Salmonella Symptoms

Symptoms of Salmonella generally manifest about three hours to three days after eating food contaminated with Salmonella. The initial symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, fever and abdominal pain. Because the diarrhea and vomiting can be quite violent (you may never have felt worse in your life), dehydration is a risk.  Severe dehydration can result in death, especially in small children.

In some cases, Salmonella infections can lead to reactive arthritis (Reiter’s syndrome) or a blood infection that then spreads to the bone marrow or the meningeal linings of the brain (Salmonella meningitis). The infections can lead to severe illness and death.

Salmonella Typhi can cause typhoid fever.  The first symptom of typhoid fever is usually a high, sustained fever. The fever may be as high as 103° to 104° F (39° to 40° C) and may be accompanied by stomach pains, headache, weakness or loss of appetite. In some cases, patients have a rash of flat, light red spots. The only way to confirm a S. Typhi infection and Typhoid fever is to have samples of stool or blood tested for the presence of S. Typhi.

Once Salmonella Typhi bacteria are consumed, they multiply and spread into the bloodstream. The severity of the Typhoid Fever depends on the extent of contamination, the patient’s age and how quickly treatment is started. Typhoid Fever is life-threatening.