- Salmonella is a bacterial infection that affects the digestive system. You can get it from drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food. It is most commonly found in chicken and eggs. The bacteria has an incubation range of a few hours to several days. The most common symptoms of a salmonella infection are stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle and head aches and fever. Typhoid fever, a disease caused by some strains of salmonella, has even more extreme symptoms. Luckily, it's very rare in the United States.
- In most cases, people recover from a salmonella infection before a diagnosis is needed. However, your doctor can determine if you have or had the infection by testing your stool. In some rare situations, the infection gets into your bloodstream, and then you will need to see a doctor. If your doctor suspects your blood has been infected by salmonella, he may take a sample of your blood to test for the bacteria.
- Since salmonella infections typically go away on their own, most people just need to rest while they are sick. A typical salmonella infection last four days to a week. However, it is important you stay hydrated while you are sick because you will lose a lot of fluid via diarrhea. Also, if the infection spreads from beyond your gut, you will need immediate medical attention. If your infection has spread, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection. For people with severe diarrhea, the doctor may recommend medicine like Imodium to slow it down and cut down on cramps. According to the Mayo Clinic, Imodium can prolong diarrhea since there may be some residual bacteria left that needs to exit the colon.
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