Salmonella enterocolitis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Salmonella enterocolitis is an infection in the lining of the small intestine that is caused by salmonella bacteria. It is a type of food poisoning.

T Causes
P Salmonella infection is one of the most common types of food poisoning. It occurs when you swallow food or water that contains salmonella bacteria.
P The salmonella germs may get into the food you eat in several ways.
P You are more likely to get this type of infection if you:
- Eat foods such as turkey, turkey dressing, chicken, or eggs that have not been cooked well or stored properly
- Are around family members with a recent salmonella infection
- Have been in or worked in a hospital, nursing home, or other long-term health facility
- Have a pet iguana or other lizards, turtles, or snakes (reptiles and amphibians are carriers of salmonella)
- Handle live poultry
- Have a weakened immune system
- Regularly used medicines that block acid production in the stomach
- Have Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis
- Used antibiotics in the recent past
P Most people with this condition are younger than 20 years old.

T Symptoms
P The time between getting infected and having symptoms is 8 to 72 hours. Symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain, cramping, or tenderness
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Muscle pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting

T Exams and Tests
P Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. You may have a tender abdomen and tiny pink spots, called rose spots, on your skin.
P Tests that may be done include:
- Blood culture
- Complete blood count with differential
- Test for specific antibodies called febrile/cold agglutinins
- Stool culture for salmonella
- Examination of stool for white blood cells

T Treatment
P The goal is to make you feel better and avoid dehydration. Dehydration means your body does not have as much water and fluids as it should.
P These things may help you feel better if you have diarrhea:
- Drink 8 to 10 glasses of clear fluids every day. Water is best.
- Drink at least 1 cup (240 milliliters) of liquid every time you have a loose bowel movement.
- Eat small meals throughout the day instead of 3 big meals.
- Eat some salty foods, such as pretzels, soup, and sports drinks.
- Eat some high-potassium foods, such as bananas, potatoes without the skin, and watered-down fruit juices.
P If your child has samonella, it is important to keep them from getting dehydrated. At first, try 1 ounce (2 tablespoons or 30 milliliters) of fluid every 30 to 60 minutes.
- Infants should continue to breastfeed and receive electrolyte replacement solutions as recommended by your child's provider.
- You can use an over-the-counter drink, such as Pedialyte or Infalyte. Do not water down these drinks.
- You can also try Pedialyte freezer pops.
- Watered-down fruit juice or broth may also help.
P Medicines that slow diarrhea are often not given because they may make the infection last longer. If you have severe symptoms, your provider may prescribe antibiotics if you:
- Have diarrhea more than 9 or 10 times per day
- Have a high fever
- Need to be in the hospital
P If you take water pills or diuretics, you may need to stop taking them when you have diarrhea. Ask your provider.

T Outlook (Prognosis)
P In otherwise healthy people, symptoms should go away in 2 to 5 days, but they may last for 1 to 2 weeks.
P People who have been treated for salmonella may continue to shed the bacteria in their stool for months to a year after the infection. Food handlers who carry salmonella in their body can pass the infection to the people who eat the food they have handled.

T When to Contact a Medical Professional
P Call your provider if:
- There is blood or pus in your stools.
- You have diarrhea and are unable to drink fluids due to nausea or vomiting.
- You have a fever above 101°F (38.3°C) and diarrhea.
- You have signs of dehydration (thirst, dizziness, lightheadedness).
- You have recently traveled to a foreign country and developed diarrhea.
- Your diarrhea does not get better in 5 days, or it gets worse.
P If your child has symptoms, call your provider if your child has:
- A fever above 100.4°F (38°C) and diarrhea
- Diarrhea that does not get better in 2 days, or it gets worse
- Been vomiting for more than 12 hours (in a newborn under 3 months, you should call as soon as vomiting or diarrhea begin)
- Reduced urine output, sunken eyes, sticky or dry mouth, or no tears when crying

T Prevention
P Learning how to prevent food poisoning can reduce the risk for this infection. Follow these safety measures:
- Properly handle and store foods.
- Wash your hands when handling eggs, poultry, and other foods.
- If you own a reptile, wear gloves when handling the animal or its feces because salmonella can easily pass to humans.

T Alternative Names
P Salmonellosis; Nontyphoidal salmonella; Food poisoning - salmonella; Gastroenteritis - salmonella

T Images
- Salmonella typhi organism
- Digestive system
- Digestive system organs

T References
P Bhutta ZA. Acute gastroenteritis in children. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 340.
P DuPont HL. Approach to the patient with suspected enteric infection. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 283.
P Haines CF, Sears CL. Infectious enteritis and proctocolitis and bacterial food poisoning. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 110.
P Semrad CE. Approach to the patient with diarrhea and malabsorption. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 140.

T Review Date 3/13/2016
P Updated by: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

