S

salmonellosis An illness resulting from INFECTION
with any of the numerous strains of Salmonella
BACTERIA. Salmonellaare common in the feces of
birds and animals. Salmonellosis is most often a
foodborne illness acquired through eating raw
eggs, unpasteurized dairy products, and under-
cooked poultry. Reptiles kept as pets, such as tur-
tles and iguanas, also carry Salmonella. Once
salmonellosis develops, the infected person can
spread it to other people.
The INCUBATION PERIOD(time between exposure
and illness) is often less than 12 hours. The most
common symptom of salmonellosis is DIARRHEA,
which may be bloody or profuse. Other symptoms
include abdominal discomfort, NAUSEA, VOMITING,
and FEVER. The course of illness is self-limiting and
runs four to seven days in otherwise healthy peo-
ple. In people who are IMMUNOCOMPROMISEDsalmo-
nellosis may occur as an OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTION
that causes significant illness. Because salmonel-
losis is self-limiting, doctors do not usually pre-
scribe ANTIBIOTIC MEDICATIONS to treat it even
though the cause is bacterial. Researchers have
discovered that the Salmonella bacteria remain
longer in the bodies of people who receive antibi-
otics for salmonellosis, extending the possibility of
spreading the infection to other people.
The most effective approach is prevention
through proper food handling and diligent PER-
SONAL HYGIENE. Thorough cooking kills Salmonella.
FOOD SAFETYprocedures include

• washing the hands with soap and warm water
  before and after handling food


• thoroughly rinsing fresh fruits and vegetables
  in running water before eating or preparing
  them for meals
  
  
  • using separate food preparation surfaces, such
    as cutting boards, and utensils for poultry and
    meats
  
  
  • thoroughly cooking eggs, poultry, and other
    animal-based foods
  
  
  
  

See also FOODBORNE ILLNESSES; WATERBORNE ILL-

NESSES.

scarlet fever An illness resulting from INFECTION

with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal BACTE-

RIAthat occurs as a complication of STREP THROAT.

Scarlet FEVERbegins with the same symptoms as

strep THROAT—sudden onset of fever and often

severe throat PAIN. Within two days a RASHerupts,

starting on the chest and back and spreading to

cover the entire body. The key characteristic of the

rash is that it feels like sandpaper to the touch.

Other symptoms of scarlet fever include

• bright red, inflamed (“strawberry”) tongue


• bright red color to the natural creases in the
  SKIN(under the arms and in the groin)


• HEADACHE


• peeling of the skin on the fingertips, on the tips
  of the toes, and in the creases of the groin

Scarlet fever, like strep throat, is contagious and

spreads among people through airborne transmis-

sion or direct contact with saliva (such as through

shared food or eating utensils). The diagnostic

path includes culture of the throat to detect the

presence of group A strep bacteria, though the

symptoms are so characteristic the doctor can usu-

ally make the diagnosis on the basis of their pres-

ence (clinical diagnosis).

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