Salmonella Treatment Options
Salmonella Treatment Options
Salmonella treatment may range from strictly home remedies to prescription medications depending on how serious your salmonella symptoms are. Salmonella is caused by salmonella bacteria infecting the intestinal tract. Humans normally come into contact with salmonella bacteria from contaminated food sources such as poultry, eggs and meat that have not been washed or prepared properly.
Typical salmonella symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pains, vomiting, and nausea within 3 days of infection. Some symptoms may manifest as early as 12 hours of infection. Sometimes, people with strong immune systems can recover without taking any form of salmonella treatment. Other times, serious complications may result from the salmonella bacteria reaching beyond the intestines. If you experience abnormal symptoms of salmonella such as server dehydration or bloody stools, then it is time for you to consult a doctor. Here are some of the most effective methods of salmonella treatment.
What You Need for Salmonella Treatment
- Liquids
- Safe foods
- Anti-diarrheal medicines
- Antibiotic medicines
- Pain relievers
- IV fluids
- Liquids. Loss of liquids due to diarrhea is the most common complication of salmonella food poisoning. In order to avoid dehydration, you must drink water regularly. Another option is sports drinks, however; juices and sodas are not recommended. These drinks contain too much sugar and therefore cannot replenish the electrolytes that you lose through diarrhea.
- Safe foods. In order for you to recuperate from salmonella infection, the doctor will recommend a list of safe foods for you to eat. These safe foods should provide you enough nourishment and should help you regain your strength quickly. You must avoid drinking coffee, alcohol, and eating spicy foods in addition to foods that are high in sugar or rich in fat until your salmonella symptoms are completely gone. Your doctor may also suggest you stick to a BRAT (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) diet, which can lower the chance of you getting diarrhea.
- Antidiarrheal medicines. Loperamide and other antidiarrheal medicines can help you relieve the cramping caused by salmonella. But, this type of salmonella treatment normally prolongs the diarrhea that is associated with salmonella infection. If you are taking any diuretics, it is best to wait until your diarrhea is finally gone to continue using them.
- Antibiotic medicines. Salmonella bacteria may not only infect your intestinal tract, but may also enter your bloodstream in more severe cases. If doctors have reason to believe that the bacteria has entered your bloodstream, they will most likely prescribe antibiotics as an effect salmonella treatment to eliminate the bacteria.
- Pain Relievers. Your doctor might prescribe pain relievers if you experience fever and body aches as a result of the salmonella food poisoning. These prescription pain killers include drugs such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
- IV Fluids. Sometimes nausea caused by salmonella can affect a patient's ability to eat and drink. When this happens for a prolonged period of time, the patient may become dehydrated and malnourished and may need to go to the hospital for IV fluids to replenish the patient's system. However, this is more frequent in children rather than adults.
Because salmonella is likely to spread, prevention is essential. Make sure that you wash your hands frequently, prepare food properly, and cook food thoroughly. If these salmonella treatment options do not improve your condition, seek the help of medical professionals immediately.