Salmonella causes 600 deaths each year in the United States. You can contract the bacteria from milk and raw eggs, but undercooked meat and contaminated water, fruits, and vegetables can be causes as well. About 40,000 cases are reported in the United States each year. Symptoms--diarrhea accompanied by fever and nausea, abdominal pain, and headache--appear 12 to 72 hours after being infected and can last for a week. Dehydration may occur, so children and the elderly should see a doctor. Severe cases need to be treated with antibiotics so that infection will not spread to the bloodstream.
Instructions
1. Drink lots of clear liquids to replace electrolytes and fluids that have been lost by the diarrhea. Choices can be water, Gatorade, or Pedialyte.
2. Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for fever.
3. Follow the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Avoid dairy products. Infants should continue breastfeeding.
4. Relieve stomach cramps by using a heating pad or hot water bottle.
5. Take an antibiotic prescribed by your doctor (if applicable). Generally the infection will run its course, but severe cases may be prescribed antibiotics. Be sure to take all your medication, even if you are feeling better.
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