Health Effects of Salmonella

Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after being infected. The illness usually lasts four to seven days and most people recover without treatment. As with any disease causing diarrhea or vomiting, those infected should drink plenty of liquids to replace lost body fluids. This is particularly important with very young children and seniors. In severe cases, patients may need to be given fluids intravenously, which is usually done in hospital.

In a small number of cases, Salmonella may spread from the intestines to the blood stream and other body sites, causing severe illness and, in vulnerable people, death. In cases of severe illness, patients may be treated with antibiotics. However, some Salmonella bacteria have become resistant to many commonly used antibiotics.