Campylobacteriosis

What is campylobacteriosis?

Campylobacteriosis is a bacterial infection of the digestive tract. Sometimes the infection spreads to other parts of the body.

How does it occur?

Bacteria called Campylobacter cause the infection. The bacteria may be in:

• food or water contaminated by animals
• unpasteurized milk
• bowel movements of people who are infected.

You may get infected after you drink dirty water or eat food that hasn’t been cooked enough, like chicken. Bacteria may get into food if it is prepared by someone who is infected. This is especially likely if they don’t wash their hands after using the toilet. The infection can spread easily from person to person in places like infant and preschool day care centers.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms include:

• watery diarrhea
• blood in the bowel movement, especially in children
• stomachache
• fever.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will review your symptoms and examine you. Samples of your blood and bowel movement may be tested in the lab.

How is it treated?

Treatment includes:

• drinking clear liquids
• eating soft foods
• rest.

For more serious infections, your healthcare provider will prescribe an antibiotic to kill the bacteria. It is important to take all of the antibiotic. If you stop taking the medicine as soon as your symptoms are gone but before you have taken all of the medicine, symptoms may come back.

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 (37.8°C), some activity is OK if you are not dehydrated.

If you have cramps or stomach pain, it may help to put a hot water bottle or electric heating pad on your stomach. Cover the hot water bottle with a towel or set the heating pad on low to prevent burns.

Ask your healthcare provider if you can take aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen to control your fever.

• Check with your provider before you give any medicine that contains aspirin or salicylates to a child or teen. This includes medicines like baby aspirin, some cold medicines, and Pepto-Bismol. Children and teens who take aspirin are at risk for a serious illness called Reye's syndrome.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin, may cause stomach bleeding and other problems. These risks increase with age. Read the label and take as directed. Unless recommended by your healthcare provider, do not take for more than 10 days for any reason.

You may want to let your bowel rest for a few hours by drinking only clear liquids. Examples of clear liquids are water, weak tea, broth, apple juice, or sports drinks and other oral rehydration drinks. You may also drink soft drinks without caffeine, such as 7 UP. Let sodas lose some of their carbonation (go flat) before you drink them. Make sure you drink small amounts often so that you do not get dehydrated. Not getting enough fluids to replace the fluids your body is losing while you are sick can be very dangerous. This is especially true 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’s OK to keep eating as long as it does not seem to make the diarrhea or stomach cramps worse. Foods that are easiest to digest are bananas, cooked cereal, rice, plain noodles and broth, eggs, gelatin, toast or bread, crackers, cooked potatoes or carrots, and applesauce. Don’t add butter or margarine to these foods. Avoid milk products and caffeine for a few days.

You can go back 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, or highly seasoned or spicy foods. Also avoid most fresh vegetables. It’s OK to eat cooked carrots, potatoes, and squash. If eating seems to make the diarrhea worse, let your bowel rest for a few hours by drinking just clear liquids. Then again try small amounts of the foods that are easy to digest.

Be cautious about taking antidiarrheal medicines. Nonprescription medicines such as loperamide (sold as Imodium and other trade names) or the prescription medicine Lomotil can make you sicker, especially if your 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, check with your healthcare provider before you use any medicine for diarrhea.

If you keep having symptoms or your symptoms get worse, call your healthcare provider.

How can I help prevent campylobacteriosis?

To keep other people from getting infected by you, avoid unnecessary contact with others until your symptoms are gone. Wash your hands well with soap and 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. It can help to also wear gloves when you are preparing and serving food. Don’t work as a food handler in restaurants, dining halls, or grocery stores until your diarrhea is completely gone or your healthcare provider says it’s OK to go back to work.

To avoid getting Campylobacter:

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