Salmonella and pregnancy are sometimes related because salmonella is a bacteria that is mostly contacted through food poisoning and very rarely by the inhalation of dust containing bacteria. The main cause of this is the consumption of contaminated food and mostly pregnant women are the ones that are easily infected. This is very dangerous for pregnant women and infants.
What is Salmonella
This is a rod-shaped species that is mainly motile and a non-spore forming enterobacteria and flagella, which develop in all directions using the reactions of oxidation and reduction using organic sources for their energy. Most types of Salmonella generate hydrogen sulfide that can be found by growing these on any medium containing ferrous sulfate such as TSI.
Most types or segregates survive in two phases:
- A motile phase I.
- A nonmotile phase II.
Generally speaking, Salmonella is just a bacterium that is found worldwide in cold and warm blooded animals and humans and also in the environment. This bacterium does cause harm and the most common illnesses include:
- Typhoid Fever.
- Paratyphoid Fever.
- Salmonellosis (Foodborne disease or illness).
Causes or Sources of Salmonella
Salmonella infection is caused mainly by food contamination and food poisoning and also by inhaling bacterium rich dust. These affect the digestive system causing gastroenteritis, abdominal pain, diarrhea and sometimes blood vomiting. Excretions/emissions or secretions of infected or animals are also a source of Salmonella. Unhygienic environment and stored surface water also can cause these bacteria to affect humans. This is also generally found in raw meat and raw eggs. Cattle and sheep are also the carriers of these bacteria. Raw fruits and vegetables can also be considered as sources of these bacteria.
Infections and Risks
Salmonella virus cause intestinal infections as these are mostly foodborne diseases and generally do not affect a healthy adult. They need to be in very huge quantity to affect an adult. In case of infants, elders and pregnant women Salmonella has adverse reactions. Very little quantity of bacteria is enough to cause severe and serious damage to both mother and fetus. There are many side effects and complications caused by these bacteria if they affect children and elderly people and pregnant women.
Salmonella Affecting Pregnancy
These bacteria have very serious affects on pregnancy. Consuming improperly cooked food or contaminated foods during pregnancy result in adverse reactions. Salmonella can literally survive in any environment and especially in stored foods. The food poisoning that is caused by these bacteria is very severe. Pregnant women have low body immunizations levels. Thus the food poisoning may affect much easily these patients.
Salmonella Induced by Food Intake during Pregnancy
Salmonella bacteria can be easily induced into the body by food products. Here are some necessary steps to be followed for proper intake of food during pregnancy.
- One needs to be careful when eating raw fruits or vegetables as they carry these bacteria and consumption of these without proper washing and cleaning can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, fever, headache and shivering.
- Consuming raw meat or raw eggs without proper boiling or cooking can also lead to various diseases and accumulation of the Salmonella bacteria that are particularly dangerous for pregnant women.
- During pregnancy, eating ice creams, cakes, cookies and baked foods should be carefully chosen or avoided as these carry the bacteria.
- Avoid eating raw milk or milk products like desserts, cheese, etc when pregnant as they might carry the bacteria.
- Sea products are also the known carriers of these bacteria, so avoid all types of strange and untrusted sea foods during Pregnancy as consumption of these can cause rashes and hives due to these bacteria.
Environmental Hygiene to Avoid Salmonella during Pregnancy
These are some necessitating steps to be closely followed to avoid being affected by Salmonella during Pregnancy.
- Maintain cleanliness of your surroundings and avoid any storage of surface water and dispense the garbage in a garbage can and see that this is recycled daily to avoid accumulation and breeding of these bacteria.
- Avoid interacting with your pets as these are also the carriers of Salmonella and clean yourself properly and thoroughly upon contact with the pets.
- In case you indulge in gardening during pregnancy, use gloves and also thoroughly wash your hands and legs as they can also carry these bacteria.
- You should also maintain safety and hygiene in your kitchen mainly and clean all the utensils with hot soapy water to avoid these bacteria before and after cooking.
