Salmonella
Hospitalizes Two Lee's Summit Kindergartners
Source of
Article: http://www.fox4kc.com/lifestyle/health/wdaf-salmonella-lees-summit-kindergartners-6209,0,4649863.story
Web Producer Rebecca Sapakie
June
2, 2009
LEE'S
SUMMIT, MO. - Two Lee's Summit kindergarten students have been hospitalized
with salmonella.
Richardson Elementary School sent a letter home to parents telling them about
the situation.
The kids, a boy and a girl, have been enrolled in Richardson Kids Country
during the school year. The Health Department has not determined if their
illness is related to the school.
The boy is listed in fair condition. And, the girl's condition is not being
released.
Salmonella may be spread through contaminated food and less frequently from
person-to-person or on toys and other objects. The school has instructed its
district custodians to do additional cleaning and disinfecting at Richardson
Elementary as a precaution.
"I am concerned," said parent Tiffani Minich. "Because I don't
have any other child care set up for the summer if there really is a serious
issue."
Meanwhile, the Lee's Summit School District says the Health Department still
has not determined if the salmonella can be traced back to the school. It's
more likely the bacterial infection would be spread by contaminated food, but
it could also be spread person to person, or by touching contaminated items.
"I'm a new mom, I don't know much about it, so it's kind of alarming to
me," said parent Amy Makovec. "I don't know what to even watch out
for."
Salmonella is a bacterial infection that is usually transmitted to humans by
eating foods contaminated by animal feces. Salmonella may also be found in
the feces of some pets, especially those with diarrhea. Reptiles as well as
many chicks and young birds may harbor Salmonella in their feces. Children
and adults should be especially diligent about hand washing after handling
any reptile or bird, even healthy animals. Most persons infected with
salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps and occasionally
headache and nausea eight to 72 hours after infection, and the illness
usually lasts four to seven days. The majority of people recover without
treatment, however, some may need to be hospitalized. Many different kinds of
illnesses can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps, and the only way to
determine salmonella is through laboratory tests.
"I'll go home and do some research, and talk to my husband and just see
what his thoughts are as well," said Minich. "But I think Lee's
Summit will take care of it, and they'll handle it."
If you think your child may have had symptoms within the last two weeks,
you're asked to call Richardson Elementary
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