It is one of the more common causes of gastroenteritis. Most cases occur in the summer months and are seen as single cases, clusters or outbreaks. Any person can get salmonellosis, but it is recognized more often in infants and children. Salmonella are spread by eating or drinking food or water contaminated by contact with infected people or animals. People exposed to the salmonella may experience mild or severe diarrhea, fever and occasionally vomiting.
Bloodstream infections can be quite serious, particularly in the very young or elderly.
The symptoms generally appear one to three days after exposure. Salmonella are widely distributed in our food chain and environment. The organisms often contaminate raw meats, eggs, unpasteurized milk and cheese products. A wide range of domestic and wild animals, including poultry, swine, cattle, rodents, songbirds, and pets such as iguanas, tortoises, turtles, terrapins, chicks, dogs, and cats, as well as humans, can serve as reservoirs for the infectious agent. The carrier state varies from several days to many months.