You hear about it all the time, but what is it really? Primarily, salmonella poisoning comes from a bacteria that infects the human body developing into diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days and most people recover without treatment. However, the elderly, infants and others who have impaired immune systems are more susceptible to severe illness, even death, if they are not treated with antibiotics or hydrated properly.

The best way to protect yourself from this disease is to take every precaution in preventing it. Salmonella is most commonly found in poultry, ground beef, eggs and unpasteurized milk. Be sure to cook your food to its proper temperature so that the bacteria itself is not present anymore. If you are in a restaurant and are served with meat that you believe to be undercooked, do not hesitate to send it back for further cooking (better to be safe than sorry).

While preparing food at home, wash your hands, kitchen countertops and utensils frequently with soap and water to prevent the presence of the bacteria. Pay special attention when preparing food for infants and the elderly. Wash your hands directly after handling any reptiles (lizards, iguanas, snakes and turtles) since they are known to carry salmonella bacteria directly on their bodies.

What should you do if you happen to contract Salmonella poisoning? Usually, a salmonella infection will resolve itself within five to seven days after becoming infected and does not require treatment. However, becoming severely dehydrated while you are infected is a common problem and you should watch for signs for dehydration carefully.

Persons who have severe dehydration will need to be hospitalized for rehydration through intravenous fluids. Also, the infection could spread from the intestines into your blood stream causing possible death. If symptoms of poisoning persist for over five days, it is recommended that you begin treatment with antibiotics to prevent the bacteria from traveling from your intestines. Antibiotic treatment includes Ampicillin or Ciprofloxacin.