How does infection occur?
Campylobacter lives in the intestines of birds and farm animals without causing disease in them. A person becomes infected by eating undercooked chicken, drinking unpasteurized milk or drinking water from an untested source. A very common way is cross-contamination in the kitchen: juice from raw chicken ends up on a cutting board, knife or prepared salad. You can also become infected through contact with a sick puppy or kitten. A small amount of bacteria is enough, so outbreaks are often associated with a single cooked dish.
- Undercooked poultry is the main source
- Unpasteurized milk and raw water
- Cross contamination on a kitchen board
- Contact with animals, especially young ones
- Person-to-person transmission is possible but uncommon
Symptoms
From infection to the first signs it usually takes from two to five days - longer than with most food poisoning, so the connection with a specific dish is often lost. The disease often begins with a day of general malaise: fever, headache and muscle pain. Then intense cramping pain appears in the abdomen, often in the right half, and profuse loose stools up to ten or more times a day, many with an admixture of blood and mucus. Vomiting occurs less frequently than with viral infections. Usually everything calms down within a week.
- Incubation period 2–5 days
- Fever, headache and muscle pain at the beginning
- Severe cramping pain in the abdomen
- Frequent loose stools, often with blood and mucus
- Nausea; vomiting is optional
- Weakness that persists after stool normalization
Complications
For most people, the infection ends with a complete recovery. Less common are reactive arthritis one to three weeks after intestinal symptoms, as well as a rare but serious peripheral nerve disorder called Guillain-Barré syndrome, which manifests itself as increasing symmetrical weakness in the legs and arms. Dehydration is possible, especially in children and the elderly, and infection can spread into the blood in people with reduced immunity. Intense pain in the right lower abdomen sometimes mimics appendicitis.
- Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
- Reactive arthritis
- Guillain-Barré syndrome (rare)
- Pseudoappendicitis
- Bacteremia in immunocompromised people
- Prolonged weakness after recovery
Diagnostics
It is impossible to distinguish campylobacteriosis from salmonellosis, shigellosis and viral infection by symptoms, therefore, in case of diarrhea with blood, high temperature or severe course, the doctor prescribes stool culture for the intestinal group. The coprogram shows signs of inflammation in the intestines - leukocytes and red blood cells. A complete blood count and electrolytes help assess the severity of dehydration and inflammation. If diarrhea persists for more than two weeks or recurs, your doctor will rule out inflammatory bowel disease and parasitic infections.
- Culture of stool for intestinal group
- Coprogram
- General blood test
- Blood electrolytes during vomiting and profuse diarrhea
- Additional examination for persistent diarrhea
Treatment and prevention
The basis of treatment is the replenishment of fluids and salts: oral rehydration solutions in small sips; in case of severe dehydration, droppers in the hospital. You can and should eat: rice, boiled vegetables, crackers, banana, low-fat soup are suitable. The antibiotic is not prescribed for everyone, but for severe cases, high fever, excessive blood in the stool, in pregnant women, the elderly and people with immunodeficiency; The choice of drug is made by the doctor, taking into account the resistance of the bacteria. Antidiarrheals that slow down the intestines cannot be used for bloody stools.
- Oral rehydration solutions from the first hours
- Fractional gentle nutrition, no need to starve
- Antibiotic only as prescribed by a doctor
- Do not take drugs that stop peristalsis if there is blood in the stool
- Fry the bird until fully cooked
- Separate board and knife for raw meat
- Wash hands after contact with raw meat and animals