Salmonella, the name of a group of bacteria, is one of the most common causes of food poisoning in the United States. Usually, symptoms last 4-7 days and most people get better without treatment. But, Salmonella can cause more serious illness in older adults, infants, and persons with chronic diseases. Salmonella is killed by cooking and pasteurization.
|Incubation Period||12-72 hours|
|Symptoms||Diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, vomiting|
|Duration of Illness||4-7 days|
|What Do I Do?||Drink plenty of fluids and get rest. If you cannot drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration or if your symptoms are severe, call your doctor. Antibiotics may be necessary if the infection spreads from the intestines to the blood stream.|
|How Can I Prevent It?|
Salmonella By the Numbers
Download and share this infographic that details how salmonella contamination occurs and the effects of salmonellosis.
Salmonella Infections (NIH MedlinePlus)
Trusted health information on causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
General information plus details on previous outbreaks.
Salmonella and Salmonellosis (USDA)
General information plus directives and notices, compliance guidelines, data collection and reports, and more.