Food poisoning is one of the most common ailments a person will experience in their lifetime. It is on par with the common cold in regards to how often a person is infected. Food poisoning is caused by the salmonella bacteria, which has over 2,500 different strains.
Salmonella can infect humans and animals but in slightly different ways. It is estimated that at least 20,000 people in the USA are hospitalized annually as a direct result of salmonella infections, but as many as 3 million people per year will be infected.
Though rare, salmonella infections can cause death, and there are at least 500 a year in the United States alone. Salmonella most commonly causes food poisoning, but it is also the source of typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever. Salmonella usually develops when a food or water source becomes contaminated with feces from animals or humans who are infected with the bacteria.
1. General Malaise
General malaise may be a result of various conditions. When paired with stomach pains, fever, and other signs, the likely cause is a salmonella infection. There are more than 2,500 strains of salmonella bacteria. While not all of them affect humans, those that do produce a wide array of signs.
Of all the strains, Salmonella Typhi is commonly the cause of general malaise. Salmonella Typhi also happens to be the strain of bacteria that causes typhoid fever to develop. Typhoid must be treated promptly and in the right manner to prevent the spread of the bacteria to others.
This form of salmonella infection will usually pass from the body within two weeks even without treatment but will remain contagious for much longer. Some people are simply carriers of salmonella typhi without becoming sick themselves. They are able to pass on the infection to others who will become actively unwell.
