With salmonella you get diarrhea, fever, and cramps for 4 to 7 days. Drink fluids, and see a doctor if symptoms are severe or last longer.
Symptoms
Diarrhea, fever, cramps and vomiting. They start 6 hours to 6 days after exposure and last 4 to 7 days.
Treatment
Fluids. Most people recover without antibiotics.
Scale
Salmonella causes about 1.35 million US infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths a year (CDC).
Sources
Poultry, eggs, produce and reptiles.
See a doctor
For high fever (over 102°F), blood in stool, dehydration or symptoms over 3 days.
Prevention
Cook poultry to 165°F.
Illness profile
Salmonella infection (salmonellosis) causes diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps starting 6 hours to 6 days after exposure and lasting 4 to 7 days. The CDC estimates Salmonella causes about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths in the US each year, mostly from food.
- Common sources include undercooked poultry and eggs, produce, peanut butter, pet turtles and backyard poultry.
- Most people recover without treatment, with fluids and rest.
- Antibiotics are used for severe illness, infants, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
When to get care
See a doctor for diarrhea with fever above 102 F (38.9 C), blood in stool, signs of dehydration (dry mouth, little urine, dizziness) or diarrhea over 3 days. Prevention includes cooking poultry to 165 F (74 C), washing hands after handling raw meat or animals, avoiding raw eggs, and refrigerating food within 2 hours. Stool culture confirms the diagnosis. Invasive infection can spread to blood or bones in rare cases.
Illness profile
Salmonella infection causes diarrhea, fever and cramps starting 6 hours to 6 days after exposure and lasting 4 to 7 days. The CDC estimates about 1.35 million US infections a year, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths.
When to get care
Seek care for high fever, bloody diarrhea, dehydration or symptoms over a week. Children, older adults and immunocompromised people are at higher risk. Antibiotics are used for severe cases.
Symptoms and timing
Salmonella infection (salmonellosis) causes diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting, beginning 6 hours to 6 days after exposure. Most people recover in 4 to 7 days without antibiotics. The CDC estimates about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths a year in the United States, mostly from food.
Care and risk groups
Drink plenty of fluids and rest. See a doctor for fever above 102 degrees Fahrenheit, bloody stool, signs of dehydration, or diarrhea longer than 3 days. Infants, adults over 65 and people with weakened immunity are at higher risk of severe disease and bloodstream infection, where antibiotics are used. Prevent it by cooking poultry to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, washing hands and surfaces, and avoiding raw eggs. Reptile and backyard poultry contact is another source.
Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
