Salmonella infection is a form of gastroenteritis that develops as a result of Salmonella bacteria. The majority of salmonellosis is caused by the consumption of contaminated food. Salmonellosis can also be contracted by coming in contact with someone who is already infected or by being in contact with a surface that has the bacteria on it.
There are more than 2,000 strains of the Salmonella bacteria, most of which can infect humans and animals alike. Two of the Salmonella bacteria strains are known to cause serious fevers, specifically typhoid and paratyphoid fever. Salmonella causes many other ailments and is considered one of the main causes of gastroenteritis in the world.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection will usually develop as early as six hours and as late as three days following exposure to the bacteria. The bacteria was first identified in 1885 by Theobald Smith. Salmonella infection is thought to be the leading cause of food-borne disease.
1. Abdominal Pain
Pain in the abdomen may be a result of various ailments, but it is also one of the key signs of salmonella infection. Properly functioning digestive systems will take the food you eat and process it to remove its nutrients. Once they have been processed, the waste will be sent to your bowels for excretion.
In a healthy system, this process goes without active notice, but when a salmonella infection is present, the process becomes disrupted. When a foreign agent such as a bacteria is introduced to the gut, the sensory organs start to work overtime.
The hope is that your gut can flush the salmonella infection from your system and restore its natural balance. This process and your body’s attempt to fight off infected can lead to abdominal pain. This can be in the form of cramps, acidity, or general discomfort. Appendicitis causes the same symptom which is why a test is needed for diagnosis.
