Salmonella from pets (reptiles or backyard chickens)

Overview

Salmonella lives in the gut of reptiles and chickens and on their habitats, even when they look healthy.

Symptoms

Common signs:

• Diarrhea after pet contact
• Contact with reptiles, turtles, or backyard chickens

Less common

• Fever
• Cramps
• Vomiting

Look up a symptom: Diarrhea · Fever · Stomach pain

When to get medical care

Causes

Bacteria.

Does it spread or run in families?

• It usually doesn't spread from person to person.
• People get it from: food.

Who is more likely to get it

• Children under 5

Possible complications

• Dehydration: From diarrhea and vomiting
• Sepsis: Rare, mostly in babies and older adults

Diagnosis

Stool test.

Treatment

Fluids.

Self-care

• Wash hands after pets
• Wash hands after touching pets or cages
• Keep reptiles out of kitchens

Prevention

To lower your risk or prevent problems:

• Wash hands after touching pets

Which doctor treats this

• Start with your primary care provider (family doctor or internist).
• They may send you to an infectious disease specialist, for hard-to-treat infections.

Children, pregnancy, and older adults

• Children under 5: Shouldn't handle reptiles or chicks.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

• If you're pregnant or planning to be, tell your prenatal provider about this condition.
• Some infections can pass to the baby during pregnancy or birth. Tell your provider if you've been exposed.
• Don't start or stop any medicine on your own. Some are safe in pregnancy and some need to be changed.
• Ask before taking any pain reliever. The FDA advises avoiding ibuprofen and naproxen after 20 weeks unless your doctor says to.
• Breastfeeding: Most medicines are fine, but ask. The NIH LactMed database lists what's known about each one.

Outlook

Most recover.

Most recover in a week.

Getting ready for your visit

Bring a list of your symptoms and medicines.

What to bring

• A list of your medicines and supplements
• Notes on when symptoms started and what makes them better or worse

Questions to ask

• What's causing my symptoms?
• What treatment do you recommend?

Research studies

Research studies test new ways to find and treat health problems. Some are looking for volunteers. Talk with your doctor before joining one.

Search ClinicalTrials.gov for studies on Salmonella from pets (reptiles or backyard chickens)