella. Other antimicrobial medications like azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and ampicillin seem to be effective in treating typhoid fever. If used properly, these medications can help reduce the case-fatality rate to one percent.

However, not everyone trusts the theory antibiotics are beneficial for patients with salmonella. Sources have even gone as far to state the use of antimicrobial treatment may prolong the period in which the bacteria stays in your system. Evidence hasn't been made clear for whether or not these claims are accurate. Fortunately, many patients can recover without using antimicrobial medication.

Diarrhea Medication

Diarrhea medications can help regulate fluid movement in your intestines. Nevertheless, it is crucial to talk with a doctor about taking medications such as loperamide, as they could prolong the diarrheal effects of the salmonella infection. Plus, the medicine might have some side effects.

In addition, the doctor can tell salmonella victims to take bismuth subsalicylate for their diarrhea symptoms. Bismuth subsalicylate might reduce the growth of bacteria that contribute to diarrhea. Moreover, it is strongly advised not to give antidiarrheal medication to children. Bring this up with your doctor for more details.