Salmonella infection and its treatment - Online Doctor Chats

User :   My 17 month old son recently contracted salmonella from interacting with another child who was infected. What are the long term effects that salmonella could have?
Doctor :   Hi
User :   hi
Doctor :   Dr XXX here
User :   ok
User :   do you see my message above with the question?
Doctor :   There will be long term effects if left untreated
User :   and if it is treated?
Doctor :   There will be dehydration and ulcers
User :   can there still be long term effects
Doctor :   Then will have no issues
Doctor :   Very minimal
User :   how minimal?
Doctor :   Malabsorption for a while till the bacterila flore is regenerated
Doctor :   In the sense improper absorption of food
User :   but there will be no permanent issues?
Doctor :   No
User :   i heard something about arthritis
User :   or eye irritation
Doctor :   Thats if left untreated or partially treated
Doctor :   And those are in adults
User :   but treated cases never have permanent damage
User :   ?
Doctor :   Yes
User :   ok
Doctor :   Is there anything else i can help you with?
User :   is checking the stool sample enough to tell if its fully dealt with?
Doctor :   Yes and a complete antibiotic course
User :   he received the antibiotic and has improved, he just needs to get another stool sample
User :   to make sure its gone
Doctor :   Yes it always advisable for repeat tests
User :   i also heard that salmonella can leave marks on the skin
User :   or affect some internal organs, i dont know if it was liver or kidneys
Doctor :   Yes they do in chronic cases and they also will get cured on long term
User :   but if the stool sample turns up negative so that would rule out chronic salmonella?
Doctor :   Only when infection is uncontrolled then it will affect
Doctor :   Yes
User :   ok
User :   i think thats it then
User :   than you for the help
Doctor :   wishing him a speedy recovery
User :   thank
User :   thanks
Doctor :   You are welcome
Doctor :   Thanks for consulting me
User :   good bye
Doctor :   Bye for now
Doctor :   Take care
Doctor :   It seems you haev moved out of the chat window plz log in back for medical queries
Doctor :   Hi
User :   hi
Doctor :   Hi
Doctor :   Dr XXX here
User :   so I was just talkign with you before
Doctor :   Yes
User :   about my son with salmonella
User :   well i talked with my wife
Doctor :   Ok
User :   she said that he didn't get antibiotics, but his symptoms seemed to be improving
User :   all they gave him was something for diahrea
User :   and will give him another stool test
Doctor :   Can you mention what was given
Doctor :   That would sure help
User :   the specific drug?
User :   ill ask my wife
Doctor :   Yes
User :   bismus ithink
User :   bismuth
Doctor :   Ok waas any antibiotic given
User :   no
User :   apparently not
Doctor :   ok
Doctor :   Was it bismuth sulphide
Doctor :   Bye for now
User :   i guess it just says bismuth
User :   i dont have it in front of me, im asking my wife over the phone
User :   does it make a big difference?
Doctor :   ok
Doctor :   yes it does
User :   but neither is an antibiotic right
Doctor :   let me assure you one thingf
Doctor :   thing **
User :   ?
Doctor :   i can understand your concern
Doctor :   but with proper treatment its completely curable
User :   yes, but doesnt proper treatment mean antibiotics>?
Doctor :   as a parent i know you are worried . but as i a physician i can tell you that salmonella infection with proper treatment is completely cured
Doctor :   and yes it does mean taking antibiotics
User :   so if he never took antibiotics, isn't that not proper traetment?
Doctor :   It is . Based on the age proper dose is administered
User :   but he didnt get any antibiotics
Doctor :   Your pediatrician will be prescribing
User :   when? afterwards?
Doctor :   yes
User :   they always prescribe it after the symptoms end?
Doctor :   How is your child doing now ?
User :   he seems ok, the bismuth stopped the diahrea
Doctor :   thats a positive sign
User :   im just concerned that the pediatrician didnt prescribe any antiobiotics
Doctor :   It also depends on the severity of the symptoms
Doctor :   and also your strong your child immunity is
User :   in some cases antibiotics arent necessary?
Doctor :   some children have strong immunity and can ward of infection my body defense mechanism
Doctor :   by**
Doctor :   yes there are cases where just the body is strong enough to ward it off and we keep antibiotics as just a line of defence
Doctor :   so that is the prime reason the pediatrician as not yet given the antibiotics as the approach here is to see how well the body can sustain by control measures
Doctor :   and since the diarrhea is better now with bismuth that's a very positive sign
User :   if it does seem to improve without antibiotics is there still a risk of long term effects?
Doctor :   no there are no long term effects
Doctor :   i cam assure you that
User :   ok
User :   i guess thats it
User :   thank you for the help
Doctor :   i am glad i was able to help you