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, in unpasteurized milk, and in the bowel movements of people who are infected with the bacteria. Infection with Campylobacter may happen after you drink contaminated water or eat inadequately cooked food, especially poultry. Food can get contaminated when someone who is infected prepares food without washing their hands with soap and water after using the bathroom. The infection is especially likely to spread from person to person in day care centers 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?

Your healthcare provider 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 more serious infections, your healthcare provider will prescribe an antibiotic medicine to kill the bacteria. It is important to take all of the antibiotic your provider 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°F (37.8°C), rest as much as you can. After your temperature falls below 100°F, moderate activity is OK if you are not dehydrated. Ask your healthcare provider 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.)

You may want to let your bowel rest for a few hours by drinking only clear liquids such as water, weak tea, bouillon, apple juice, or sports drinks or other oral rehydrating solutions. You may also drink soft drinks without caffeine (such as 7 UP) after letting them lose some of their carbonation (go flat). Make sure you drink often so you do not become dehydrated. Becoming dehydrated can be very dangerous, especially for children, older adults, and some people who have other medical problems. Suck on ice chips or Popsicles if you feel too nauseated to drink fluids.

It is OK to keep eating as long as it does not seem to worsen the diarrhea or stomach cramps. Foods that are easiest to digest are soft starchy foods, such as bananas, cooked cereal, rice, plain noodles, eggs, gelatin, toast or bread with jelly, and applesauce. Avoid milk products and caffeine for a few days. Return to your normal diet after 2 or 3 days, but for several days avoid fresh fruit (other than bananas), alcohol, greasy or fatty foods such as cheeseburgers or bacon, highly seasoned or spicy foods, and most fresh vegetables. Cooked carrots, potatoes, and squash are fine. If eating seems to worsen the diarrhea, let your bowel rest for a few hours by drinking just clear liquids.

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

Be cautious about taking nonprescription antidiarrheal medicines such as loperamide (Kaopectate or Imodium) or the prescription medicine Lomotil. These medicines can actually make the illness more severe, especially if the diarrhea is bloody. If you take one of these medicines, make sure you use only the dose recommended on the package. If you have chronic health problems, always check with your healthcare provider before you use any medicine for diarrhea.

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. You can also wear gloves after washing your hands to protect the food from bacteria that may still be on your hands. Do not work as a food handler in restaurants, dining halls, or grocery stores until your diarrhea is completely gone.

To avoid getting Campylobacter:

• Make sure your food and beverages come from safe sources.
• Use only pasteurized (not raw) dairy products.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom.
• If you are working with children, wash your hands often, especially if you are helping with diaper changes or helping the children use the toilet. Always wash your hands before eating.