Campylobacteriosis

What is campylobacteriosis?

Campylobacteriosis is a bacterial infection of the digestive tract. Sometimes the infection spreads to other parts of the body. Campylobacteriosis occurs in children and adults.

How does it occur?

Bacteria called Campylobacter cause the infection. These organisms may be found in food or water contaminated by pets or wild animals or in unpasteurized milk. It may be spread from person to person, especially in day care programs and other institutional settings.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms include:

• watery diarrhea
• blood in the bowel movement, especially in children
• abdominal cramps (in nearly all cases)
• fever.

How is it diagnosed?

The doctor will review your symptoms, examine you, and get samples of your blood and bowel movement. You may need to have special testing of your bowel movement because the organism is difficult to grow. Lab tests of your blood and stool will help determine whether you have campylobacteriosis or another disorder.

How is it treated?

Drinking clear liquids so that you do not become dehydrated and eating soft foods are the mainstays of treatment. It is also important to rest.

For difficult infections, the doctor will prescribe the antibiotic erythromycin to kill the bacteria. It is important to take all of the antibiotic your doctor prescribes. If you stop taking the medicine as soon as your symptoms are gone but before you have taken all of the medicine, symptoms of the infection may return.

How long will the effects last?

Your symptoms should be gone in 5 to 8 days.

How can I take care of myself?

If you have a temperature over 100 degrees F (37.8 degrees C), rest as much as you can. After your temperature falls below 100 degrees F, moderate activity is OK if you are not dehydrated. Ask your doctor if you can take aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen to control your fever. (Anyone under age 21 who may have a viral illness should not take aspirin because aspirin increases the risk of Reye's syndrome.)

If you have cramps or abdominal pain, it may help to put a hot water bottle on your abdomen.

Drink clear liquids such as water, juice, weak tea, and bouillon. It is important to drink often so that you do not become dehydrated. Suck on ice chips if you feel too nauseated to drink fluids.

Eat soft foods--such as cooked cereal, rice, potato, eggs, plain gelatin, and applesauce. Add carbonated drinks to your diet. Avoid milk products for a few days. Return to your normal diet after 2 or 3 days of the soft-food diet, but avoid fresh fruit and vegetables, alcohol, and highly seasoned or spicy foods for several days.

What can I do to help prevent campylobacteriosis?

To prevent other people from getting infected by you, avoid unnecessary contact with others until your symptoms are gone. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and very warm water after you use the restroom. Do not prepare food for other people. If you must prepare or serve food, wash your hands thoroughly before you cook or serve food and before you eat. Do not work as a food handler in restaurants, dining halls, or grocery stores until your diarrhea is completely gone.

Make sure your food and beverages come from safe sources. Use only pasteurized (not raw) dairy products.