How to prevent

What danger can conceal cute animal with a patterned shell? Studies show that 85% of turtles, 77% of lizards, snakes, and 92% are carriers of one of the many species of Salmonella Salmonella: unknown facts . Seeing such figures can only wonder why anyone who keeps the house any reptile, not infected with salmonella. The fact is that although much of the reptiles really is a certain types of salmonella, for some reason, most of their owners are not threatening infection and the risk of the contents of reptiles, much exaggerated.

It should be remembered that infants, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to various infections; Salmonella food poisoning from them can lead to serious complications and even death.

If your home has a turtle, a snake or a lizard, you have to take such precautions as if you knew for sure that she is a carrier of salmonella (exception can be made if the tests showed the opposite) .  This does not mean that the risk of infection for you is really high .  Most people in daily contact with Salmonella and, if these individuals are healthy, their immune system successfully destroys bacteria - as long as they enter the body in relatively small amounts .  As for the reptiles, they usually are carriers of a relatively small number of Salmonella, and they stand out with feces, and not dwell on the scales or a shell .  So the task of the host reptile is to prevent faeces in their own intestines - this will help prevent salmonella food poisoning and all related problems .  It is recommended to take the following precautions:

• Do not feed your pet (any, not just reptiles) from the same dishes, from which you eat yourself.
• Reptiles do not have to move across the surface that you use for cooking; it is desirable that they do not have access to the kitchen. Do not wash in the kitchen sink or the animal or cage or terrarium, in which it lives. If you are using for this purpose the bath, then it must be properly cleaned and disinfected.
• Wear gloves or wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling reptiles.
• Do not eat or smoke while you are holding in your hands or wash an animal, or clean his cell.
• Pregnant women, children, the elderly and those whose immune system is suppressed, it is necessary to use disinfectant after handling reptiles; Ideally, you should generally avoid such contacts.
• Reptiles should not be kept in kindergartens and other institutions where there are small children.
• Reptiles should not be free to move around the apartment, especially in those rooms where you prepare or eat food.

Under these rules the risk of contracting salmonella Salmonellosis - features of the disease   It will be very small, and you do not get from his home reptiles nothing but joy.

Prevention of Salmonella food poisoning

For the prevention of Salmonella food poisoning are advised to take the following measures:

• Make sure that the food of animal origin that you eat (meat, dairy products, eggs) has been carefully cooked or pasteurized. If necessary, use a special thermometer to measure the temperature of meat inside.
• Avoid foods from raw meat and eggs.
• Always check the expiration date before buying a product and before preparing food.
• Carefully choose and cook fish and shellfish - they must be fresh and of good quality.
• If you served in the restaurant poorly-done meat, ask fry it well, and bring it into another dish.
• Be careful when cooking juices from raw meat, fish, poultry should not drip onto other foods - this is one of the ways that can spread salmonella.
• Do not keep eggs, meat, chicken, seafood or milk for a long time at room temperature. The remains of cooked food placed in the refrigerator as soon as they have cooled down a bit.
• After cooking raw meat, poultry, seafood and eggs wash with warm water and antibacterial soap your hands, cutting boards and knives. Use wooden cutting boards are not recommended because they are more difficult to clean.
• Avoid unpasteurized milk and any products made from such milk.
• Do not thaw frozen food at room temperature. Leave them to defrost in the general compartment of a refrigerator, and use them as soon as possible. Fully defrosted food must not be frozen again.
• Wash fresh fruits and vegetables - especially before a meal you will not cook them.
• Drink only pasteurized juices. Designed for long-term storage of juices that are stored in the store at room temperature (in the usual juice cartons or glass bottles) are pasteurized, although usually on the packaging do not write about it. Juice concentrate in the production process is also heated to a temperature sufficient to kill salmonella.
• Wash your hands after handling reptiles, birds, or faeces of human or animal.

People with weakened immune systems The immune system - how it works?   (pregnant women, the elderly, HIV HIV - can be slow, can not be stopped -infected), in addition to the above it is advised to avoid soft cheeses (such as feta, Brie or Camembert).

Gestation

According to the World Health Organization, Salmonella is the most common cause of food poisoning in the world. Every year, millions of the world's recorded cases of such poisoning, and it is expected that a significant proportion of people becoming infected with salmonella, do not seek medical attention. For pregnant women, salmonella food poisoning Food poisoning: how to avoid becoming a victim of its own stomach   It is especially dangerous because it can harm the health of both mother and unborn child.

Most species of Salmonella, including the two most common species - Salmonella and Salmonella Typhimurium Enteridis cause gastroenteritis - a self-limiting disease that usually occurs in a relatively gentle manner. Its symptoms include fever, stomach pain and cramping, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Generally, these symptoms occur within 12-72 hours after ingestion of contaminated food or water, and tested after 4-7 days. Less than 2% of cases of food poisoning treatment is necessary to use antibiotics. Treatment of pregnant women is a serious problem, as the antibiotics from the group of fluoroquinolones, which are often prescribed for salmonellosis, can lead to birth defects.

In rare cases, the salmonella from the intestines into the bloodstream. Infection levels can be deadly; it can also cause serious complications in the case of Salmonella infection of various organs. For example, the possibility of infection of the heart valves and the endothelium (infective endocarditis), bone (osteomyelitis), the kidneys (pyelonephritis). Some patients develop brain abscesses, Reiter's syndrome, and autoimmune diseases cause chronic joint pain Joint pain - how to understand what is going on? , Eye irritation, and urinary problems. The probability of such complications in pregnant women is higher than in most healthy adults.

Salmonella and pregnancy outcome

Salmonella can penetrate the placenta and cause serious illness and even death of the fetus, even if the mother has symptoms of salmonella food poisoning are mild. In 2004, the year of the woman who contracted salmonella Salmonellosis - features of the disease   25 weeks pregnant, had to do a caesarean section because of problems with the heartbeat of the fetus. Despite intensive medical intervention, the child died four hours after birth as a result of multiple organ failure caused by infection. In 2008 he was described in detail the case of miscarriage Miscarriage - can you protect yourself from it?   16 weeks of pregnancy - it happened a week after his mother disappeared last symptoms of salmonella food poisoning occurring in a mild form.

Salmonella and newborn health

Salmonella infection in infants usually results in much more serious consequences than in adults. Surviving children the consequences of infection can persist throughout life. There are cases when using the neonatal intensive care managed to save a life, but later they show signs of serious underdevelopment.