Salmonella : Is It Really That Bad for You?
- deetyasasikumar
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
We’ve all heard the claims about the dangers of salmonella poisoning while trying to eat raw cookie dough. Are these rumors true, or is it all a hoax?
Salmonella is a small, microscopic bacterium that effects millions each year. The bacteria causes stomach cramps, fever, and diarrhea. Salmonella is primarily found in chicken eggs, where it goes undetected after spreading to eggs, or the manure and compost surrounding the chicken, which can quickly infect the rest of the farm. Another way salmonella spreads to chickens is when a chicken is exposed to intestinal salmonella, which can also cause eggs to be contaminated with salmonella. The strong bacteria can hold up against extreme heat and cold, including being improperly cooked, which hightens the likelihood of other animals, or us, getting the bacterium.
Salmonella effects humans once eaten. First, a stomachache occurs. Usually in the stomach, harmful bacteria is killed off. Salmonella cells can hold up to the acidity, and they produce proteins that keep the bacteria safe until it gets into the intestines. Once in the intestines, the intestinal cells attempt to attack the bacteria. The salmonella releases effector proteins to fight off the intestinal cells. Once inside, the salmonella replicate and spread, but white blood cells are signaled by cytokines to fight back, and they destroy infected cells and salmonella microbes. As this happens, a person can experience fever and abdominal pains. Because the intestinal cells are damaged, food becomes hard to digest. Eventually, over the course of 2-7 days, the salmonella exits the body.
Salmonella is not always easy to get rid of. It may cause extreme symptoms that require medical attention, such as severe dehydration. Salmonella can also spread to the rest of the body, hiding in immune cells when a strain of salmonella called S. Typhi is contracted. This powerful strain spreads through improper sanitation and unclean drinking water. S. Typhi, better known by the disease it causes, Typhoid fever, kills over 100,000 people annually.
Thanks to modern medicine, vaccines and cures have been found, as well as countries taking salmonella more seriously. Taking cautionary steps such as washing your hands can save you from getting salmonella. Cooking meats thoroughly and avoiding eating raw eggs, milk, and flour can stop salmonella. Even though it is unlikely, getting salmonella is not impossible and it is something we should take more seriously. Next time you’re cooking, please do not eat raw batter!
Works Cited: