Gastroenteritis - salmonellosis

Salmonellosis is a form of gastroenteritis caused by the germ (bacterium) Salmonella. Salmonellosis can affect anyone; however, most cases occur in children and young adults. The severity of symptoms depends on the number of bacteria you ingest, your age and your general health. You may be more prone to salmonellosis if you are elderly, have another medical condition (such as a weakened immune system) or are malnourished.

The symptoms of salmonellosis
Symptoms of salmonellosis usually occur between 6 to 72 hours after you ingest the bacteria. The most common symptoms include:

• Diarrhoea, which may contain blood or mucous
• Fever
• Headache
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dehydration, especially among infants and the elderly.

• Eating undercooked meat, especially poultry, and raw or undercooked eggs.
• Eating cooked or ready to eat food that has been contaminated with Salmonella bacteria from raw food, such as raw chicken. This is called cross-contamination and can also happen when food comes into contact with contaminated kitchen surfaces, such as chopping boards and utensils that have been used with raw food.
• People with salmonellosis have Salmonella bacteria in their faeces. If these people do not wash their hands properly after going to the toilet, their contaminated hands can spread the bacteria to surfaces and objects that may be touched by others or food that will be eaten by others. Hands can also become contaminated when changing the nappy of an infected infant.
• Pets and farm animals may have Salmonella bacteria in their faeces without having any symptoms. People can get salmonellosis from these animals if they do not wash their hands after handling them.

How to avoid getting salmonellosis

To help protect yourself and others from salmonellosis:

• Thoroughly cook food derived from animal products - especially poultry, pork, eggs and meat dishes.
• Don't use dirty or cracked eggs.
• Keep your kitchen clean. Raw foods can contaminate surfaces.
• Store raw and cooked foods separately.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and hot running water for 10 seconds before handling food.
• Store high risk foods at or below 5°C or at or above 60°C to prevent growth of bacteria.
• Do not handle cooked foods with the same utensils used for raw foods, unless they have been thoroughly washed between use.

• Keep children home from school, child care or kindergarten until symptoms have stopped.
• Food handlers, childcare workers and health care workers must not work until symptoms have stopped.
• Clean bathrooms and other surfaces regularly.

• Your doctor
• The health department of your local council
• Communicable Disease Control Unit, Department of Human Services, Victoria Tel. (03) 1300 651160
• Public Health Division, Department of Human Services Tel. (03) 9096 0000

• Eating undercooked animal products, such as poultry and eggs, can cause salmonellosis.
• Safe food handling and thorough hand washing can help prevent Salmonellosis.

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