| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Infections with <it>Salmonella </it>serotypes continue to be a significant global public health problem. In addition to contaminated foods, several other sources contribute to infections with <it>Salmonella </it>serotypes. We have assessed the role of socioeconomic factors, exposure to food, and environmental sources in the etiology of non-typhoidal <it>Salmonella </it>infections in Michigan children.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>A case-control study among Michigan children aged ≤ 10 years was conducted. A total of 123 cases of children with laboratory-confirmed <it>Salmonella </it>infections and 139 control children, who had not experienced symptoms of gastrointestinal illness during the month prior to the interviews, were enrolled. The cases and controls were matched on age-category (<1 year, 2-<6 years and 6-10 years). Data on socioeconomic status, food intake, and environmental exposures, were collected on the queried case and control subjects. After adjusting for race and household-income the final regression multivariable model revealed that <it>Salmonella </it>infections were significantly associated with attendance of a daycare center (adjusted matched odds ratio = 5.00, 95% CI: 1.51 - 16.58), contact with cats (MOR = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.14 - 5.88), and contact with reptiles (MOR = 7.90, 95% CI: 1.52 - 41.01), during the 3 days prior to the onset of child's illness.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Study results suggest that exposure to environmental sources may play an important role in sporadic infections with <it>Salmonella </it>serotypes in children. Additional efforts are needed to educate parents and caretakers about the risk of <it>Salmonella </it>transmission to children from these sources.</p>
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