Two types are most commonly associated with illness, Salmonella typhimurium , and Salmonella enteritidis . Symptoms include fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea about 12-72 hours after eating contaminated food or beverages. Epidemics have implicated foods such as meat, poultry, uncooked or lightly cooked eggs and egg products, raw milk and dairy products. Salmonellosis is caused by bacteria belonging to the family Salmonella. The types most often reported as the cause of human illness in Canada are S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis although over 2000 types, or species, of Salmonella are known.
Occurrence is worldwide.
The incidence rate of infection is highest among infants and young children. Symptoms usually appear 12-48 hours after consumption of contaminated food or beverages. Symptoms include sudden onset of headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and sometimes vomiting. Dehydration, especially among the young, the elderly and those with impaired immune systems, can be severe, and the person may become ill enough to be hospitalized. The infection can result in death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.