Salmonella

The commonest salmonella infection is due to the presence of the bacteria in food. After contaminated food has been eaten the bacteria multiply in the intestines and within 12-36 hours usually cause diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever. The symptoms continue for several days and then, in most people, they cease.

  Salmonella infection may rarely result in a very severe illness or even death, particularly in the elderly, the very young, or someone who is already suffering from another disease. Even when all the symptoms have disappeared the bacteria may remain in the gut and thus in the faeces. When this occurs the people are called carriers and they pass the infection on to others unless their hygiene practices are good. The vast majority of people whose diarrhoea has settled down are not a risk to others and hence repeated testing of their faeces is not necessary.