Salmonellosis treatment in children Komarovsky. How is salmonellosis transmitted in children and how to treat it?

• Main causes of infection
• Diagnostic methods
• Treatment
• Prevention

Almost every second child spends the lion's share of his free time outside. Here he plays with stray animals and other people's toys, eats food shared with him by his friends with dirty hands, and does many other things that are harmful to his fragile immune system.

Therefore, it is not surprising that salmonellosis occurs much more often in children than in adults, and knowing how to cope with this infection is the responsibility of every good parent.

Main causes of infection

The first thing that needs to be clarified before talking about how to cure salmonellosis in a child is the causes of the disease. This knowledge will not only help protect the baby from reinfection, but will also help in its treatment.

The source of infection is:

1. Food products whose storage and/or heat treatment process has been disrupted.
2. Houseware. For example, dirty toys or things.
3. Contacts with raw water. Equally dangerous is its consumption or swimming in untested bodies of water.
4. Livestock and wild animals that carry salmonellosis are not even accompanied by the disease itself.

Some parents, paying too much attention to their child, forget that they themselves can become a carrier of infection. A striking example This is especially true for newborns, who often come into contact with the pathogen transplacentally (i.e., while still in the womb).

In the first months of life, babies have no contact with virtually anything described above. However, since infants The immune system is still quite weak; salmonellosis can be provoked by even the slightest contact with an infected person, whose disease can also occur in an asymptomatic form.

Good to know. Salmonella is an extremely tenacious bacterium. So, once in the soil, it remains active for up to 1.5 years, and in raw water– up to 5 months. In cheeses it “lives” for up to a year, in milk - no more than a month, in kefir - up to two months, and in butter - up to four. As for meat and sausage products, the average here is 2-4 months, for frozen meat – six months, for poultry – more than a year.

Types of salmonellosis and their symptoms

Having learned how salmonellosis is transmitted, you can move directly to its symptoms. The disease can occur in different ways, so it is customary to distinguish three forms of its manifestation.

1. Gastrointestinal (localized) form

This type of salmonellosis occurs most often in children. Its severity directly depends on the scale of intoxication and water and electrolyte losses (dehydration).

Common symptoms include a sharp increase in temperature to at least 37.5 °C, mild fever, chills, headaches and body aches, and “brokenness” of the body as a whole.

This form corresponds to 3 types of the disease, differing in the severity of their course:

Gastroenteric salmonellosis

It appears a couple of hours after infection and is quite acute. In addition to the symptoms described above, the patient also experiences:

• spasmodic pain in the abdomen (in the epigastric and umbilical areas);
• repeated nausea and vomiting;
• diarrhea, during which the stool becomes greenish and has a watery, foamy texture.

The temperature in this form rises quickly, but only slightly. Almost immediately, the patient experiences bloating, accompanied by rumbling in the intestines. In particularly acute cases, cyanosis (blueness of the skin and/or mucous membranes) and the occurrence of clonic convulsions in the area are observed. lower limbs.

Gastroenterocolitic salmonellosis

On initial stage this type of disease proceeds in exactly the same way as the previous one. Differences appear approximately 2-3 days after infection.

The child’s volume of bowel movements is significantly reduced, and mucus (sometimes blood) appears in the stool. The act of defecation itself is increasingly accompanied by tenesmus (painful false urges). Upon palpation, a spasm of the colon and its general painful condition can be clearly felt.

Gastroenterocolitic salmonellosis is often confused with dysentery, which occurs in an acute form.

Gastric salmonellosis

It is difficult to say exactly how long this form is treated (since the nature of the disease manifests itself individually), while it is much easier to list its characteristic features. These include:

• no diarrhea;
• abrupt and acute onset of the process;
• minor intoxication;
• pain localized in the epigastric region;
• repeated vomiting.

This type of salmonellosis in children is rare, but it is mostly successfully combated.

2. Generalized form

In many cases, the disease flows into this form contributes to the insufficiently effective treatment of salmonellosis in children in the gastroenteric stage. It takes quite a long time and is problematic.

The main feature of the generalized form is the appearance of purulent foci in the lungs (which contributes to the development of pleurisy and pneumonia), heart (the first step to endocarditis), kidneys (which subsequently affects pyelitis or cystitis) and muscles (where phlegmon and abscesses are threatened).

It is divided into 2 types:

Typhoid-like salmonellosis

This type of disease can occur without symptoms characteristic of gastroenteritis. In other words, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea appear only in the first few days, and then disappear altogether.

At the same time, the child notes:

• wave-like temperature changes;
• regular headaches;
• interruptions in sleep and, as a result, lethargy and weakness;
• hepatolienal syndrome (enlarged spleen and liver);
• general intoxication of the body and the manifestation of a hemorrhagic rash.

The complexity of treatment is determined by the difficulties of diagnosis. Clinical picture is in many ways similar to the course of typhoid fever, and therefore there is a high risk of inappropriate treatment. The only thing that can help in this situation is additional diagnostics, which often requires time that the child no longer has.

Septic salmonellosis

Characteristic mainly for infants and newborns. At the initial stage, symptoms characteristic of gastroenteritis are clearly visible, which are replaced by remitting fever (temperature changes that constantly fluctuate between 1-2.5 degrees).

The baby also experiences tachycardia, sweating increases, and myalgia begins (muscle pain associated with the fact that the cells are constantly in good shape). There are often cases when hepatosplenomegaly (one-time, significant enlargement of the liver and spleen) is diagnosed.

3. Bacteria-secreting form

This form of the disease is notable for the fact that during its course the patient has no clinical symptoms. It is revealed only through diagnostics and is divided into:

• Spicy

Isolation of Salmonella from convalescents (recovered children) lasts 15-90 days.

• Transitional

Isolation of salmonella is present, however, both at the time of the examination and during the 3 months before it, it was observed no more than 1-2 times. Serological tests also showed a negative result.

• Chronic

Carrier status has been confirmed for more than 3 months.

Features of symptoms in newborns

In children under one year of age, the symptoms of salmonellosis manifest themselves somewhat differently than in others. Here the signs of intoxication come to the fore:

• excessive restlessness and sleep disturbances;
• increased regurgitation and bloating;
• dehydration and causeless cooling of the extremities;
• hypotrophy and retraction of the fontanel.

At the same time, the baby’s body temperature can remain within normal limits for up to several days (although sometimes it almost immediately rises to 39 °C).

Vomiting, diarrhea and the other symptoms described above also do not immediately make themselves known. Diarrhea manifests itself in all its glory 3-4 days after infection. The stool has a watery structure and a greenish tint. On the seventh day, they are found in the stool blood streaks. Lack of treatment at this stage predominantly leads to fatal outcome.

Good to know. Incubation period illness in newborns ranges from a couple of hours to 2-4 days. Therefore, so that the child does not suffer from complications later, it is worth showing him to the doctor at the slightest suspicion of infection.

Diagnostic methods

In a number of ways, salmonellosis is similar to a number of other acute intestinal infections. Therefore, the first thing to do to ensure that the treatment is effective is to make sure that the intended diagnosis is accurate. After all, you don’t know yet, but only assume what your child is sick with. Chief Assistant in this case, a diagnosis prescribed by the attending physician at the first appointment.

Depending on the type of disease, as well as on the stage of its progression, we can distinguish different types how children are tested for salmonellosis:

• Bacterial culture of feces and vomit

If there are suspicions that the disease has become a generalized form, urine, bile, and gastric and intestinal lavage are also used. Among strengths analysis can be distinguished by its high sensitivity. It allows not only to identify infectious agents, but also to assess their number, activity and resistance to various antibiotics. The main disadvantage of the method is its duration (up to 10 days), while any delays can cause irreversible complications in the child’s body.

• Express diagnostics

Kits for immunofluorescence and latex agglutination are now available for sale. Therefore, if you find signs of salmonellosis in your child, before going to see a doctor, you can independently check for the accuracy of the diagnosis. In the medical environment, for express diagnostics, testing for ELISA, RIA, RCA, and RLA is used.

• Serological blood test for antibodies

This study is carried out when it is already known for sure that the child is infected, in order to determine the success of the prescribed course of treatment. For the first time, blood is drawn a week after salmonellosis is diagnosed and 10 days later. The procedure is repeated upon completion of hospital treatment. Doctors are interested in an increase in antibody titer, the minimum diagnostic value of which is 1:200.

Depending on the type of disease and the stage of its progression, tests are prescribed for children on an individual basis. However, if all the symptoms of an epidemiological outbreak of salmonellosis are present, in addition to them, a bacteriological analysis of the remains of contaminated food and washes from the dishes in which they were located is also carried out.

Good to know. More often than others, children under 2 years of age are susceptible to salmonellosis, and the majority of outbreaks of the disease occur in the summer-autumn season.

Treatment

Now that we know how salmonellosis manifests itself and how it is diagnosed, it’s time to talk about treatment. If in adults it (in the vast majority of cases) does not require specific actions and is limited only to taking medications, then in the case of children such a trick will not work.

Thus, treatment of infants should be carried out strictly within the framework of hospitalization. Otherwise, without timely medical care, the baby risks developing cerebral edema and dying.

Drug therapy

By its nature, salmonella is a bacteria. Therefore, it would be logical to assume that it should be treated with various antibacterial drugs, right?

Reasoning in this way, you risk not only not healing your child, but also causing him much more significant harm. The fact is that the symptoms of salmonellosis, typhoid fever and a number of other infections are very similar. And medications for salmonellosis for children are quite different from the same medications for dysentery.

Even doctors will be able to unambiguously determine what kind of illness has struck your baby only after a thorough diagnosis. And incorrectly prescribed treatment will only provoke an exacerbation.

Remember, only a doctor can prescribe antibiotics for salmonellosis! All you need to do is deliver your baby to the pediatrician as quickly as possible or call him to your home.

Independent measures in the fight against the disease

As already mentioned, the causative agent of salmonellosis is extremely specific and is characterized by increased resistance to cold and a number of antibiotics. Therefore, even drugs such as Enterofuril cannot always help. However, this does not mean that you need to remain idle until the doctor arrives.

In some cases, the infection manifests itself in just a couple of hours, and rapid dehydration of the body can cause irreparable harm to the child. As we have already found out, we cannot stuff him with antibiotics, but we can alleviate the baby’s condition by preventing his dehydration.

This can be done either with the help of specialized powders for oral rehydration, which can be easily found in every pharmacy, or by using the following recipe:

• in a clean still water(1 l) dissolve baking soda(1 tsp), then sugar (2 tsp), and then salt (1 tsp). Mix the resulting saline solution thoroughly and give the child a drink until the ambulance arrives.

This drink does not taste particularly pleasant, so if your baby flatly refuses to drink it, offer him any other drink, be it water, tea or compote. You should stay away from liquids containing various dyes and chemicals (like soda).

If you give a child a drink traditional way It is not possible, for example, if dehydration has overcome a month-old baby, an ordinary syringe will come to the rescue (of course, without a needle!). Fill it with the solution described above and carefully pour it into the corner of the baby’s mouth before the ambulance arrives. At the same time, be sure to hold the head so that he does not choke.

Nutritional considerations during and after treatment

What can a child eat with salmonellosis? This issue is no less important than the others discussed in this article. Proper nutritional correction contributes not only to a speedy recovery, but also to the restoration of weakened immunity.

The optimal product for children in the first year of life has been and remains unpasteurized breast milk. It not only easily replenishes the weakened body’s need for microelements and vitamins, but also provides it with proteins, carbohydrates, fats and a number of protective, biologically active substances.

If the toddler’s age has already exceeded 4 months, and he himself feeds by artificial feeding, then for the first 1-2 weeks his menu includes:

• fermented milk mixtures;
• 10% rice and/or buckwheat porridge, brewed in water;
• vegetable puree.

Subsequently, the doctor analyzes the combined results of treatment and diet, after which he makes a verdict on how effective the diet is and adjusts the course (as usual, towards expanding the range of foods allowed for consumption).

The diet of older children who fell ill just the other day consists of thoroughly pureed, easily digestible food that has undergone mandatory heat treatment. These can be soups, various vegetable dishes, boiled rice, etc. Meat and fish are allowed to be included in the menu, but only on the condition that they were steamed.

The following are prohibited:

• fermented milk products that enhance peristalsis (wave-like contraction of the walls) of the intestine;
• flour products made from rye;
• any sweets and pickles;
• vegetables and fruits served raw;
• berries and various spices.

The duration of the course is 27-30 days from the moment the disease is diagnosed. However, depending on the complexity of its course, in order to restore the child’s strength, nutritional adjustments can continue after his recovery.

Since the disease is quite specific, the diet after salmonellosis is prescribed individually by the attending doctor. However, in general terms:

• The following should be excluded from the diet for a certain period: dairy products, fatty and spicy foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, sweets, some types of legumes, cabbage and juices;
• The basis of the menu for this time should be: dairy-free porridge, soups with meat, but not cooked in meat broth (i.e., the meat is cooked separately and then added to the finished soup), soufflé from lean poultry and meat, baked fruits (for example, baked apples or bananas).

If, among other things, a child suffers from food allergies, fermentopathy or dysbacteriosis, his diet for salmonellosis should be made taking into account adjustments for these diseases. All products with high content allergens, and the list of required dishes is supplemented various decoctions, vitamins and other agents used in phage and immunotherapy.

Good to know. The previously popular “water-tea” fasting diet is now recognized as ineffective. However, in the first five days, doctors advise reducing food intake by 5-15%.

Consequences and threats to child health

Why is salmonellosis dangerous in children? This is the first question that arises for parents whose baby is faced with this disease. As a rule, if you consult a doctor in a timely manner, the disease does not cause any complications. However, if a baby whose immunity is not strong enough (for example, an infant) encounters it, or the treatment was not prompt enough, the consequences can be serious.

We have already mentioned that the course of the disease is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and other unpleasant symptoms. However, even after recovery, the child faces a number of complications.

1. Prolonged dehydration leads to interruptions in the functioning of the renal channels ( renal failure) and contributes to the accumulation of nitrogenous waste in the patient’s blood.
2. Bacterial excretion lasting more than 3 months after recovery - a clear sign that the disease has had too strong an effect on the body, and the child now requires treatment for chronic salmonellosis.
3. Prolonged intoxication negatively affects the functioning of the cardiovascular system. In particularly advanced cases, it causes cerebral edema.
4. The consequences of salmonellosis can also be expressed in inflammation of various internal organs, since salmonella spreads throughout the body through the bloodstream.
5. In young patients suffering from chronic diseases, relapses caused by immunodeficiency are common.

However, we should not forget that in addition to these, the disease also has social consequences.

For example, if there is a suspicion that a child is a bacteria carrier, entering public places closed to him. And if in the case of an amusement park or swimming pool this does not cause any particular harm, then a ban on visiting a school or kindergarten may cause a lag in the program and a prejudiced attitude.

Prevention

Everyone knows that avoiding a disease is much better than dealing with all its possible consequences. It is not difficult to prevent the first entry of salmonella into the body or the recurrence of salmonellosis.

For many, especially young and always busy parents, the question is different: are you ready to devote enough time to your child in order to protect him from this and a number of other unpleasant diseases? After all, then you will have to:

• Regularly organize wet cleaning in the house and clean not only the rooms themselves, but also the children's toys in them.
• Avoid visiting prohibited bodies of water and places with high dust content.
• Carefully iron not only your baby’s things, but also your own clothes with which he may come into contact.
• Until the baby understands the importance and importance of personal hygiene, do not let him out of sight. And also control everything that he puts into his mouth.
• Minimize the child’s contact with farm and wild animals (goats, pigeons, pigs and other potential carriers of salmonella).
• Store animal products separately from others and feed them to children only after thorough heat treatment.
• Avoid fast food and snacks that are harmful to the young body for a number of other reasons.
• Cut the meat on a separate board and, before touching other ingredients of the dish after cutting, wash your hands thoroughly.
• Purchase products only from certified outlets. Store eggs for no more than 20 days, and homemade mayonnaise– no more than a day and in a tightly closed container.
• Teach your toddler to hygiene from an early age and follow its rules yourself. Wash your hands not only before eating, but also at the end of the meal, after a walk, clean not only clothes, but also toys, do not pick up food from the floor, etc.

It is necessary to understand that salmonellosis in a child can occur even if all of the above rules are observed. Prevention only reduces the likelihood of disease, and is not a panacea for it. However, sticking to it is much better than fighting the disease for a long time, and then also adjusting the functioning of the body depleted by it after recovery.

Still have questions? Want to learn more about how to treat salmonellosis in children? Leave comments and let's discuss.

Salmonellosis in children is a disease of the digestive system, the development of which is associated with infection of the body by Salmonella bacteria. The pathology occurs acutely with severe intoxication and dehydration. Cases of visiting a doctor with salmonellosis are becoming more frequent in warm months of the year. They are explained by eating food that has expired. The most sensitive patients are children under 2 years of age.

Why does salmonellosis develop?

For salmonellosis to develop in the body, certain conditions must exist. These are:

• the child's tendency to allergies;
• frequent morbidity;
• weak immunity at an early age;
• damage to the gastrointestinal tract by microbes supplied with poor-quality food.

The causes of the disease are Salmonella - gram-negative, motile microbes that are resistant to various physicochemical factors. The strains tolerate frost and drought well and are preserved in dust and feces. They exist for a long time in soil and water bodies and take root in meat and dairy products.

Animals, waterfowl and sick people become sources of infection for a child. The pathogen is transmitted in several ways.

1. Airborne dust – when inhaling contaminated dust.
2. Food, if the baby consumes milk, meat or eggs without proper heat treatment or raw water.
3. Contact and household. This type of infection often develops in infants when parents or medical staff care for them with unwashed hands. Germs can be on pacifiers, toys, and other items.
4. Transplacental. Infection of a child occurs in utero if a pregnant woman suffers from salmonellosis.

Clinical features of salmonellosis

Symptoms of salmonellosis in children do not immediately become pronounced. The incubation period is influenced by many factors, so parents may notice a significant deterioration in the baby’s health only after 3 days from the moment of infection. What signs the disease will manifest depends on the general condition of the child, his age and the stage of salmonellosis.

• Newborns. In the first month of life, there is no obvious evidence of gastrointestinal damage, temperature indicators remain normal. Mothers note that the baby refuses to eat and loses weight. The skin turns pale, the tummy swells, and belching comes out of the mouth. The baby is constantly worried.
• Infants. TO early symptoms Salmonella infections in children under one year of age include vomiting and increased bowel movements up to 7 p.m. per day, poor appetite and a jump in temperature to high levels. If left untreated, diarrhea gets worse and causes dehydration.
• Preschoolers and older children. Salmonellosis develops acutely with sharp increase body temperature (38 – 38.5°C), abdominal pain, repeated vomiting and diarrhea. Children complain of decreased appetite and general weakness. Delayed or inadequate therapy leads to dehydration, acute renal failure and toxic shock.

The famous pediatrician Komarovsky draws the attention of parents to the external manifestations of salmonellosis. The condition of children deteriorates sharply; the body reacts to microbes with severe intoxication. If you suspect that your baby has become a victim of salmonella, immediately go to the clinic or call an ambulance.

Methods for diagnosing salmonellosis

The primary diagnosis after a general examination is acute intestinal infection. The final verdict is made by an infectious disease specialist or gastroenterologist based on the results of blood and urine tests and bacteriological culture feces The tasks of diagnostic measures include isolating the pathogen, determining its type and examining all persons in contact with the child.

An incorrect diagnosis and neglected condition of the child can lead to quite serious complications:

1. reactive arthritis;
2. convulsive syndrome;
3. renal failure;
4. infectious-toxic shock;
5. swelling of the lungs or brain.

How to treat children with salmonellosis

Drug treatment of salmonellosis in children is prescribed strictly individually and without the use of traditional methods. For moderate to severe illness, the patient is admitted to a hospital. In mild forms of salmonellosis, therapy is carried out at home.

In case of food infection, treatment begins with gastric lavage. A solution of sodium bicarbonate helps to partially remove toxins from the body and eliminate intoxication. A 2% concentrate of the substance is diluted with 2–3 liters of water at a temperature of 18–20°C. Hemosorption, or blood purification, is carried out using the drugs Sorbilact, Reosorbilact, Reopoliglyukin.

The state of dehydration is eliminated by using rehydration solutions:

• Oralit;
• Regidron;
• Glucosolan.

The child is given solutions at the rate of 40–70 ml of product per kilogram of body weight. In case of severe intoxication without dehydration, the dose is reduced to 30–40 ml.

The use of antibiotics to treat children from salmonellosis is resorted to only in severe cases. First, the sensitivity of the detected salmonella is determined. Based on the data obtained, a suitable drug is selected. Usually this is a group of cephalosporins that stop repeated vomiting. From intestinal antiseptics young patients are prescribed Enterofuril or Ersefuril.

Salmonella carriers and older children are prescribed:

1. probiotics;
2. immune lactoglobulins;
3. bacteriophages are specific anti-Salmonella agents.

In case of salmonellosis, baby food should be gentle, protecting the intestinal mucosa from strong mechanical and chemical effects. The following should be completely excluded from the diet:

• whole milk;
• vegetables with coarse fiber;
• animal fats;
• marinades, spices, smoked meats, seasonings.

The following will be useful for a child affected by salmonella:

• cottage cheese;
• low-fat cheese;
• boiled fish;
• fruit jelly;
• steam cutlets and meatballs;
• oat and rice porridges with water and vegetable broths.

The diet must be followed for 4 weeks from the onset of the disease.

Our specialist comments

1. Remember that the consequences of salmonellosis undermine the immune system, causing secondary infection or exacerbation chronic pathologies. Salmonella remaining in the intestines spread throughout the body and form local foci of inflammation. A child who has recovered from the disease may subsequently suffer from sore throat, otitis media or pneumonia for a long time.
2. Observe the rules of personal hygiene and do not violate the cooking technology. Subject animal products to high temperature processing. Don't give it to your child raw eggs, and before preparing omelettes and scrambled eggs, wash the shells thoroughly.
3. To prevent salmonella infection, store meat in the freezer. Have a separate cutting board for cutting up game and chickens.

If you consult a doctor in a timely manner, the prognosis for treatment of salmonellosis is favorable. Therapy takes place within 5–10 days, but immunity against salmonella is not developed. Therefore, the child may get sick again.

The doctor talks about the danger of salmonellosis for a child

Salmonellosis in children is an acute infectious disease of the digestive system that occurs as a result of infection with Salmonella bacteria. The disease is accompanied by dehydration and severe intoxication, sometimes occurring with septicemia (in infants) or typhus (in older children).

Salmonellosis develops as isolated cases or flashes. Most often, cases of salmonellosis are registered in the summer due to frequent violations food storage conditions. For more information about what salmonellosis is, what its causes are, how to treat it and how to cure it, read our article.

Causes of the disease and routes of transmission of the pathogen

The causative agent of the disease, Salmonella, affects not only people, but also animals. It is stable in the external environment, tolerates low temperatures and the effect of many antibacterial drugs, but quickly dies when boiled and the use of disinfectants. Salmonella actively multiply in products of animal origin - milk, meat, butter, eggs.

The source of infection for a child is mainly animals; less often, infection occurs from a sick person. Waterfowl pose the greatest danger.

The main routes of transmission of the pathogen:

1. Food - when consuming dishes made from eggs, milk, meat that are not thermally processed immediately before consumption (soufflés, cakes, salads). There is also a risk of infection when drinking unboiled contaminated water.
2. Household contact is the main route of transmission of salmonellosis in infancy. A child can become infected through dirty hands parents or medical personnel, changing tables, care items, pacifiers, toys, towels.
3. Inhalation of contaminated dust.
4. Transplacental - the pathogen is transmitted in utero from mother to child.

Children under 2 years of age are most sensitive to salmonellosis.

The place of initial localization of Salmonella is small intestine. During the incubation period, the bacterium multiplies and spreads to the lymph nodes and bloodstream.

Types and forms of the disease

Depending on the clinical picture and localization of the pathogen, salmonellosis is divided into:

1. Gastrointestinal:

• gastric;
• gastroenterocolitic;
• gastroenteric.

1. Generalized:

• typhus-like;
• septic.

1. Bacterial excretion:

• spicy;
• transient;
• chronic.

Symptoms of the disease in children

The incubation period of salmonellosis ranges from several hours to 5 days. Symptoms vary depending on clinical form diseases. The main signs of any form of salmonellosis are:

• acute onset with fever (lasts from 5-7 days to 2-3 weeks);
• frequent foul-smelling stools (normalizes after 7–10 days);
• signs of dehydration (dry mucous membranes and skin).

Features of the clinical picture in infants and newborns

In young children over symptoms intestinal disorder symptoms of general intoxication predominate.

Body temperature may remain normal. There is malnutrition in children, they gain weight poorly.

Babies are restless, often spit up, their stomachs are swollen, and their extremities are cold.

Dehydration is manifested by dry skin, mucous membranes, tongue, oliguria, and retraction of the fontanel.

Gastrointestinal form

Most common among children. In children over 2 years of age it occurs in the form of gastritis or gastroenteritis. Symptoms:

• epigastric pain;
• heat;
• general malaise, weakness;
• frequent vomiting;
• frequent heavy diarrhea with particles of undigested food;
• the tongue is dry, covered with a thick coating;
• minor flatulence.

The gastrointestinal form in infants occurs in the form of enteritis. Signs:

• stomach ache;
• episodic vomiting, nausea;
• diarrhea up to 5 – 10 times a day; the stool is mushy or liquid, continuous, with an admixture of mucus, greens, white lumps with a sharp sour odor;
• bloating and rumbling in the stomach;
• low-grade body temperature.

The colitis form in children is rarely recorded and has a clinical picture of colitis. Main features:

• acute onset with symptoms of intoxication;
• pain in the large intestine;
• loose stool green with streaks of blood and mucus.

Typhoid-like form

Characteristic features:

• dyspepsia (diarrhea, vomiting, flatulence);
• persistent or wavy fever;
• symptoms of general intoxication (malaise, headache, weakness);
• hemorrhagic skin rash;
• hepatosplenomegaly.

Septic form

More typical for newborns and infants. Symptoms:

• dyspeptic symptoms;
• fever with severe chills and profuse sweating;
• hepatolienal syndrome;
• tachycardia.

After salmonellosis, some children continue to release the pathogen into the environment for a month. If bacterial excretion lasts more than 3 months, it is considered chronic.

The danger of salmonellosis in childhood

The disease can have serious complications with high probability fatal outcome:

1. infectious-toxic shock;
2. cerebral edema;
3. pulmonary edema;
4. renal failure;
5. convulsive syndrome;
6. reactive arthritis;
7. purulent complications.

Diagnosis of salmonellosis

When identifying the first signs of salmonellosis, parents should consult an infectious disease specialist or gastroenterologist to confirm the diagnosis. The doctor uses following methods examinations:

• inspection;
• culture of vomit, feces, intestinal and stomach lavage;
• stool analysis for dysbacteriosis;
• coprogram;
• general blood analysis;
• RNGA of blood - detection of antibodies to salmonella.

Treatment of salmonellosis in children

Therapy for mild forms of salmonellosis is carried out at home. Children with severe course illnesses and infants are subject to hospitalization.

Treatment of the disease includes diet therapy, measures aimed at correcting dehydration and cleansing the body of toxins.

The child's diet should consist of pureed and boiled foods (diet No. 4). Exclude from the diet:

• animal fats;
• whole milk;
• vegetables with coarse fiber.

You can feed your baby:

• oatmeal or rice porridge on water or vegetable broth;
• boiled fish;
• steam cutlets, meatballs;
• fruit jelly;
• cottage cheese, low-fat varieties cheese.

The diet lasts 28–30 days from the onset of the disease.

Removing toxins from the body

To cleanse the body, use:

1. Gastric lavage with water or sodium bicarbonate solution.
2. Hemosorption with the drugs Reosorbilact, Sorbilact, Reopoliglyukin. The drugs are administered intravenously after correction of dehydration.

Correction of dehydration

1. Regidron, Glucosolan, Oralit are used orally at the rate of 40 - 70 ml per 1 kg of body weight per day (depending on the degree of dehydration). The solution is given in fractional portions (1 tsp every 5 minutes) throughout the day.
2. Intravenous administration of glucose solution, saline solution - if oral rehydration is impossible.

In case of a generalized form, additional antibiotics are prescribed - Levomycetin, Doxycycline.

With the gastrointestinal form, children are advised to take enzymes - Enzistal, Festal.

For prolonged bacterial carriage, the following is prescribed:

1. means to enhance immunity;
2. bacteriophages;
3. probiotics – Bifikol, Bifidumbacterin.

Treatment prognosis

If you consult a doctor in a timely manner, the prognosis for recovery is favorable. Most children tolerate salmonellosis without consequences or complications. The disease can be dangerous for infants and weakened children.

How to prevent salmonellosis

Measures to prevent salmonellosis:

1. Eat only well-heated foods (meat, eggs).
2. If there is a person sick with salmonellosis at home, provide him with personal hygiene and eating utensils.
3. During wet cleaning, it is also necessary to wash children's toys.
4. Make sure that the baby does not take various objects from the floor into his mouth.
5. Do not swim in prohibited bodies of water.
6. Limit or eliminate the child’s contact with pigeons, chickens and other farm animals.

Expert advice

1. Gastric lavage in a child can be done in this way: offer to drink a glass of liquid, then press your finger on the tip of the tongue, inducing vomiting. Washing continues until the wash water is clear. Remember that gastric lavage should not be performed on your own at home for children under 3 years of age! It is not advisable to use a spoon to induce a gag reflex, as the metal can damage soft fabrics oral cavity.
2. Self-medication and treatment traditional methods for salmonellosis is unacceptable.
3. For preventive purposes, Salmonella bacteriophage can be prescribed to family members of a sick child.
4. After an illness, the child develops immunity that lasts up to 12 months.
5. It is better not to store food prepared for a child. Otherwise, it must be reheated to a temperature of 70 C.

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Salmonellosis symptoms in children

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One of the most common dangerous intestinal diseases is salmonellosis. Symptoms and treatment in adult patients are practically no different from the signs and treatment of the disease in children. But still, the course of the disease may have its own characteristics depending on the age of the patient.

What is salmonellosis?

How to treat salmonellosis is important to know even for those who have never encountered similar problem. After all, the disease has become so “famous” throughout the globe that every year the number of those infected is steadily increasing. To understand the nuances of treating the disease, you need to know what kind of pathology it is, how it manifests itself and what consequences it is fraught with.

Salmonellosis belongs to the class of acute infectious diseases provoked by pathogenic microorganisms. In particular, the causative agent of this disease is Salmonella. In most cases, when timely diagnosis and when therapy is started, the prognosis for recovery is quite good.

How does infection occur?

Salmonellosis in children, the symptoms and treatment of which raise many questions among parents, occurs in the form of dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract. The most common manifestations are gastroenteritis and colitis. It is not difficult to become infected with this disease, especially since the source of infection is often people themselves, as well as birds and animals. Signs of salmonellosis in humans (how to treat the disease - only a doctor will answer this question; self-medication can be dangerous) most often appear in the hot summer season.

In addition, salmonella often settles in the human body after consuming contaminated foods. The harmful microorganism may be in meat, milk, butter or dirty untreated water. With insufficient heat treatment, bacteria remain in the product, entering the gastrointestinal tract. It is almost impossible to discern the presence of salmonella, for example, in a piece of meat: it does not have the slightest effect on taste qualities contaminated products or their appearance.

Who is at risk?

In order for a pathogenic bacterium to enter the body through the oral-fecal route, it is enough to simply not wash your hands once after using the toilet or upon returning home from the street. It is not surprising that the question of how to treat salmonellosis worries parents most. Children under 12 years of age are the main risk group for infection, since they are most often not observed basic rules personal hygiene. Infants are the most susceptible to infections, since babies do not yet have time to develop strong immunity.

Incubation period and manifestations of salmonellosis

4 days after infection, salmonellosis will begin to manifest itself. Symptoms and treatment in adults are usually determined by the presence of an incubation period, during which certain signs of the disease may appear. The absence of clearly expressed symptoms can be called one of the main reasons for the impossibility of timely early therapy.

Meanwhile, after the 4-day latent phase of the infectious disease, patients at any age begin to experience painful and unpleasant symptoms similar to signs of food poisoning, including:

• pain and pain in the abdomen;
• flatulence, constant feeling of bloating;
• prolonged diarrhea accompanied by a foul odor;
• possible presence of blood or mucus in feces;
• incessant vomiting, nausea;
• dehydration of the body;
• refusal to eat food due to lack of appetite;
• high body temperature;
• feeling of aching in muscles and bones;
• mild neurological symptoms.

The last group of signs of infection include dizziness, migraines and sleep disturbances. If any of the above symptoms appear, it is important to isolate the patient from other family members as soon as possible. The predominant part of intestinal infections is characterized by a high degree of spread of the disease.

Peculiarities of children's symptoms

A distinctive feature is salmonellosis in children. Symptoms and treatment depend largely on dehydration. In childhood this sign infection is considered the most dangerous. In babies under 1 year of age, dehydration due to salmonellosis can develop in a matter of hours. In this case, a group of additional symptoms appears:

• dry mouth;
• lack of tears while crying;
• general weakness of the body;
• pallor skin;
• cold extremities;
• drowsiness.

Hospitalization and diagnosis

For adults, dehydration is also a danger. In severe cases, with a complicated course of the disease, the patient may even fall into a coma, therefore, at the first signs of significant fluid loss, urgent hospitalization is necessary, especially for pregnant women and the elderly.

Before treating salmonellosis, it is important to do all the necessary laboratory research. The doctor will give the patient directions for a stool test, biochemical and clinical blood test. Further actions are possible only after the doctor makes an accurate diagnosis and confirms salmonellosis. What caused the infection can also be important to a specialist, so often with this infection, the remains of undigested foods in the esophagus are taken for examination.

Drinking plenty of fluids if you have salmonellosis

Before starting serious drug therapy aimed at maximizing the elimination of pathogenic bacteria in the patient’s body, it is necessary to adjust the diet and drinking regime. The primary task of doctors in inpatient facilities where salmonellosis is treated is to restore the patient’s water and electrolyte balance. Dehydration can be corrected by constant drink plenty of fluids. As a rule, doctors recommend:

• weak tea (black or green) without sugar;
• mineral water in small sips;
• saline solution

Diet for intestinal infection

Diet is an equally important fundamental step in the treatment of salmonellosis. The task limited diet is to restore the full functioning of the digestive organs. Therefore, any products that can irritate the patient’s gastrointestinal tract are completely excluded from the daily menu until complete recovery. Among them:

• raw vegetables and fruits (can only be consumed boiled, steamed, stewed and baked);
• any bread (white and black);
• mushrooms:
• whole milk;
• animal fats;
• seafood;
• sausages, semi-finished products, fast food;
• confectionery;
• carbonated drinks, coffee, alcohol.

Drug therapy for adults

Since it is impossible to treat salmonellosis without drugs, it is worth considering in detail the list of drugs prescribed to patients. On average, drug therapy for intestinal infections caused by salmonella rarely lasts more than 10 days. Meanwhile, how much salmonellosis is treated largely depends on the patient’s condition.

As already mentioned, in the early stages of treatment it is extremely important to eliminate dehydration, which occurs due to intense vomiting and diarrhea. A drug such as Loperamide will help slow down the activity of the intestines. Manufacturers do not recommend taking it for more than 5 days.

An antibiotic for salmonellosis is prescribed when the disease is severe. The drug is first administered to the patient intravenously. After relief, switch to oral administration or intramuscular injections. The most common antibacterial drugs are:

• Azithromycin.
• "Ciprofloxacin."
• "Cefotaxime".
• "Ceftriaxone".

Cleansing the body of bacteria

For headaches and high fever, Ibuprofen and Paracetamol are prescribed. Cleansing the intestines using an enema is considered effective and useful for salmonellosis. In addition, sorbents, which are considered indispensable for intestinal infections, will help remove all toxins from the body. The most famous medicines include Enterosgel, Smecta, and activated carbon.

To further normalize the activity of the digestive system, the doctor prescribes enzyme-containing drugs (“Festal”, “Mezim”, “Creon”). After treatment with antibiotics, it is imperative to take a course of probiotics, which will help restore the disturbed microflora in the intestines. It is necessary to take such medications for a long time, at least 2-3 weeks. Effective products containing live bacteria are Lactobacterin, Bifidumbacterin, Acipol.

Nuances of treating children from salmonellosis

As such, there is no cure for salmonellosis for the treatment of children. The same drugs are used as for adult patients, but in a different dosage. First of all, it is necessary to unsolder a sick child. To remove all kinds of toxins from the body, it is advisable to give a teaspoon of water or other drink every 5 minutes. If severe dehydration occurs, doctors may prescribe glucose drips.

Antibiotics and antipyretics can only be prescribed to a child by the attending doctor. Under no circumstances should you self-medicate. The restrictions that apply to adult patients fully apply to children. The child needs to stick to the diet for as long as possible, since the baby’s weakened body will have a hard time coping with the sudden load on the digestive system.

Traditional recipes for intestinal infections

Folk remedies for salmonellosis, unfortunately, do not guarantee one hundred percent positive result. Meanwhile, in combination with drug therapy and diet, homemade recipes for getting rid of intestinal infections can become an additional option that speeds up treatment. However, it is advisable to approach the use of seemingly absolutely safe products with caution. It is advisable to use at least one of the following recipes only after consulting a doctor.

1. Plantain infusion. You can cure salmonellosis with a herbal medicine if you prepare it at the rate of: 1 tbsp. l. crushed leaves a glass of boiling water. This infusion needs to steep for 10-15 minutes, after which you should drink home remedy in small sips.
2. A tincture from walnuts. To prepare it, you will need to take a glass of peeled fruits and 2 glasses of vodka. Place the medicine in a dark place for 3-4 days. The resulting product should be used every 2 hours, 5 drops for children (diluted in 1 tbsp. boiled water) and 10 drops for adults.
3. To maintain the body's overall resistance, effective means It is considered an infusion of medicinal chamomile. For 1 tbsp. l. collection requires 1 glass of boiling water. Place the medicine in a metal container over low heat and cook for about 5 minutes. When the broth has cooled and infused, it can be consumed. For an adult patient, you should take the medicine at least 4 times a day, 2 tbsp. l. after meal.
4. Essential oils will help relieve abdominal pain due to salmonellosis. peppermint oil. Apply it externally, a few drops are enough, after which the product is rubbed into the skin with gentle circular movements. This massage can also be done to improve intestinal motility.

Possible complications of salmonellosis

The symptoms of the disease cannot be ignored. Any intestinal infection caused by a pathogenic microorganism is dangerous to the health and life of the patient. Untimely and delayed therapy to eliminate bacteria in the body is fraught with negative consequences. dangerous consequences, among which:

• heart and kidney failure;
• sudden jumps in blood pressure;
• respiratory arrest, collapse.

In addition, purulent complications may occur in all internal organs and systems. With salmonellosis these are often:

• peritonitis;
• appendicitis;
• arthritis.

At an advanced stage of the disease, bacteria, reaching the meninges through the bloodstream, can provoke inflammation and encephalopathy. Infectious-toxic shock, as well as exacerbation of chronic diseases (pancreatitis, cholecystitis) are uncommon in patients, but such complications in most cases can end in failure. In rare cases, salmonella can cause blood clotting problems.

Childhood salmonellosis is a serious pathological condition, which primarily affects the child’s digestive tract. The occurrence of salmonellosis is preceded by the entry of salmonella bacteria into the baby’s intestines, as a result of which the child develops general intoxication, dehydration and, in some cases, septicemia. This severe infectious pathology tends to manifest itself as isolated cases or become an epidemic.

Most often, cases of salmonellosis among children are recorded in the summer, when favorable conditions are created for the activation and reproduction of the pathogens of this disease. In addition, the summer increase in ambient temperature plays an important role in violating the storage conditions of food products.

If we analyze the statistics on the incidence of salmonellosis in childhood, then children of preschool and age are at greatest risk. school age, who attend institutions such as nurseries every day, kindergarten and school.

Causes and routes of transmission of salmonellosis

The only causative agent of this disease is Salmonella, which can cause severe infectious lesion not only among people, but also among animals. This bacterium is highly resistant to low temperature, ultraviolet radiation, oxygen, and some antibacterial drugs. The only way The quick elimination of this pathogen is the use of chemical disinfectants, as well as boiling.

Intensive reproduction of salmonellosis pathogens occurs in such food products as butter, milk, chicken and duck eggs, as well as poultry meat. In childhood, salmonellosis infection occurs through contact with a carrier of bacteria, as well as through consumption of contaminated food. The main routes of transmission of salmonellosis pathogens are:

1. Contact and household. This route of transmission of an infectious disease is typical for infants. Penetration of salmonellosis pathogens into the baby's body occurs through the contaminated hands of medical personnel or parents, individual items for caring for a newborn, through untreated changing tables, towels, pacifiers and toys;
2. Food. In this case, a child becomes infected with salmonellosis by consuming thermally untreated milk, eggs and meat. There is also a risk of Salmonella being introduced through contaminated drinking water;
3. Inhalation of contaminated dust particles;
4. Intrauterine, through the placenta of an infected mother ( transplacental route transfers).

Children under 2 years of age are at greatest risk of infection with salmonellosis pathogens. The primary site of localization of pathogens is the lumen of the small intestine. As Salmonella multiplies, it spreads through the lymphogenous and hematogenous route throughout the baby’s body.

Symptoms

The clinical picture of this infectious disease directly depends on the type of pathology. There is a list of general symptoms that, regardless of the form of the disease, indicate the development of salmonellosis in a child.

These symptoms include:

• A sharp increase in temperature to 38-39 degrees. The duration of the fever phase can vary from 1 to 3 weeks;
• Symptoms of body dehydration (dehydration). Manifestations of dehydration include dry skin and mucous membranes;
• Frequent loose stools that have an unpleasant odor.

Clinical manifestations of salmonellosis may differ between infants and older children. In infants, this disease is accompanied by poor weight gain, malnutrition, frequent regurgitation, restlessness, coldness of the upper and lower extremities, and bloating. Clinical symptoms of dehydration of the body manifest themselves in the form of dryness of the oral mucosa and skin, retraction of the fontanel, as well as a decrease in the frequency and volume of urination.

The most common form of salmonellosis is gastrointestinal. In children over 2 years of age, this disease is accompanied by the following clinical symptoms:

• Increased body temperature;
• Pain in the epigastric region;
• Nausea and frequent vomiting;
• Increased gas formation in the intestines (flatulence);
• Dryness of the oral mucosa and the presence of thick plaque on the surface of the tongue;
• Diarrhea, which contains elements of undigested food;
• Weakness and general malaise.

If a child has become infected with a typhoid-like form of the disease, he may be bothered by the following clinical symptoms of the disease:

• The appearance of a hemorrhagic rash on the surface of the skin;
• Dyspeptic disorders in the form of flatulence, diarrhea and vomiting;
• Signs of severe poisoning of the body (general weakness, headache and malaise);
• Undulating fever.

Another less common form of the disease is septic, which most often occurs in infants. This form of salmonellosis is characterized by the following manifestations:

• Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia);
• Digestive disorder;
• Feverish symptoms, which include profuse sweating and chills.

Having recovered from salmonellosis, the child continues to spread pathogens of infectious diseases into the environment for 1 month. If bacterial excretion lasts more than 1 month, then salmonellosis is considered to have become chronic.

Diagnostics

If the baby’s parents suspect the first symptoms of this infectious disease, then they should immediately show the child to a gastroenterologist and an infectious disease doctor. To confirm clinical diagnosis Medical specialists use the following techniques:

1. General clinical analysis blood;
2. Examination of the child’s skin and mucous membranes;
3. Coprogram;
4. RNGA of blood to detect antibodies to salmonellosis pathogens;
5. Examination of stool for dysbacteriosis;
6. Bacterial inoculation of washing water from the stomach and intestines, vomit and feces.

Treatment

For mild flow of this disease In a child, the baby is treated at home. Children with a severe form of the disease, as well as infants, are subject to immediate hospitalization in the infectious diseases department. The general treatment plan includes body rehydration, diet therapy and detoxification.

The diet of a child suffering from salmonellosis excludes the consumption of foods such as whole cow's milk, foods containing animal fats, and vegetables with coarse fiber. Dishes should be prepared from boiled or steamed foods.

Within 1 month from the moment the first symptoms of the disease appear, the baby can be fed the following foods:

1. Fruit and berry jelly;
2. Boiled fish;
3. Porridges made from rice or oatmeal on vegetable broth or water;
4. Low-fat varieties of hard cheese and cottage cheese;
5. Steamed meatballs and cutlets.

In case of severe intoxication of the body, the child is prescribed drip administration drugs Reopoliglyukin, Reosorbilakt and Sorbilakt. Another important stage of treatment is the correction of dehydration (dehydration). For this purpose, intravenous administration of sodium chloride solution (physiological), glucose solution, as well as solutions for oral administration Glucosolan, Regidron and Oralit.

The danger of salmonellosis

In addition, the entire period of the active course of this infectious disease exhausts the child’s body, leading to general weakness and reduction protective forces, salmonellosis can cause severe complications, even death.

The most common complications of pathology include:

• Pulmonary edema;
• Infectious-toxic shock;
• Purulent-septic complications;
• Severe renal failure;
• Swelling of the brain substance.

An effective way to avoid the development of complications is to prevent salmonellosis at any age, but if infection occurs, it is important to show the baby to the doctor as soon as possible and take appropriate measures to detoxify the body and eliminate infectious pathogens.

Prevention

It is impossible to protect a child 100% from the penetration of salmonellosis pathogens, however, there are certain recommendations, the observance of which will make it possible to protect the baby as much as possible from this serious infectious disease. Such recommendations include:

1. Close monitoring of the child, as well as preventing contaminated objects from getting into the oral cavity baby;
2. Inclusion in the children's diet of animal products that have undergone thorough heat treatment;
3. When implementing daily cleaning of living quarters, it is necessary to pay special attention to children's toys;
4. Completely eliminate child contact with poultry, pigeons and farm animals;
5. Categorically exclude contact of the baby with a person who suffers from salmonellosis.

These simple recommendations enable parents to protect their children from the penetration of salmonella into digestive tract with subsequent development of severe infectious pathology. Any self-medication at home is strictly contraindicated.

Failure to comply with food preparation technology and hygiene rules can cause severe infectious diseases of the digestive system. Salmonellosis in children is often severe and life-threatening.

The onset of the disease is acute. Body temperature rises, frequent vomiting, severe toxicosis, upset stool, and bloated stomach are possible. These are typical signs of salmonella infection in the body.

Treatment of salmonellosis in infants is most often carried out in a hospital. During the illness, dehydration of the body is observed, the function of the circulatory system is disrupted, and the liver increases in size.

Salmonella bacteria are highly resistant to antibiotics, so their choice is limited. You cannot self-medicate and if you suspect salmonellosis, you must take your child to the clinic to confirm or refute the diagnosis.

With timely and correct treatment, recovery occurs. You can learn more about the disease and expected treatment by reading the article to the end.

From this article you will learn

What is the disease

The bacterium that causes the disease is named after the American veterinarian Salmon. Together with Dr. Smith, he isolated the causative agent of salmonellosis and invented a vaccine against typhus.

Salmonella is a rod-shaped bacterium. It is pathogenic when it enters the food tract of humans and animals. Some types of these bacteria cause dangerous diseases such as typhus and paratyphoid.

The properties of these bacteria are interesting. They do not die when frozen and can live outside a living organism for seven days.

Bacteria die at a temperature of +60 degrees in 12 minutes. Therefore, bacteria die in food that is properly prepared and heated before eating.

Having settled on the intestinal walls, salmonella begins to produce deadly dangerous toxin, from which all other bacteria of the intestinal microflora die.

Routes of infection

Infection of the body most often occurs due to food products that contain live salmonella. The greatest threat comes from milk, chicken or waterfowl eggs, meat and meat products.

Salmonellosis can affect not only people, but also animals. If they are kept in poor conditions, they can be infected with salmonellosis.

The lack of veterinary control in markets and the purchase of contaminated products are the most common causes of outbreaks of this dangerous infection.

Externally quite healthy man can also be a carrier of infection and release dangerous bacteria into the environment.

Therefore, at food enterprises, grocery stores, childcare centers, and when applying for a job, they must pass a seed tank.

Violation of product storage rules - joint storage of raw and cooked food, insufficient heat treatment of food before consumption, lack of processing chicken eggs before preparing creams, all this can also cause salmonellosis.

Dangerous bacteria are transmitted to a newborn baby through mother's milk or during intrauterine development through the placenta.

Clinical signs and forms of the disease

The disease can progress in different ways. It is especially dangerous for young children. Dehydration of the body together with severe intoxication requires complex treatment in a hospital setting.

In the absence of treatment in the first days of the disease, infant Possible death.

It is possible to have asymptomatic carriage of dangerous bacteria, when the infected person can become a source of disease for others, but he himself does not even know about it.

This is one of the atypical forms of salmonellosis (subclinical and erased forms are also found).

The course and form of the disease depends on the number of bacteria entering the body, their type and the immunity of the infected person. Young children under two years of age are especially vulnerable.

From the moment of infection to the development of symptoms of the disease, it can take from two hours to several days. For all forms of disease characteristic symptoms are considered:

• dehydration of the body;
• acute initial period;
• diarrhea several times a day that has a foul odor.

Infants may exhibit restless behavior and frequent regurgitation. Dehydration is expressed in the fact that the fontanelle sinks. The baby is not gaining weight.

The most common form of the disease is gastrointestinal toxic infection. Its symptom is damage to the digestive organs, accompanied by abdominal pain, cold sweat, low blood pressure, and rapid heartbeat.

Body temperature is often very elevated (forty degrees). The body becomes dehydrated due to frequent vomiting and diarrhea. The stool is foul-smelling, with food particles and mucus.

There is a septic form of the disease (the most dangerous), which is accompanied by dyspeptic symptoms (flatulence, diarrhea, vomiting), fever with elevated body temperature.

The child is shivering, sweats profusely, and the functioning of the heart and liver is disrupted. This form of the disease is especially typical for young children under one year old.

Salmonellosis in a child may be accompanied by the appearance of a rash on the body. This form of the disease is called typhus-like.

It passes with the child's confusion and severe fever. Otherwise, the same symptoms are observed as in other forms of the disease.

Complications of the disease are dangerous because bacteria, spreading throughout the body, can form lesions in various organs.

Treatment is complicated and delayed, and relapses are possible. The baby’s immunity decreases and other concomitant diseases appear.

Possible treatment

If signs of toxicosis occur, it is necessary to provide first aid to the child before the ambulance or doctor arrives. To do this, wash the stomach.

Two liters required clean water room temperature. The procedure can only be performed if the child is three years old!

Rinsing involves giving the baby a glass of water to drink, then he presses his finger on the root of his tongue, inducing vomiting.

If the disease is severe, hospitalization is necessary. Children under 1 year of age are also sent to the hospital for treatment.

If a sick child lives in a dormitory, he is sent to a hospital for treatment to prevent an epidemic from occurring.

For mild forms of the disease, treatment at home is possible. The child is prescribed complex treatment, which includes enterosorbents to remove toxins, and other medications.

The diet should consist of boiled, ground foods (table No. 4 according to Pevzner); milk, animal fats and vegetables with coarse fiber are excluded from the diet.

To improve the absorption of food in the inflamed gastrointestinal tract, it is prescribed enzyme preparations. To replenish the fluid that the body loses, give a lot of water containing glucose-salt solutions to drink.

To restore normal microflora intestines, the doctor may prescribe bifidumbacterin. Treatment includes vitamins and anti-allergy medications. To reduce pain, antispasmodics are prescribed.

At severe forms diseases are carried out syndromic and infusion therapy. Antibiotics are prescribed.

Since the disease is accompanied by toxicosis and dehydration, they give drips and give enterosorbents and probiotics.

Therapeutic diagnostics

If you suspect a salmonella infection, a visit to your doctor is necessary. Without special tests, the doctor will be able to diagnose an acute intestinal infection.

To determine what was the source of its appearance, what pathogenic microorganism caused the development of symptoms, the patient is examined. For rent general tests blood and stool, tank culture, special blood test.

After illness

For some time (about a month), the diet after salmonellosis should be gentle on the gastrointestinal tract. The child should not eat fried, fatty foods that are hard on the stomach.

A child who has recovered from the disease is usually registered at a dispensary. Doctors have been observing him for some time. He undergoes tests and tank cultures.

If the tests show that the child is healthy and is not a carrier of salmonella, he is removed from the register and allowed to attend kindergarten and other collective institutions.

The family of the ill child and everyone who was in contact with him are observed for seven days. They take a stool test, and if no bacteria are detected, they are considered healthy. To determine the source of contamination, suspect food products are examined.

Prevention measures

To prevent re-infection, it is necessary to maintain hygiene - teach your child to wash their hands before eating.

A child who has recovered from the disease remains immune to the disease for six months. Then he can become infected again and get sick.

It is necessary to strengthen the child's immunity. For this purpose, medications such as immunomodulators, vitamins, and probiotics are indicated.

Sufficient attention must be paid physical activity, do exercises with the baby, water treatments, hardening. Strong immunity will allow the child’s body to resist infection.

Despite low sensitivity salmonella to antibiotics, they die from the action of conventional disinfectants.

Therefore, you need to keep the floor clean in the apartment where the baby lives. Toys also need to be washed every day using washing soap.

It is necessary to limit the baby’s contact with farm and domestic animals that may be carriers of the disease. In summer, swimming in polluted natural bodies of water is not allowed.

If there is a person with salmonellosis in the house, they allocate separate funds hygiene and dishes.

Salmonella is also the cause of typhoid fever, paratyphoid A, B, C.

Salmonellosis is a fairly common disease in children, as is carriage of the pathogen itself. In terms of prevalence, it ranks second after shigellosis. Infection is most common in preschool children (65%).

Food

TO food tract infection includes the consumption of unwashed vegetables, fruits that contain infection, as well as foods that are not sufficiently processed thermally. Bacteria are stable in the external environment; low temperatures are not particularly dangerous for them. But high temperatures kill salmonella perfectly.

Salmonellosis bacteria multiply very quickly in food products - meat, milk, eggs. They are most active in late spring and summer, when there are problems with food preservation.

Animal

Pets - main source diseases of children with salmonellosis after eating. Their feces, urine, saliva, nasal mucus may contain a large number of Salmonella As a result of infection from animals, both salmonellosis itself and carriage of the infection can occur.

Contact and household

Salmonellosis is also transmitted to children through simple contact and household contact: through the unwashed hands of parents or nannies caring for children, through general use children's potties, toys in kindergarten.

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Symptoms

The first symptoms in children appear quite quickly after infection, since the child’s immune system has not yet strengthened. It is especially difficult for children under one year old. The incubation period lasts at least several hours, maximum 3-4 days.

Typical forms

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal is the most well-known form of salmonellosis in children aged one year and above. The harmful bacterium is transmitted from the source and infects different areas gastrointestinal tract. The reason is infection from food; The incubation period is less than a day.

Gastrointestinal salmonellosis in children manifests itself externally through the following signs or symptoms:

• pain in the epigastric region;
• vomiting with repetition;
• temperature increase;
• weakness throughout the body;
• the presence of a thick coating on the tongue;
• bloating;
• diarrhea (with gastritis);
• loose greenish stools 3-5 times a day (large, with parts of undigested food).

Typhoid-like

Symptoms of the typhus-like form are as follows:

• confusion;
• rave;
• coating on the tongue;
• bloated stomach;
• temperature rise to 39-40 degrees;
• headache;
• vomit;
• decreased appetite;
• decline in activity;
• stunned.

Typhoid-like salmonellosis in children has additional symptoms– enlargement of the spleen and liver of the child. A rare roseola rash may also appear. There may be no signs of an intestinal disorder, but more often the disorder appears from the very beginning of the disease.

If the baby gets sick with typhoid-like salmonellosis, a complication may be added: pneumonia or otitis media.

Septic

Septic salmonellosis occurs in newborns, infants, children under one year old, premature babies, in children on artificial nutrition and with a weak immune system. Symptoms of the septic form:

• increased temperature retention for 21 to 28 days with strong fluctuations;
• the appearance of purulent foci with the prospect of developing purulent meningitis;
• pneumonia;
• otitis;

Treatment

It is strictly forbidden to treat children yourself, especially under one year of age. After all, if the wrong treatment is chosen, salmonellosis can lead to death. To cure a child, it is necessary to show him to an infectious disease specialist or gastroenterologist. He will examine him, examine him, and, based on the results of laboratory tests, prescribe necessary treatment including proper nutrition.

To accurately make a diagnosis after establishing all the symptoms, bacteriological and serological testing is used. Feces, vomit, urine, blood are studied. It may be necessary to resort to intensive care to quickly cure the child.

Treatment includes:

• strict diet;
• reception medicines(antibiotics and intestinal antiseptics).

Having identified signs of salmonellosis in children, the doctor prescribes treatment based on the child’s age, level of severity of the condition, taking into account the absence of pathological consequences.

If a child under three years of age is infected with a bacterium, he should definitely be hospitalized.

Treatment and recovery period depend on the severity of the disease. In severe cases, treatment involves bed rest for a period of about 3 weeks, in mild cases - 1-2 weeks until it gets better. When temperature and stool normalize, the diet can be slightly softened, nutrition can be gradually expanded to a level close to normal. The treatment itself should continue as prescribed by the doctor.

Diet

The diet during treatment should contain:

• additional drinks, fermented milk mixtures;
• porridge (wheat, buckwheat);
• vegetable puree;
• light soups.

The main thing is that the food is varied, rich in vitamins and microelements. A strict diet means complete absence in the diet for a long time:

• acute;
• fried;
• spicy dishes.

Vaccine

Taking medications, antibiotics or intestinal antiseptics, not only diet, can eliminate salmonellosis, its signs and symptoms. In severe cases, “heavy artillery” is used - antibiotics, in mild cases - antiseptics. Medicines are taken as prescribed by a doctor; you should also first read the manufacturer’s instructions regarding age dosages. A diet will only eliminate additional stress on a weakened body.

If the baby is a carrier of the bacteria, visible signs and there are no symptoms of a pathological disease of salmonellosis, then salmonellosis should be treated with bacteriophages that destroy harmful bacteria, immune lactoglobulins and various biological products that correct the intestinal microflora.

If salmonellosis is accompanied by severe toxicosis and dehydration in children, a glucose solution or saline preparations are administered through a vein. Due to vomiting and diarrhea, you should not allow more fluid to leave the body than enters. Fluid balance needs to be replenished regularly.

At home

Treatment of salmonellosis at home is acceptable if, in the opinion of the doctor, such a situation is acceptable. Children are treated for salmonellosis, in addition to the medications prescribed by the doctor, with folk remedies.

Proven method traditional treatment such:

• Pour 50 grams of chamomile flowers into a glass of boiling water and boil for 5 minutes. After this, leave for four hours, strain and give the infusion to the baby 100 grams several times a day.

Consequences

The consequences of salmonellosis in schoolchildren make themselves felt by stomach and intestinal inflammation. Then balanced diet and diet should be continued. If, after a course of treatment, a sample was taken for laboratory testing, the result contained signs of the presence of salmonellosis in the body, then treatment should be continued, especially if individual symptoms of the disease are clearly visible.

If the child’s laboratory test for salmonellosis is negative, special diet prescribed by the doctor must be followed for at least another 90 days.

After treatment with antibiotics, there may be consequences such as dysbiosis, contributing to constipation or weak stool.

Knowing the symptoms of salmonellosis in children and adults will help stop the spread of this dangerous infectious disease. It is extremely important in as soon as possible consult a doctor, and if acute symptoms you need to call an ambulance.

Salmonellosis is an acute infectious disease of the digestive system, which is caused by rod-shaped bacteria of the genus Salmonella. They live in the intestines of birds, animals, and humans.

Once bacteria enter the human body, they penetrate the intestinal mucosa. The toxins that are formed as a result of their vital activity cause intoxication, accompanied by diarrhea and pain syndromes.

Rods can enter the human body in the following ways:

• when consuming contaminated animal products (eggs, meat, milk) or water that has contained the salmonellosis pathogen;
• when placing them on food products with dirty hands;
• Intrauterine infection of the fetus from the mother is also possible.

Symptoms of the disease in children and adults

The causative agent of salmonellosis can be found in products of animal origin: meat, milk and eggs (quail eggs too)

Symptoms of salmonellosis in children and adults can appear several hours after eating. When the pathogen is transmitted through contact and household contact, signs of infection may appear after a few days.

The incubation period ranges from 8 hours to 3-4 days. The clinical picture is related to the form of the disease.

Signs of salmonellosis in children:

• stomach ache;
• feverish condition;
• vomiting and nausea;
• diarrhea with liquid feces, which have a greenish tint and a pronounced foul odor;
• dehydration – dry skin and mucous membranes.

Signs of salmonellosis in an adult:

• temperature increase;
• nausea and vomiting;
• cardiopalmus;
• weakness and dizziness;
• loose stools with frequent urges, sometimes including blood.

A person’s immunity, age and health status determine how quickly salmonellosis will progress.

Salmonellosis has similar symptoms with an intestinal infection. Read the article on how to recognize it and quickly cure it.

5 forms of the disease and features of symptoms

Highlight following forms diseases and the main symptoms corresponding to them:

1. Gastrointestinal (gastrointestinal) – common in to the greatest extent . It is characterized by: increased body temperature up to 39°C, diarrhea and nausea. Bad feeling accompanied by pain in the muscles and joints. Symptoms may last from 3 days to a week.
2. Typhoid-like - has symptoms similar to the first form. There is an enlargement of the spleen and liver. Symptoms are longer lasting (10 to 14 days).
3. Septic is the most severe form, which is difficult to treat and can be fatal. The patient's condition worsens even during treatment.
4. Subclinical - it is characterized by the absence of clinical manifestations; salmonella is present in feces.
5. Bacterial carriage - in this case Clinical signs there are no diseases, but laboratory tests can detect bacilli of the genus in biological material Salmonella.

Diagnostics

A preliminary diagnosis is made based on clinical data. Decisive during installation final diagnosis are the results of bacteriological and serological studies, which are carried out in laboratory conditions.

Material for bacteriological analysis are: feces, vomit, gastric lavage water, urine, blood. Serological study The patient's blood will help identify pathogen antigens and specific antibodies.

Negative test results may occur in children early age and in newborns with a severe form of the disease, as well as in mild and erased forms of the disease.

Treatment of salmonellosis

It can be carried out at home or in a hospital. Patients with severe forms of the disease require hospitalization. The hospital treats children and the elderly.

Treatment of salmonellosis in adults with a mild form of the disease may involve injecting the patient with special bacteriophage viruses that infect Salmonella cells.

• Replenishing fluid in the body (taking saline solutions based on REHYDRON or GLUXOLAN).
• To destroy bacteria in the patient’s body, antibacterial drugs are used: AMPICILLIN, BISEPTOL, POLYMYXIN M.
• To reduce intoxication, INDOMETHACIN is prescribed in some cases.
• To improve the functioning of the digestive system, take MEZIM or FESTAL.
• At the final stage of treatment, in order to restore the intestinal microflora, probiotics are prescribed: BIFIDUM, LACTOBACTRIN, LINEX and other similar drugs.

Treatment of salmonellosis in children is most often carried out in a hospital. Light form illness allows the child to be treated at home. A baby who lives in a large family or in a shelter is sometimes hospitalized, regardless of the form of the disease, for the purpose of prevention.

Infected infants are always sent to a hospital, since babies need to be treated under constant supervision by medical personnel.

• Therapy with antibacterial drugs (including DOXYCYCLINE, AMPICILLIN).
• Taking intestinal antiseptics: ENTEROFURIL, ERSEFURIL.
• At elevated temperatures, it is allowed to take antipyretic drugs: PARACETAMOL, NUROFEN.
• Dehydration is eliminated using saline solutions: ORALIT, REHYDRON, GLUXOLAN. (How to properly dilute and give REHYDRON to children - read the article on).
• To restore intestinal microflora, ACIPOL, LINX and other probiotics are used.
• To normalize digestion, ENZISTAL and Mezim are prescribed.

Possible complications

The importance of timely treatment cannot be underestimated. The disease is dangerous because it can cause complications. Among them:

• collapse or hypovolemic shock;
• acute heart failure;
• endocarditis;
• meningitis;
• appendicitis, peritonitis;
• suppuration in soft, bone and joint tissues;
• cystitis, pyelonephritis;
• brain abscess;
• pneumonia.

With proper and timely treatment, complete recovery occurs.

Diet during illness

During the treatment period, it is important to follow a diet. Some foods need to be completely avoided. This will reduce the inflammatory processes that occur in the gastrointestinal tract and normalize digestion processes.

You will have to say goodbye to some products (even dietary ones) during the period of treatment and recovery.

It is necessary to exclude from the diet foods that are difficult to digest or trigger fermentation processes in the intestines. Among them:

• milk;
• mushrooms;
• legumes;
• vegetables (cabbage, beets, cucumbers, radishes, pumpkin);
• cereals (barley, oatmeal, pearl barley, millet);
• greenery;
• fruits (pears, plums, grapes, citrus fruits);
• marinades, smoked meats, sauces;
• baked goods, sweets and any desserts;
• drinks (coffee, cocoa, sparkling water).

• dried bread or crackers;
• dairy products;
• boiled vegetables in the form of puree (potatoes, carrots);
• light soups with water or secondary low-fat broth;
• fruits (apples, bananas);
• porridges cooked in water without oil (buckwheat, rice, semolina);
• compotes, jelly, tea.

As your health improves, it is permissible to gradually introduce lean meat or fish into your diet. Steamed cutlets or meatballs are preferable. The diet must be followed for some time after the symptoms of the disease have completely disappeared, since normalization of digestion takes quite a long time.

Prevention measures

You can protect yourself and your loved ones by following 10 simple rules:

1. Wash your hands with soap before eating and before preparing food, after using the toilet and after caring for animals.
2. Do not consume products of unknown origin or poor quality.
3. Dairy products must be heat treated before consumption.
4. Pay special attention to heat treatment of meat. The piece to be boiled should be small in size. The time spent in the boiling broth is at least 1 hour.
5. Eat only cooked pieces of meat, without blood.
6. For cutting raw meat you need to use a separate board and knife.
7. Boil eggs for at least 15 minutes.
8. Do not eat dishes made from raw eggs.
9. In the home refrigerator raw foods should be stored separately from ready-to-eat ones.
10. Drink only clean water.

Salmonella does not die even at low temperatures, so contaminated frozen meat is dangerous, but good cooking kills the bacteria. Housewives need to know at what temperature salmonella dies in order to use the information when preparing dishes. The conditions of death are as follows:

• 55 °C – 90 minutes;
• 60 °C – 12 minutes;
• 70 °C – 1 minute.

One of the myths that should be dispelled is that the cause of the disease cannot be quail eggs. Salmonellosis may result from consumption raw or poorly processed eggs of any birds, including quails.

With proper heat treatment, the causative agent of salmonellosis dies

Bacteria can be not only on the shell. It turns out that salmonella is in eggs, penetrating through the porous shell. Therefore, it is not enough to just thoroughly rinse the shells before preparing egg dishes; they must be thermally treated.

conclusions

Livestock products (eggs, meat, dairy products) purchased from private individuals may be contaminated with the bacillus, since they are not tested for salmonellosis. According to Rospotrebnadzor in 2017, 29 outbreaks of salmonellosis were registered, the cause of which was infected poultry products. Chance of getting infected infectious disease minimized if recommended preventive measures are followed.

Why is salmonellosis dangerous? child's body, how to avoid it and cure it in case of infection, says E.O. Komarovsky: