Comment from: Worried Mom, 13-18 Male (Caregiver)Published: April 05
My 15-year- old son experienced extreme fatigue at first followed a few hours later with diarrhea, chills, sweating and fever. Assuming it was just a bug, one was going around in his school, I did not take him to the doctor until he was passing blood in his stool three days later. (Talk about a serious guilt trip!) They took a stool sample, and the preliminary (next morning) results were negative for rotavirus, E. coli, shigella, and salmonella. We were told not to give Pepto or Immodium until the final results were in. (We were getting really worried and desperate for relief.) His fever subsided on day four (100 – 102 degrees), but his bloody diarrhea did not (about 20 times a day)! Three days after the sample was taken to the lab, we received a call that it indeed was salmonella. We were relieved to know what it was because he was not improving as we expected with "a bug"(6 days into illness). On day seven, he was started on a seven-day treatment of 500 mg amoxicillin, twice a day. We are hopeful that he responds quickly. This is by far the most severe illness he has experienced! We have no idea how he contracted it.
Comment from: Deborah, 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: February 09
It started the day after Christmas. I thought I had eaten too many rich foods. I first started feeling nauseous after meals and then got bloated and gassy with a gurgling stomach all the time. My lower back hurt all the time, and I had a hard time bending. The bloating and gassiness continued. Then the feeling that I had to have a BM all the time came. I would eliminate and then 20 minutes later, I would be back in the bathroom. Two weeks after Christmas, I got swollen neck glands and a fever. I went to the doctor, and she said to take antibiotics, colon cleanses and probiotics. I did, and the glands got better, but my stomach got worse. My friend thought I had IBS, so she told me to take Pepto Bismol, which I did, and it helped a bit until the next day. I didn't know what to think except I thought I had colon cancer or something. The symptoms finally subsided after four weeks. I just got a letter from a store saying that the peppered salami that I got for Christmas tested positive for salmonella. (It was in the pepper seasoning). Now it explains so much, and makes me angry that it took the store a month to notify me.
Comment from: Laurene, 35-44 Female (Patient)Published: February 10
About two weeks ago I started having diarrhea about twice a day. More like loose stools than really diarrhea. I figured I was going so frequently because I had started eating Flax bread and other products made with flax. I thought ok I'm eating too much of this stuff I need to back off. Which I did. After a week when it didn't stop and I had stopped eating flax products. I was like I must have some kind of stomach flu. I was achy and had some bloating and minor stomach pains. Then the diarrhea stopped. All of one day I felt totally normal. So I thought I was over it. I was sooo wrong. The next day, NO diarrhea but extreme severe stomach cramps, lower back ache as well. I went to bed early thinking it will go away or my gall bladder is acting up. Then next morning I woke up with severe cramping and with no warning soiled myself. After having a shower I had more cramping and more diarrhea. I was going about every 30 mins. I read up on diarrhea and read about some foods that could help this. I went with a friend of mine and decided if I was quick I would be ok. Well I wasn't. In the middle of an aisle I got that wonderful cramping feeling and AGAIN soiled myself. After I got over the horror of what just happened I wrapped my hoodie around my waist and got the hell outta dodge LOL. Needless to say I figured a trip to the hospital was a good idea. I noticed when I got home I couldn't even stomach water anymore. That alone would make me cramp and go to the washroom. By the time I was seen by a doctor I was pretty dehydrated. I was put on IV fluids and some meds. After having the privilege of giving a stool sample as well as some blood samples. I was told to stay on a liquid diet and go home and rest. Today, 4 days later I received a call from the hospital. I tested positive for salmonella. They wanted to know what I ate and where etc. I KNEW exactly where I got it from. MYSELF!!! Self induced. I like a delicacy, something in which I have eaten for years. Steak tartar. I LOVE IT!! But after this episode I won't be eating it anymore. UNLESS I personally know the butcher. Even then I don't think so.
This was way too painful in many ways.
Comment from: gfowble, 55-64 Male (Patient)Published: February 09
With about 5 minutes to go in the Super Bowl, I started passing gas. Within minutes I had to go to the restroom. In there I experienced severe cramps, cold sweats, and pins and needles all over my skin, I also felt like I was going to pass out. This lasted close to fifteen minutes. When I finished the first bout I returned to my wife and then had to go back to the restroom. The second bout was as bad as the first, only this time my skin got cold and clammy and yet I still had the cold sweats so bad it soaked my shirt and I had to dry my forehead on a towel. The last two days I've experienced stomach cramps and have had to use the bathroom frequently. The initial outbursts were so bad death felt like a good option. I had microwaved some chicken skins at noon and this hit about 7 hours later. Of course I washed my hands after handling the raw meat, but I did not wash the chicken skin.
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Gastroenteritis (viral gastroenteritis, stomach flu) is an infection caused by a variety of viruses that results in vomiting and/or diarrhea. Even though it is often called the "stomach flu," it is not caused by the influenza viruses. Viruses that can cause gastroenteritis (stomach flu) include: rotaviruses, adenoviruses, caliciviruses, astroviruses, Norwalk virus, and a group of Noroviruses. Gastroenteritis is not caused by bacteria. The main symptoms of gastroenteritis include vomiting and watery diarrhea, however, headache, fever, and abdominal cramps (stomach ache) may also be present.
Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
There are many symptoms involved in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy. The first early pregnancy symptom is typically a missed period, but others include breast swelling and tenderness, nausea and sometimes vomiting, fatigue and bloating. Second trimester symptoms include backache, weight gain, itching, and possible stretch marks. Third trimester symptoms are additional weight gain, heartburn, hemorrhoids, swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face, breast tenderness, and trouble sleeping. Read more to learn about recommended procedures and tests for each stage of a healthy pregnancy.
Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. There are a number of causes of dehydration including heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exercise, and some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The best way to treat dehydration is to prevent it from occurring.
Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often precedes vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are not diseases, but they are symptoms of many conditions. The causes of vomiting differ according to age, and treatment depends upon the cause of nausea and vomiting.
Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degrees F. (37 degrees C.), in practice a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal: rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease- producing organisms.
Sepsis (blood poisoning) is a potentially deadly infection with signs and symptoms that include elevated heart rate, low or high temperature, rapid breathing and/or a white blood cell count that is too high or too low and has more than 10% band cells. Most cases of sepsis are caused by bacterial infections, and some cases are caused by fungal infections. Treatment requires hospitalization, IV antibiotics, and therapy to treat any organ dysfunction.
Typhoid fever is an illness caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria. The illness is contracted by ingesting the bacteria in contaminated water or food. Symptoms include headaches, fever, diarrhea, lethargy, aches and pains, and poor appetite. Treatment focuses on killing the Salmonella bacteria with antibiotics.
Food poisoning is common, but can also be life threatening. The most common form of food poisoning is caused by bacteria and include symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
Inflammation of the inner lining of the colon is referred to as colitis. Symptoms of the inflammation of the colon lining include diarrhea, pain, and blood in the stool. There are several causes of colitis including infection, ischemia of the colon, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, Ulcerative colitis, or microscopic colitis). Treatment depends on the cause of the colitis.
Septic arthritis, or infectious arthritis, is infection of one or more joints by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Symptoms and signs of septic arthritis include fever, joint pain, chills, swelling, redness, warmth, and stiffness. Treatment involves antibiotics and the drainage of the infected joint.
Shigellosis is a disease caused by the Shigella bacteria. Bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever are common symptoms. Mild infections usually resolve on their own. Antibiotics are used to treat more severe cases.
Drug resistance (antimicrobial resistance) is the ability of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses to grow, even in the presence of a drug that would normally kill it (or limit it's growth). Drug resistance is a growing problem, particularly for infections such as MRSA, VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci), tuberculosis, HIV, STDs, gonorrhea, flu, pneumonia, malaria, E. coli, salmonella, Campylobacter, which causes diarrhea and gastroenteritis. Learn how to protect yourself from resistance to drugs.
Bioterrorism is a form of terrorism where there is the intentional release of biological agents such as viruses, germs, or bacteria. Diseases caused by bioterrorism agents include anthrax, botulism, plague, smallpox, tularemia, brucellosis, food poisoning, Q fever, ricin toxin poisoning, cholera, epidemic typhus, viral encephalitis, XDR TB, and MDR TB.
Enterovirulent Escherichia coli (E. coli) are strains of related bacteria that have a strong propensity to cause gastrointestinal tract infections. Examples of strains include: EHEC (enterohemorrhagic E. coli), ETEC (enterotoxigenic E. coli), EPEC (enteropathogenic E. coli), EIEC (enteroinvasive E. coli), EAEC (enteroadherent E. coli), and EAggEC (enteroaggregative E. coli). Symptoms may vary depending on the strain the individual contracts. Infection is spread generally through contaminated food or drink.
Blood poisoning is a nonmedical term that usually refers to the medical condition known as sepsis.
Sepsis is a potentially dangerous or life-threatening medical condition found in association with a known or suspected infection whose signs and symptoms fulfill at least two criteria of a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).
The major SIRS criteria are an increased heart rate, fever, and increased respiratory rate; the young and the elderly may show other early signs and symptoms of sepsis sometimes before exhibiting SIRS criteria.
The majority of cases of sepsis are due to bacterial infection.
Sepsis is treated with hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics, and therapy to support any organ dysfunction.
Prevention of infections and early diagnosis and treatment of sepsis are the best ways to prevent sepsis or reduce the problems sepsis causes.
If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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My 15-year- old son experienced extreme fatigue at first followed a few hours later with diarrhea, chills, sweating and fever. Assuming it was just a bug, one was going around in his school, I did not take him to the doctor until he was passing blood in his stool three days later. (Talk about a serious guilt trip!) They took a stool sample, and the preliminary (next morning) results were negative for rotavirus, E. coli, shigella, and salmonella. We were told not to give Pepto or Immodium until the final results were in. (We were getting really worried and desperate for relief.) His fever subsided on day four (100 – 102 degrees), but his bloody diarrhea did not (about 20 times a day)! Three days after the sample was taken to the lab, we received a call that it indeed was salmonella. We were relieved to know what it was because he was not improving as we expected with "a bug"(6 days into illness). On day seven, he was started on a seven-day treatment of 500 mg amoxicillin, twice a day. We are hopeful that he responds quickly. This is by far the most severe illness he has experienced! We have no idea how he contracted it.
Related Reading: fatigue | diarrhea | fever