What Happens if Kids Get Salmonella?

May 2, 2023

You never want to see your kids not feeling well. It can be a stressful and even scary experience for your child to be in pain or be sick! One of the more common reasons for why your child might be ill is due to some kind of infection.

While a salmonella infection isn’t as common as some other types of infections, it is still a possibility. Salmonella infections are caused by consuming contaminated food or water, so most of the time you don’t know you are exposing yourself to the bacteria until it is too late.

If you are concerned that your child has a salmonella infection, our AFC Urgent Care South Charlotte team has all the answers below.

How Did My Child Even Contract Salmonella?

A salmonella infection is caused by a bacteria called salmonella, hence the name. This bacteria often lives in the intestines of animals and is found in animal feces. If you eat undercooked meat or eggs from an infected animal or unwashed fruit or vegetables, you are at risk of contracting salmonella.

This is why you really shouldn’t let your little ones lick the cookie dough spatulas! Salmonella can exist in raw eggs, so make sure your children wait until the cookies are done baking before enjoying. If your child does get sick, symptoms tend to appear within eight to 72 hours of the exposure.

Salmonella Symptoms in Children

Diarrhea
Stomach cramps
Fever
Nausea
Headache

Do I Need to Take My Child to AFC for Salmonella?

Not in every case! Most cases of salmonella resolve on their own without medical intervention in about a week or so. Once your child overcomes the infection, he or she will start to feel better really quickly. In the meantime, encourage rest and proper hydration. Diarrhea can quickly dehydrate little bodies, so keep offering water as often as possible.

If you are ever concerned about any of your child’s symptoms, come see us! Infants and children with compromised immune systems can experience a more severe infection, so keep a close eye on how your child is feeling. Lingering symptoms or a high fever that won’t break should be evaluated by our team.