Contents
Salmonellosis, infection with salmonella bacteria (of the kind Salmonella), is often talked about in the news: contaminated infant milk (Lactalis case at the end of 2017), cheeses or cold meats withdrawn from the market because of a risk of contamination… There is no lack of health alerts.
We explain what it is, what are the risks and symptoms of this disease in pregnant women.
What is salmonella infection, or salmonellosis?
Salmonellosis is an infectious disease caused by Salmonella-like bacteria, or salmonella in common parlance. Most of these bacteria are lodged in the intestines of animals of the vertebrate family, and transmitted to humans via food, by contaminating certain foods. The bacteria can also proliferate in water that has been contaminated with human feces.
In Western countries, most cases of salmonellosis result from contamination following the ingestion ofcontaminated food (cheeses, cold meats, milk, eggs in particular).
The incubation period of salmonellosis, i.e. the time between infection with the bacteria and the appearance of the first symptoms, can vary between one to three days depending on the dose ingested, the health of the individual and the characteristics of the bacteria involved.
While salmonellosis will not cause complications in most healthy adults, this bacterial infection can be more serious in populations with weak immune systems, such as babies, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems.
In pregnant women, infection with salmonella can lead to a more severe form of the disease, with the bacteria passing into the blood, which threatens the health of the fetus. Contractions can occur, even premature delivery in the most serious cases. That is why it is essential to take precautions during pregnancy to avoid salmonellosis, and take care of it very quickly if it occurs.
Precautions to avoid salmonellosis in pregnant women
The measures to be adopted to avoid salmonellosis are quite similar to those recommended against listeriosis, since the two bacteria involved can be found in food.
To limit the risk of salmonellosis, it is advisable to:
- keep raw foods separate from cooked foods;
- good wash one’s hands before cooking, especially after touching an animal;
- wash raw food well, worktops and kitchen utensils;
- reheat leftover food high temperature to destroy any bacteria;
- clean the refrigerator at least twice a month with bleach.
It is advisable to do not consume dairy products made from raw and unpasteurized milk, as well as raw sprouted seeds, raw meat or fish.
Generally, strong cooking is recommended for animal products such as meat, fish or eggs. And it is advisable to follow the news, because health alerts are issued in the event of potentially contaminated food.
Salmonellosis: what symptoms during pregnancy? What treatment?
Despite all the precautions in the world, it can happen that Salmonella-type bacteria have crept into the diet, and that they contaminate you during your pregnancy.
Here are the symptoms that should lead to a consultation, especially if they are present at the same time: diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, high fever.
At the appearance of these symptoms similar to those of gastroenteritis, it is better to consult a doctor quickly, who will carry out a stool analysis if necessary. Do not hesitate to indicate or even keep the food that you think is responsible for these symptoms so that it too can be analyzed. Antibiotic treatment will be prescribed if necessary, to avoid any risk of transmission to the fetus. At the same time, it will be a question of hydrating well to compensate for the loss of water due to the infection.