Recently, eggs from a Malaysian farm were recalled due to contamination with Salmonella.
What is Salmonella?
Salmonella is a bacteria that consists of many different types. It can cause Salmonella infection (Salmonellosis), which is one of the most common food-borne illnesses. Another rarer form called Salmonella typhi causes typhoid fever.
How does it spread?
Most Salmonella infections spread to humans through contaminated food or water. Foods that are often linked include meat, poultry, eggs, or milk. The other mode of spread is by touching infected animals, their faeces, or their environment.
What are the symptoms?
Once infected, a person can have fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or painful stomach cramps lasting 4 -7 days.
How do you treat it?
Most people can recover from Salmonella infection within 4 – 7 days without antibiotics.
However, young children, especially those less than 12 months or children with severe illness, will need antibiotic treatment.
Read on to learn on how you can protect your child from Salmonella infection.