Salmonella is similar to the foodborne illness and bacteria, E. coli in the sense that individuals can get very sick from it. People are more aware of salmonella these days than E. coli but are not realizing that they have similar negative symptoms.

Salmonella is a common type of food poisoning that is caused by the enterica bacterium which is found in the intestinal tract. Children are affected by this food-borne illness in particular and usually occurs in the summertime. It is usually caused by the contamination of food by either not washing your hands, the process of cross-contaminating and eating raw meat, or consuming unpasteurized dairy products. Shown below is an image of the salmonella bacteria.

It is similar to E. coli because individuals can get very sick from it. For example, individuals can develop diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea, and become dehydrated. The incubation period of the food-borne illness occurs two days after exposure and can last up to seven days. Extreme illnesses can occur like typhoid fever and gastroenteritis. If it were to get into your bloodstream, antibiotics would need to be given to the individual immediately.

What people don't know about salmonella is that eating fruits and vegetables can cause the illness as well. According to Mayo Clinic, "Some fresh produce, particularly imported varieties, may be hydrated in the field or washed during processing with water contaminated with salmonella."

With that being said, it is important to thoroughly wash your produce before eating them. It is also crucial that risk factors are known about and ways to prevent as many illnesses from occurring.

For the salmonella food poisoning, an exposure to certain reptiles and immune problems can increase an individual's chances of obtaining it.

To prevent salmonella from occurring, individuals should remember to always wash their hands. It is the primary prevention that public health advocates and doctors stress on. Also, your primary care physician typically diagnoses salmonella by taking a stool or blood test and conducting a physical examination. Cooking meat well done will also make a huge difference and avoiding unpasteurized dairy products. Shown below is a video about salmonella and ways to prevent it.