salmonella: if you received this letter from GP:

[PippiLangstrump]

what would you do?

DD (2) suffered from diarrea for about two weeks which began at the end of June when we came back from holidays.
After a week I went to GP who suggested a sample to be tested. I forgot all about it.

Now, this morning, I receive a letter saying that 'this last sample saod that salmonella bongor was isolated which is a variant of the bacteria which I ahve never come across'.

he goes on to add that the Env health might get in contact in due course and that if DD has got no more diarrea I should not be concerned.

It was 2 months ago!!!!! She's been fine a long time. should I be worried - contact him...what???

I think enviromental health may get in contact with you if there was an outbreak in your area to find the source of contamination, tohugh as you had been on holiday they will assume that wwere she got it. There's no need to call him if she if fine.

YOu could phone the receptionist just to get reasurrance. I had a similar experience when i had food poisening but was phoned as i needed further treatment.

I wouldn't worry if your dd needed further treatment they would have phoned, although i think a phone call rather than a letter would have been better anyway.

Usually env health just send out a questionaire about it.

don't worry it is completely normal and part of the process to get a letter like this.
They are automatic when anyone has an identified bacteria which is known to come from a sourse like contaminated poultry etc
The point of it is to identify areas of risk to protect the young/old and vulnerable.
What they do is see if there are any outbreaks which are not "random" like a cluster in one area or that maybe linked to a premisis etc.
If a cluster were to be found then agencies would be informed to prevent further contamination.
Do not worry. Infact I would say be rather glad that this is now taken so seriously

thank you all. Explained it like you did makes sense and yes I will relax. DD has been fine for ages.

What concerns me though is the time it took to get result. Two months is certainly quite ridiculous, wouldn't you say?

Hello Pippi. I had Salmonella years ago and got a visit from the environmental health people. I remember them asking me things like 'what did you eat three days before the symptoms started?' and 'did you eat out anywhere?'. I had no idea of course as this was weeks later. Anyway it was quite straight forward and nothing to worry about.

savethecheerleader thanks.
it'll be a laugh if they do contact us: how can I remember what DD ate on hol in italy the 20th of june???
TBH considering it will be easy to tell them what she did not eat!! she was always stealing from our plates.

PS: is it shellfish you can get salmonella from?

I'm quite surprised the local EHO hasn't contacted you, they normally would for such a little know strain of salmonella.

Are you sure it is S bongor and not S bongori?

Do you keep lizards or have you been near any recently?

By the way, the 2 month time span is probably because of the type.

It is likely that your gp has known that your dd was positive for salmonella since about 3-4 days after the sample was submitted, but advised that they were waiting for further typing results.

saint george it does say bongor. why is there one called bongori?

no lizards. there were loads around in italy, but I doubt DD was speedy enough to touch them. why?

S bongori was first isolated in lizards and they are still the commonest source of infection for that particular strain.

Did you go to Sicily?

I wonder if it is a spelling mistake. you wouldn't think though, would you?

the thing is as well that i have moved since then so changed GP.

I've never heard of S bongor, but I have S bongori.

Sorry, I used to work at the Public Health Labs by the way

interesting thread. What's the mode of transmission between humans and lizards?

you did sound as if you know your salmonella !!!

might give him a ring and see what he says. mainly for DH's sake who goes into panic re anything to do with DD.

to be fair the day DH was supposed to handle sample he got there late and asked the doctor if it could wait till monday as DD was fine anyway. doctor said 'well of course you can but if it is salmonella...'
which made DH panic and run to the hospital directly and miss and important meeting. and now it turns out she dod have it and we were none the wiser.

so tell me saintgeorge, does it mean she's clear now?

belgo - if you keep lizards then the general contact can be enough, if they lick you or you are anywhere near faeces. Generally infections from wildlife/pets are contracted by kids because they don't take the basic hygiene precautions.

Pippi - not a lot of experience with S bongori (it is pretty rare) but generally with salmonella you would get a visit from the EHO and then they would ask for repeated sample until there are 2 (or sometimes 3) consecutive negative results.

If your dd isn't showing any symptoms then the chances are she is clear by now, but you can always request they check some more samples to be sure.

Oh and the reason I asked about Sicily is because, although rare, S bongori has been the cause of outbreaks in Italy especially in the Sicily and Palermo regions.

oh sorry I missed that bit. no not sicily but calabria and our bit was not that far off from it actually - a couple of hours away.

I feel a bit of a sherlock holmes...

In fact, just checking, it seems the only reported outbreaks have been in Italy so I guess it is safe to say she definitely picked it up there.

Oh the Sherlock bit was the fun part of the job, certainly better than the smell in the lab every day

Oops, that is if it is bongori and not bongor. Bit presumptive of me there

oh i am sure you are right sg! they won't call two different types with such similar names, don't you think!
well done sg, I am well impressed. I wouldn't have known all this info anywhere else.

so your prognosis is...

why don't you do it anymore?