Salmonellosis is a polyetiological infectious disease that is caused by various serotypes of bacteria of the genus Salmonella, characterized by a variety of clinical manifestations from asymptomatic carriage to severe septic forms. In most cases, it proceeds with a predominant lesion of the digestive tract (gastroenteritis, colitis).
This disease most often affects children under one year old, as they are more susceptible. But the spectrum of sick people covers all age categories.
Salmonellosis - Causes
The main source of this infection is considered to be food products, less often a sick animal, and in some cases the person himself can become it, often these are medical personnel and patients who are hospitalized in hospitals. The infection itself goes through infected products, usually of animal origin, violating the rules of storage and use of food products such as milk, meat, eggs, especially from chickens and geese. In addition to the food method, there is also water infection, i.e. that water which is in open reservoirs, for example, in the lake or the river. Salmonella develops when living salmonella penetrates the body.
Salmonellosis - Symptoms
The incubation period can last from several hours to two to three days.
In acute salmonellosis, chills begin, fever up to 38-39 degrees Celsius, pain in the head, general weakness of the body, there may be severe nausea, vomiting. In some patients, fever and general signs of intoxication may occur. The severity of the disease depends on the form, the sharper the signs are brighter.
The disease lasts from 2 to 10 days. At the same time, stool is disturbed, it is liquid, fetid and frequent, up to 10 times a day. After a few days, the disease in the stool may cause mucus or even blood.
Salmonellosis - diagnosis
The diagnosis of salmonellosis is usually made on the basis of clinical manifestations, and also thanks to epidemiological studies, they often reveal the group nature of the disease, the use of poor-quality food.
An important role in the diagnosis of salmonellosis is taken by laboratory tests that allow you to identify the causative agent of this disease. To do this, the remaining food suspicious, vomit, water during gastric lavage, as well as the contents of the duodenum and bowel movements (feces, urine) are taken for research. If the forms of salmonellosis are generalized, but specialists take blood and pus.
Salmonellosis - treatment and prevention.
Treatment for salmonellosis is complex and includes various measures, depending on the severity and form of the disease:
-washing of the stomach and intestines is necessary.
-replenish the lost volume of fluid by drinking plenty of water, and in special severe cases of intravenous infusion.
-use of antibacterial drugs and medicines.
- To remove microbial poisons from the intestine, enterosorbents should be taken.
- a diet should be followed that excludes any dairy products, spicy, salty foods, and canned foods from the diet. Desirable refusal to use nicotine and alcohol products.
Salmonellosis Prevention:
- high-quality control over the hiring of workers in food industry enterprises, as well as in children's institutions.
- supervision of slaughter of cattle.
- purchase of products only in specialized places for this.
- proper heat treatment of food.
- monitoring the expiration date of food, as well as its proper storage in accordance with the stated standards.
