Wikipedia's answer...

Salmonella:

a) a genus of rod-shaped Gram-negative enterobacteria that causes typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, and food borne illness. Salmonella species are motile and produce hydrogen sulfide.

b) the awful, rude bacteria that has decided to take up residence in our precious daughter's little body

Symptoms:

a) Diarrhea (check)

b) Fever (check)

c) vomiting (check)

d) abdominal cramps (check)

e) dehydration (check)

Note: The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness, and are thus treated with antibiotics. Some people afflicted with Salmonella poisoning later experience reactive arthritis, which can have long-lasting, disabling effects.

Some statistics/interesting facts:

a) Breastfed babies are less likely to get salmonella infection.

b) Exposure to reptiles upped babies' chance of infection

c) Babies who ride in a shopping cart next to meat or poultry are more likely to get infected

d) babies who drink concentrated liquid infant formula are more likely to get salmonella infection

e) About 50,000 cases of salmonella infections are reported in the US each year and about one third of those are in kids 4 years old or younger.

f) Having salmonella infection can lead to meningitis or pneumonia

g) Salmonella decreases a baby's ability to breakdown lactose, causing more gas and fussiness. While being treated, the baby must be supplemented with soy formulas.

Evidently, we will be meeting with the Health Department in the near future so they can try to figure out where Mia's infection has come from.

Poor baby.