Salmonella leads to recalls, severe illness

Local doctor urges public to use caution, get treatment if needed

Some food products have been recalled recently because of concerns about salmonella contamination.

"It's not isolated in the sense we have seen it here locally," said Dr. Matt Young, physician owner/medical director of the Texarkana Emergency Center. "Our public needs to be aware and follow any of the health advisories we get through our news."

Salmonella causes 123,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths a year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. After being exposed, symptoms usually show up 12 to 72 hours later and include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.

The illness normally last four to seven days, and most people recover without any treatment, but occasionally, salmonella makes people severely ill.

"If it lasts longer than four to seven days and they're experiencing fever, bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache and decreased appetite, they definitely need to get in and get medical attention. It can be a life-threatening condition," Young said. "Severe illness can happen to healthy people, but most often it's the young, the elderly or those who have chronic illnesses who are most affected. Even when someone has overcome the infectious disease process, it may take months for their bowel habits to get back to normal."

There are safety measures people can take to lessen the chances of becoming ill from salmonella.

"People need to make sure to use strict handwashing if they're handling chicken, ground beef or raw eggs. Avoid eating raw eggs or unpasteurized products. Cook foods thoroughly, and make sure not to cross-contaminate kitchen surfaces," Young said. "For instance, using the same knife or cutting board they've cut chicken on to cut lettuce or other fresh produce without washing it properly."

Some pets are also carriers of salmonella.

"Some pets may carry it including turtles, lizards, snakes or frogs. People who have these pets need to be sure to be knowledgeable about appropriate handwashing and cleaning practices," Young said.

Health care professionals have to be on the lookout for salmonella outbreaks.

"We've got to always be on our toes and realize a sentinel event can lead to other events. We take notice if we see cases of salmonella popping up and growing at a faster rate than we would normally expect," Young said.

Salmonella isn't usually passed from person to person, but it can be if someone infected with the bacteria is preparing food without washing their hands properly.

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