Salmonella

Via food
Salmonella most often enters the human digestive tract via food. They can multiply quickly on unrefrigerated food. The bacteria may also enter food through poor personal hygiene - for example, through contaminated chopping boards or surfaces.

Foods that are more frequently contaminated with salmonella:

Important: Plant-based foods can also be colonised with salmonellae

• Raw or undercooked eggs and egg products such as mayonnaise, egg-based creams or salads, or cake batter.
  
  

From person to person
Infection from person to person is possible via smear infection, especially if hygiene is inadequate.

Through direct animal contact
Infections through direct contact with domestic animals are rare. Reptiles such as snakes, bearded dragons - a type of lizard - or turtles, on the other hand, excrete salmonella more often. Pet owners are most likely to get infected from their pets via animal faeces. Surfaces soiled with faeces can also be a source of infection.

Sudden diarrhoea, headache, abdominal pain, general malaise and occasionally vomiting are common symptoms of salmonella. A slight fever is also common. The symptoms often last for several days and then disappear by themselves. People with the disease also lose body fluids quickly through vomiting and diarrhoea. Dizziness and circulatory problems can be the consequences.

After infection, the disease breaks out after 6 to 72 hours, usually after 12 to 36 hours. Even after diarrhoea and abdominal pain have subsided, adults can still be contagious for up to 1 month. In young children and very old people, excretion can take several weeks, and in severe courses even up to half a year or longer.

• In case of severe diarrhoea and vomiting, it is important to drink plenty of fluids.
• Make sure you eat easily digestible food with sufficient salt intake
• Do not prepare meals for others if you are ill yourself.
• Patients should avoid physical exertion as much as possible during the acute phase of the disease.
• In the case of salmonella, the regulations of the Infection Protection Act apply.

• Good kitchen hygiene: Handling food properly
• Good hand hygiene
  
  

Note for parents with small children

• Prepare infant formula with water that has been heated to at least 70°C. Before feeding, let the bottle cool down quickly and check the temperature so that the child does not get scalded. Use prepared food as fresh as possible
• Reptiles are not recommended for households with small children, even if the children do not have direct contact with the animals.