Food Poisoning Lawsuits and Salmonella Lawsuit Help
The Weinberg Law Firm is currently assisting victims of food poisoning outbreaks seek legal compensation for their injuries. If you or a loved one was sickened after consuming a Salmonella contaminated product and are seeking Salmonella lawsuit help, please call our law firm toll free at 1-877-934-6274 for a free food poisoning lawsuit evaluation.
About Salmonella Food Poisoning and Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis is an infection caused a bacterium called Salmonella. One of the most common foodborne illnesses, it occurs when food contaminated by Salmonella is consumed.
The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1,027,561 cases of salmonellosis occur in the United States each year. Approximately 400 of those cases result in death.
Salmonella Food Poisoning Symptoms and Complications
Symptoms of Salmonella infection may include diarrhea (sometimes bloody), abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, and joint pain. Symptoms usually appear 6 to 72 hours after the ingestion of contaminated food.
While most people recover within 4 to 7 days, diarrhea and vomiting may become so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In more severe cases, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream and other body sites. This can result in death, unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to suffer severe salmonellosis symptoms and its complications.
A small number of people who are infected with Salmonella will develop Reiter’s Syndrome, also referred to as “reactive arthritis.” This syndrome is characterized by joint pain, irritation of the eyes (conjunctivitis), and painful urination. Some patients who experience Reiter’s Syndrome will go on to develop chronic arthritis.
Diagnosis of Salmonella Food Poisoning
If you are experiencing Salmonella food poisoning symptoms, contact your healthcare professional. He or she can order a stool culture to confirm Salmonella infection, and provide you with the best advice concerning your health.
Causes of Salmonella Food Poisoning
Salmonella live in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals. The infection is usually transmitted to humans through the consumption of foods or beverages contaminated with animal feces, or by handling infected animals. Fruits, vegetables, and foods of animal origin, such as beef, poultry, fish, milk, dairy products, or eggs may become contaminated with Salmonella and have been linked to outbreaks. Salmonella outbreaks have also been linked to so called “low-moisture” products including peanut butter, spices, cocoa, nuts, cereals, and chocolate.
Salmonella food poisoning can also occur as a result of cross-contamination. For example, juices from raw meat or poultry left behind on a cutting board can contaminate fruit or vegetables if the board is not properly washed before their preparation. The unwashed hands of an infected food handler may also contaminate food. Equipment and environmental surfaces in food manufacturing and processing facilities can also become contaminated leading to cross contamination of food.
Salmonella may also be found in the feces of some pets. People can contract Salmonella if they do not wash their hands after contact with an infected pet or the pet’s food, water, or bedding. Salmonella outbreaks have been linked to turtles, lizards, frogs, chicks and ducklings.
Salmonella Lawsuit Help – Free Food Poisoning Lawsuit Evaluation
If you have been diagnosed with Salmonella food poisoning, are awaiting confirmation of infection, and are seeking Salmonella Lawsuit Help, you can request a free food poisoning lawsuit case evaluation by calling the Weinberg Law Firm, toll free at 1-877-934-6274.
*Table 2 Estimated Annual Number of Episodes of Illnesses Caused by 31 Pathogens, US; www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/PDFs/11_228412_pitts_factsheet_table2_remediated.pdf
The information contained on this page has been gathered from the websites of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and other sources in the public domain.
