Salmonella infected onions causing fear and panic: What we know about it and how dangerous it is

Typically associated with the consumption of raw eggs, a recent incident of salmonella outbreak from onions has triggered a wave of fear and paranoia around the globe. About 652 people have fallen ill in 37 states of the USA, and 129 people have been hospitalised after eating salmonella infected onions exported from Mexico. Till now no lives have been lost, but the authorities have asked to recall all raw red, white, or yellow onions procured from the neighbouring country in the wake of this incident.

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Salmonella is a type of bacteria that leads to food-related illnesses. Eating foods contaminated with this bacteria typically affects the intestinal tract leading to different stomach related issues. Diseases caused by the bacteria are officially called salmonellosis.

This kind of bacteria typically lives in animals and human intestines. They are shredded through faeces and then transferred to humans through faeces contaminated food and water. The worst part is that the presence of bacteria cannot be detected as they cannot be seen or smelled.

Salmonella infections are very common across the globe, particularly in developing countries. It is mostly caused by consuming raw or undercooked meat, poultry, eggs or egg products. Plant-based products are rarely infected by this bacteria. Not washing hands properly after using the washroom or changing baby diapers or touching any pets can also lead to salmonella infection.

The symptoms of the salmonella infection usually start showing up 6 hours to 6 days after ingesting the bacteria. It can affect people of all age groups and symptoms are more or less the same. It is particularly risky for the younger kids aged below 5 years and older adults above 65 years. Those with compromised immunity may also experience severe symptoms and may need to be hospitalised. Some common symptoms to look out for includes:

Nausea

Vomiting

Abdominal cramps

Diarrhea

Fever

Chills

Headache

Blood in the stool

Symptoms of infection generally last two to seven days. Only diarrhea may last up to 10 days, depending on the complexity of your situation. Other varieties of salmonella bacteria may even lead to typhoid fever and other deadly diseases.

In severe cases, the bacterial infection may lead to joint pain called reactive arthritis or Reiter’s syndrome. It can last several months or longer, making it harder for you to do normal activities. If the bacteria get into the bloodstream, it may damage the tissues of the brain and spinal cord, the lining of your heart, bone and bone marrow and the lining of your blood vessels.

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Most people experience stomach related issues after consuming salmonella infected foods. The symptoms usually go away on their own after 4 to 7 days without any treatment. But if you are not feeling that great and witness any below-mentioned symptoms then you need to call a doctor immediately.

Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F

Diarrhea for more than 3 days

Bloody diarrhea

Frequent vomiting

Signs of dehydration, such as: not peeing much, dry mouth and feeling nauseated.

The authorities are yet to confirm how the onions were contaminated with salmonella. There are different theories, but more research is required to draw a clear conclusion.

Generally, food items are contaminated with salmonella during post-harvest handling. The products come in the contact with the bacteria during cutting, washing, packing and preparation processes. But researchers believe that in case of onions, the contamination likely occurred pre-harvest. In this case, the plant is fertilized with contaminated manure or irrigated with contaminated water.