Salmonellosis and Food Poisoning: Symptoms and What to Do

"I ate something bad" — that is how people describe almost any upset after a meal, but behind it there are often specific bacterial infections: salmonellosis, dysentery, and less often the dangerous botulism. They differ from viral ones in that they are often more severe and sometimes need antibiotics. Here are the symptoms of salmonellosis and food poisoning, what to do first and which situations are deadly.

Salmonellosis, Dysentery, Botulism — Bacterial Intestinal Infections

Salmonellosis is linked to contaminated food (eggs, chicken, dairy), dysentery (shigellosis) to water and dirty hands, and it often causes blood in the stool. Both are bacterial intestinal infections. Botulism is caused by a bacterial toxin in improperly preserved canned food and mushrooms and presents completely differently — more on it below.

Food Poisoning: How It Differs

Food poisoning is either an intestinal infection from contaminated food or the action of toxins already present in the product. In the latter case symptoms appear very quickly (hours) after eating. What matters more than the exact name is severity: the presence of dehydration, high fever and blood in the stool decides whether you can cope at home.

Symptoms and When It Is Dangerous

Typically: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, weakness. Bacterial infections more often bring high fever and blood/mucus in the stool than viral ones. Warning signs: profuse bloody diarrhea, a temperature above 38.5–39 °C, severe abdominal pain, signs of dehydration — these call for a doctor, not self-treatment.

Botulism — a Separate Danger

Botulism is a rare but deadly infection. Its signs are not intestinal: double vision, "fog" and drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing and speaking, dry mouth, growing muscle weakness up to breathing failure. It occurs after eating home-canned food, dried fish or mushrooms. With such symptoms, call an ambulance immediately — every hour counts.

What to Do About Food Poisoning

As with any intestinal infection — replace fluids and salts (rehydration), drink often in small amounts, return to light food as things improve. Do not take antibiotics and anti-diarrheal drugs on your own, especially with blood in the stool and high fever — this can be harmful. For poisoning with mushrooms, canned food or with neurological symptoms — call an ambulance at once.

Dehydration and Rehydration

The main danger of bacterial intestinal infections, as with viral ones, is fluid loss. Signs of dehydration (thirst, dry mouth, infrequent dark urine, weakness) call for active fluid replacement, and in children and older people, prompt medical attention. Severe dehydration needs intravenous fluids in hospital.

Which Tests and When Are Needed

With a mild course tests are unnecessary. In severe cases a doctor orders a stool culture (for the pathogen), a complete blood count with signs of a bacterial infection and electrolytes with dehydration. If botulism is suspected, diagnosis and treatment are only in hospital. A confusing report can be uploaded for decoding.

When to See a Doctor Urgently

Urgently — for bloody diarrhea, high fever, severe abdominal pain, signs of dehydration, and if a child, older person or pregnant woman is ill. Call an ambulance immediately for neurological symptoms (double vision, trouble swallowing and breathing) — a possible botulism. In a doubtful situation you can describe your symptoms.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace a doctor's consultation. For severe and neurological symptoms, seek help immediately.