Campylobacter Gastroenteritis: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention – Healthline

Campylobacter gastroenteritis is an infection in your gut caused by Campylobacter bacteria. The infection often leads to inflammation in your stomach and intestines.

Each year in the United States, Campylobacter bacteria cause an estimated 1.5 million stomach illnesses.

Eating raw or undercooked poultry, seafood, or meat is a common source of infection. The illness can also be transmitted via produce, milk, or water that has come into contact with the campylobacter bacteria.

In this article, we take a look at the symptoms of campylobacter gastroenteritis, as well as how best to treat and prevent this common stomach illness.

Campylobacter gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection that occurs when Campylobacter bacteria is present in your food or water.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Campylobacter bacteria is the most common bacterial cause of diarrhea in the United States. The bacteria can be found in a wide range of animals, particularly poultry. It can also be transmitted through water that hasnt been properly treated.

Campylobacter gastroenteritis occurs more often in the summer than in winter. The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network suggests that for every 100,000 people, approximately 20 cases of Campylobacter infection are diagnosed each year in the United States.

Its estimated that many more cases are undiagnosed or go unreported.

If you have campylobacter gastroenteritis, you may experience symptoms such as:

Because campylobacter gastroenteritis affects the lining of the stomach and intestines, nausea and vomiting can often occur.

Symptoms generally start within two to five days of coming in contact with the bacteria and typically last one week.

Campylobacter causes gastroenteritis, which means the stomach and intestines are inflamed and irritated.

Oftentimes when people have symptoms of gastroenteritis, they refer to it as the stomach flu. But gastroenteritis is not related to the flu at all.

It can take as little as a single drop of juice from raw chicken that has the Campylobacter bacteria to cause an infection.

Most infections are caused by eating raw or undercooked poultry or consuming food or water that has been contaminated with the Campylobacter bacteria.

Campylobacter can contaminate food and water in different ways:

To diagnose campylobacter gastroenteritis, a doctor will first talk with you about your symptoms and how long you have been experiencing them.

If campylobacter gastroenteritis is suspected, they may use a laboratory test to detect the Campylobacter bacteria in your stool (poop), body tissue, or other bodily fluids.

Because symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration and depletion of minerals and electrolytes, a doctor may also check for signs of dehydration.

Symptoms of dehydration include:

Most people recover from campylobacter gastroenteritis with rest and by drinking extra fluids. They generally start to feel better within three days without seeing a doctor.

However, if dehydration is suspected or if symptoms dont ease after two to three days, you should seek medical help. This is especially true for young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.

To prevent you or your family from getting campylobacter gastroenteritis, its important to be cautious when handling chicken, meat, and seafood.

Here are some ways to prevent coming into contact with the bacteria:

Symptoms of campylobacter gastroenteritis can begin to resolve as early as three days and generally do not last longer than one week.

Campylobacter gastroenteritis comes from bacteria that attack the stomach and intestines. Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramping, nausea, and vomiting.

Influenza, or the flu, is a respiratory virus that attacks your nose, throat, and lungs. Symptoms include muscle aches, runny or stuffy nose, and sore throat. Both can cause fever and headaches.

Campylobacter bacteria are passed in the feces (poop), which means people who have diarrhea should be isolated and excluded from childcare, patient care, and handling food for others.

That said, the illness is not contagious like an airborne flu virus and is not typically spread from one person to another.

Complications from campylobacter gastroenteritis are rare, but they can occur.

Some people may develop arthritis and others may develop a rare disease called Guillain-Barr syndrome. Guillain-Barr syndrome happens when the bodys immune system starts to damage nerves in the body. It can cause muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis.

Campylobacter gastroenteritis is generally a mild illness. Symptoms typically dont last for longer than one week. However, it can be fatal among young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.

See a doctor if symptoms linger for more than three days, particularly if youre in a high risk category.

Campylobacter gastroenteritis is a type of food poisoning caused by Campylobacter bacteria. Symptoms are generally considered to be mild and include:

Most people recover with rest and hydration. However, if symptoms do not ease within two to three days, its important to see a doctor.

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Campylobacter Gastroenteritis: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention - Healthline