These days, the peanut butter recall worries consumers as more and more items are added to the list of products that might be a health risk and are thus recalled as precautionary measure. But what is salmonella food poisoning, what are the symptoms and what should people do who suspect having the illness?
Mount Sinai Medical Center says: "If your condition needs treatment at all, Salmonella food poisoning can usually be treated as an outpatient with your family physician. If you are suffering from dehydration and can't reach your doctor, do not hesitate to go to the emergency room, though. The hospital will treat you with intravenous fluids. Also visit the emergency room if you develop a high fever. Home care is usually sufficient to manage the other symptoms of Salmonella."
Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The symptoms start to appear about 12 to 72 hours after contact. Typically, the illness passes after four to seven days even without treatment.
However, special attention needs to be given to the fact that salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children (especially younger than 5 years), frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems.
Related News: Peanut Butter Recall List 2012: Firstly Trader Joe's, Now Whole Foods, Krogers, Safeway, and Target
