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Salmonella's still out there...

By Megan Roth

Per yesterday’s article and the dozens of others that are decorating the ‘walls’ of Injuryboard, we know that the recent Salmonella outbreak is bad news.

We know that 125 peanut butter products have been recalled as a result of them being linked to the nearly 500 people across the country that have fallen victim to a widespread outbreak of Salmonella.

But aren’t those 500 a relatively small percentage of the general population that comes in contact with peanut butter products on a regular basis? So is it really that serious?

First off, think of it as the 500 reported cases. Odds are good that numerous others have been affected; however, often times foodborne illnesses are mistaken for viruses and other ‘bugs’ (this is especially likely considering it’s that time of the year). So in reality, there probably are many more individuals who have suffered from the bacteria in result of consuming PB products, we just don’t know exactly how many.

Secondly, don’t be deluded. If a car engine blows up, we would investigate (regardless of the fact that it’s one in a million cars on the interstate). We would want to know exactly what caused the explosion and how likely it is to happen again.

Thus, we want to know exactly where the contaminated product came from, the potential markets across which the bacteria have spread, and the effects they will have on any who are affected.

Third, it doesn’t matter if it’s just one case, Salmonella is serious. Those who are infected with the bacteria often experience severe abdominal cramping, diarrhea and fever (my good friend recently suffered food poisoning and compared her symptoms to those of the flu – times ten).

Just to give you an idea of how serious these symptoms can become, I’ll try my hand at some math. Of the nearly 500 individuals who have come in contact with the Salmonella bacteria in the last couple weeks, over 90 have required hospitalization. That’s approximately 20% who wound up weak and uncomfortable in a bed not comparable to their own – a high figure when put side-by-side with the percentage of flu victims who require hospitalization.

And contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of such hospitalizations aren’t resolved with a band-aid or an antibiotic. In fact, quite the opposite. It’s recommended sufferers of Salmonella do not to take any form of antibiotic as it may prolong the illness by trapping the bacteria inside your body.

Instead, allow the bacteria to pass naturally, eat foods specializing in digestive health (ex. Probiotics), and stay hydrated!

Hydration is key, as a lack thereof can actually be blamed for many of the hospitalizations that result from salmonella.

While most cases of Salmonella will heal themselves in time (generally 10-14 days for a full recovery), unfortunately not all do.

Especially now, be smart about what you’re eating. Check ingredient labels, keep up with the updates on product recalls and warnings, and know that you’re not alone – it was tough for me to part with my Nutter Butters too, but sometimes it’s just for the best. After all, you never know where one little smudge of contaminated peanut butter could be lurking,

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Megan Roth

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on January 23, 2009 (boomark / email).