Health Encyclopedia

Salmonella enterocolitis

Definition

Salmonella enterocolitis is a bacterial infection in the lining of the small intestine that is caused by Salmonella bacteria. It is a type of food poisoning.

Alternative Names

Salmonellosis; Nontyphoidal salmonella; Food poisoning - salmonella; Gastroenteritis - salmonella

Causes

Salmonella infection is one of the most common types of food poisoning. It occurs when you eat food or drink water that contains Salmonella bacteria.

The Salmonella germs may get into the food you eat in several ways.

You are more likely to get this type of infection if you:

Eat foods such as turkey, turkey dressing, chicken, or eggs that have not been cooked well or stored properly
Are around family members with a recent Salmonella infection
Have been in or worked in a hospital, nursing home, or other long-term health facility
Have a pet iguana or other lizards, turtles, or snakes (reptiles and amphibians can be carriers of Salmonella)
Handle live poultry
Have a weakened immune system
Regularly used medicines that block acid production in the stomach
Have Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis
Used antibiotics in the recent past

Symptoms

The time between getting infected and having symptoms is 8 to 72 hours. Symptoms include:

Abdominal pain, cramping, or tenderness
Chills
Diarrhea
Fever
Muscle pain
Nausea
Vomiting

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. You may have a tender abdomen and develop tiny pink spots, called rose spots, on your skin.

Tests that may be done include:

Blood culture
Complete blood count with differential
Test for specific antibodies called febrile/cold agglutinins
Stool culture for Salmonella
Examination of stool for white blood cells

Treatment

The goal is to make you feel better and avoid dehydration. Dehydration means your body does not have as much water and fluids as it should.

These things may help you feel better if you have diarrhea:

Drink 8 to 10 glasses of clear fluids every day. Water is best.
Drink at least 1 cup (240 milliliters) of liquid every time you have a loose bowel movement.
Eat small meals throughout the day instead of 3 big meals.
Eat some salty foods, such as pretzels, soup, and sports drinks.
Eat some high-potassium foods, such as bananas, potatoes without the skin, and watered-down fruit juices.

If your child has Salmonella, it is important to keep them from getting dehydrated. At first, try 1 ounce (2 tablespoons or 30 milliliters) of fluid every 30 to 60 minutes.

Infants should continue to breastfeed and receive electrolyte replacement solutions as recommended by your child's provider.
You can use an over-the-counter drink, such as Pedialyte or Infalyte. Do not water down these drinks.
You can also try Pedialyte freezer pops.
Watered-down fruit juice or broth may also help.

Medicines that slow diarrhea are often not given because they may make the infection last longer. If you have severe symptoms, your provider may prescribe antibiotics if you:

Have diarrhea more than 9 or 10 times per day
Have a high fever
Need to be in the hospital

If you take water pills or diuretics, you may need to stop taking them when you have diarrhea. Ask your provider.

Outlook (Prognosis)

In otherwise healthy people, symptoms should go away in 2 to 5 days, but they may last for 1 to 2 weeks.

People who have been treated for Salmonella may continue to shed the bacteria in their stool for months to a year after the infection. Food handlers who carry Salmonella in their body can pass the infection to the people who eat the food they have handled.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider if:

There is blood or pus in your stools.
You have diarrhea and are unable to drink fluids due to nausea or vomiting.
You have a fever above 101°F (38.3°C) and diarrhea.
You have signs of dehydration (thirst, dizziness, lightheadedness).
You have recently traveled to a foreign country and developed diarrhea.
Your diarrhea does not get better in 5 days, or it gets worse.
You have severe abdominal pain.

Contact your provider if your child has:

A fever above 100.4°F (38°C) and diarrhea
Diarrhea that does not get better in 2 days, or it gets worse
Been vomiting for more than 12 hours (in a newborn under 3 months, you should call as soon as vomiting or diarrhea begin)
Reduced urine output, sunken eyes, sticky or dry mouth, or no tears when crying

Prevention

Learning how to prevent food poisoning can reduce the risk for this infection. Follow these safety measures:

Properly handle and store foods.
Wash your hands when handling eggs, poultry, and other foods.
If you own a reptile, wear gloves when handling the animal or its feces because Salmonella can easily pass to humans.

References

Crump JA. Salmonella infections (including enteric fever). In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 292.

Kotloff KL. Acute gastroenteritis in children. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 366.

Lima AAM, Warren CA, Guerrant RL. Acute dysentery syndromes (diarrhea with fever). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 99.

Melia JMP, Sears CL. Infectious enteritis and proctocolitis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 110.

Review Date:3/10/2022
Reviewed By:Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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