BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCampylobacter infectionFood poisoning - campylobacter enteritis; Infectious diarrhea - campylobacter enteritis; Bacterial diarrhea; Campy; Gastroenteritis - campylobacter; Colitis - campylobacterCampylobacter infection occurs in the small intestine from bacteria called Campylobacter jejuni. It is a type of food poisoning. Causes Campylobacter enteritis is a common cause of intestinal infection. These bacteria are also one of the many causes of traveler's diarrhea or food poisoning.Intestinal infectionBacterial gastroenteritis occurs when there is an infection of your stomach and intestines. This is due to bacteria.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Food poisoningFood poisoning occurs when you swallow food or water that contains bacteria, parasites, viruses, or the toxins made by these germs. Most cases are c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersPeople most often get infected by eating or drinking food or water that contains the bacteria. The most commonly contaminated foods are raw poultry, fresh produce, and unpasteurized milk. A person can also be infected by close contact with infected people or animals. Symptoms Symptoms start 2 to 4 days after being exposed to the bacteria. They often last a week, and may include:Cramping abdominal pain Abdominal painAbdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fever FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nausea and vomiting Nausea and vomitingNausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up forces the contents of the stomach up t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Watery diarrhea, sometimes bloodyDiarrheaDiarrhea is when you pass loose or watery stool.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. These tests may be done:Complete blood count (CBC) with differential Complete blood count (CBC)A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Stool sample testing for white blood cells Stool culture for Campylobacter jejuniStool cultureA fecal culture is a lab test to find organisms in the stool (feces) that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The infection almost always goes away on its own, and often does not need to be treated with antibiotics. Severe symptoms may improve with antibiotics.The goal is to make you feel better and avoid dehydration. Dehydration is a loss of water and other fluids in the body.DehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article These things may help you feel better if you have diarrhea:Drink 8 to 10 glasses of clear fluids every day. For people who do not have diabetes, fluids should contain salts and simple sugars. For those with diabetes, sugar-free fluids should be used with careful monitoring of blood sugars. Drink at least 1 cup (240 milliliters) of liquid every time you have a loose bowel movement. Eat small meals throughout the day instead of 3 big meals. Eat some salty foods, such as pretzels, soup, and sports drinks. (If you have kidney disease, check with your doctor before increasing your intake of these foods). Eat some high-potassium foods, such as bananas, potatoes without the skin, and watered-down fruit juices. (If you have kidney disease, check with your doctor before increasing your intake of these foods). Outlook (Prognosis) Most people recover in 5 to 8 days.When a person's immune system does not work well, the Campylobacter infection may spread to the heart or brain.Other problems that may occur are:A form of arthritis called reactive arthritis Reactive arthritisReactive arthritis is a type of arthritis that follows an infection. It may also cause inflammation of the eyes, skin and urinary and genital system...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A nerve problem called Guillain-Barré syndrome, which leads to paralysis (rare)Guillain-Barré syndromeGuillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a serious health problem that occurs when the body's defense (immune) system mistakenly attacks part of the peripher...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if: You have diarrhea that continues for more than 1 week or it comes back. There is blood in your stools. Blood in your stoolsBlack or tarry stools with a foul smell are a sign of a problem in the upper digestive tract. It most often indicates that there is bleeding in the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You have diarrhea and are unable to drink fluids due to nausea or vomiting. You have a fever above 101°F (38.3°C), and diarrhea. You have signs of dehydration (thirst, dizziness, lightheadedness) You have recently traveled to a foreign country and developed diarrhea. Your diarrhea does not get better in 5 days, or it gets worse. You have severe abdominal pain. Contact your provider if your child has:A fever above 100.4°F (37.7°C) and diarrhea Diarrhea that does not get better in 2 days, or it gets worse Been vomiting for more than 12 hours (in a newborn under 3 months you should call as soon as vomiting or diarrhea begins) Reduced urine output, sunken eyes, sticky or dry mouth, or no tears when crying Prevention Learning how to prevent food poisoning can reduce the risk for this infection.Prevent food poisoningTo prevent food poisoning, take the following steps when preparing food:Carefully wash your hands often, and always before cooking or cleaning. Alwa...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesAllos BM. Campylobacter infections. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 287.Allos BM, Blaser MJ, Iovine NM, Kirkpatrick BD. Campylobacter jejuni and related species. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 216.Endtz HP. Campylobacter infections. In: Ryan ET, Hill DR, Solomon T, Aaronson NE, Endy TP. eds. Hunter's Tropical Medicine and Emerging Infectious Diseases. 10th ed., Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 50.AllVideoImagesTogFood poisoningAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersFood poisoning - Animation If you have stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, or nausea a few hours after eating something, chances are you may have food poisoning. Let's talk about food poisoning. Food poisoning happens when you eat food or drink water that's been contaminated with bacteria, parasites, viruses, or toxins. Most cases of food poisoning are due to common bacteria, such as Staphylococcus or E. coli. Bacteria may get into your food in different ways. Meat or poultry may come into contact with intestinal bacteria when it gets processed. Water that's used during growing or shipping may contain animal or human waste. Food poisoning may also occur when people handle your food without washing their hands properly, when food is prepared using unclean cooking utensils or cutting boards, when perishable foods are left out of the refrigerator for too long, and when people eat raw foods like fish or oysters or undercooked meats or eggs. Untreated water can also cause food poisoning. So, what do you do about food poisoning? Well, fortunately, you'll usually recover from the most common types of food poisoning within 12 to 48 hours. Your goal should be to make sure that your body gets enough fluids so that you don't become dehydrated. Don't eat solid foods until diarrhea has passed, and avoid dairy products. Drink any fluid (except milk and caffeinated beverages) to replace fluids in your body. If you have eaten toxins from mushrooms or shellfish, seek medical attention right away. The emergency room doctor will then empty out your stomach and remove the toxin. Most people will recover from the most common types of food poisoning pretty quickly. However, if food poisoning leads to dehydration because you can't keep anything down, you should seek immediate medical attention.Campylobacter jejuni organism - illustration Campylobacter jejuni infection causes cramping, diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever within 2 to 5 days after a person has been exposed to the organism. Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most common bacterial causes of diarrhea. Most cases of Campylobacter jejuni come from handling or ingesting raw or undercooked poultry meat. Although poultry and other birds are not affected by the bacterium, other animals can be. Therefore it is possible for a person to acquire the infection from contact with infected stool of an ill cat or dog. This is what Campylobacter organisms look like through a microscope. (Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)Campylobacter jejuni organismillustrationDigestive system - illustration The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.Digestive systemillustrationDigestive system organs - illustration The digestive system organs in the abdominal cavity include the liver, gallbladder, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.Digestive system organsillustrationFood poisoningAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersFood poisoning - Animation If you have stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, or nausea a few hours after eating something, chances are you may have food poisoning. Let's talk about food poisoning. Food poisoning happens when you eat food or drink water that's been contaminated with bacteria, parasites, viruses, or toxins. Most cases of food poisoning are due to common bacteria, such as Staphylococcus or E. coli. Bacteria may get into your food in different ways. Meat or poultry may come into contact with intestinal bacteria when it gets processed. Water that's used during growing or shipping may contain animal or human waste. Food poisoning may also occur when people handle your food without washing their hands properly, when food is prepared using unclean cooking utensils or cutting boards, when perishable foods are left out of the refrigerator for too long, and when people eat raw foods like fish or oysters or undercooked meats or eggs. Untreated water can also cause food poisoning. So, what do you do about food poisoning? Well, fortunately, you'll usually recover from the most common types of food poisoning within 12 to 48 hours. Your goal should be to make sure that your body gets enough fluids so that you don't become dehydrated. Don't eat solid foods until diarrhea has passed, and avoid dairy products. Drink any fluid (except milk and caffeinated beverages) to replace fluids in your body. If you have eaten toxins from mushrooms or shellfish, seek medical attention right away. The emergency room doctor will then empty out your stomach and remove the toxin. Most people will recover from the most common types of food poisoning pretty quickly. However, if food poisoning leads to dehydration because you can't keep anything down, you should seek immediate medical attention.Campylobacter jejuni organism - illustration Campylobacter jejuni infection causes cramping, diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever within 2 to 5 days after a person has been exposed to the organism. Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most common bacterial causes of diarrhea. Most cases of Campylobacter jejuni come from handling or ingesting raw or undercooked poultry meat. Although poultry and other birds are not affected by the bacterium, other animals can be. Therefore it is possible for a person to acquire the infection from contact with infected stool of an ill cat or dog. This is what Campylobacter organisms look like through a microscope. (Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)Campylobacter jejuni organismillustrationDigestive system - illustration The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.Digestive systemillustrationDigestive system organs - illustration The digestive system organs in the abdominal cavity include the liver, gallbladder, stomach, small intestine and large intestine.Digestive system organsillustration Tests for Campylobacter infection Campylobacter serology testRelated Information Bacterial gastroenteritis(Condition)Immunodeficiency disorders(Condition)Sepsis(Condition)Endocarditis(Condition)Meningitis(Condition)Thrombophlebitis(Condition)Guillain-Barre syndrome(Condition)Diarrhea - what to ask your health care provider - adult(Doctor Questions)Diarrhea - what to ask your doctor - child (Doctor Questions) Review Date: 3/10/2022 Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Campylobacter infectionFood poisoning - campylobacter enteritis; Infectious diarrhea - campylobacter enteritis; Bacterial diarrhea; Campy; Gastroenteritis - campylobacter; Colitis - campylobacterCampylobacter infection occurs in the small intestine from bacteria called Campylobacter jejuni. It is a type of food poisoning. Causes Campylobacter enteritis is a common cause of intestinal infection. These bacteria are also one of the many causes of traveler's diarrhea or food poisoning.Intestinal infectionBacterial gastroenteritis occurs when there is an infection of your stomach and intestines. This is due to bacteria.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Food poisoningFood poisoning occurs when you swallow food or water that contains bacteria, parasites, viruses, or the toxins made by these germs. Most cases are c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersPeople most often get infected by eating or drinking food or water that contains the bacteria. The most commonly contaminated foods are raw poultry, fresh produce, and unpasteurized milk. A person can also be infected by close contact with infected people or animals. Symptoms Symptoms start 2 to 4 days after being exposed to the bacteria. They often last a week, and may include:Cramping abdominal pain Abdominal painAbdominal pain is pain that you feel anywhere between your chest and groin. This is often referred to as the stomach region or belly.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fever FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nausea and vomiting Nausea and vomitingNausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up forces the contents of the stomach up t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Watery diarrhea, sometimes bloodyDiarrheaDiarrhea is when you pass loose or watery stool.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. These tests may be done:Complete blood count (CBC) with differential Complete blood count (CBC)A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Stool sample testing for white blood cells Stool culture for Campylobacter jejuniStool cultureA fecal culture is a lab test to find organisms in the stool (feces) that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment The infection almost always goes away on its own, and often does not need to be treated with antibiotics. Severe symptoms may improve with antibiotics.The goal is to make you feel better and avoid dehydration. Dehydration is a loss of water and other fluids in the body.DehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article These things may help you feel better if you have diarrhea:Drink 8 to 10 glasses of clear fluids every day. For people who do not have diabetes, fluids should contain salts and simple sugars. For those with diabetes, sugar-free fluids should be used with careful monitoring of blood sugars. Drink at least 1 cup (240 milliliters) of liquid every time you have a loose bowel movement. Eat small meals throughout the day instead of 3 big meals. Eat some salty foods, such as pretzels, soup, and sports drinks. (If you have kidney disease, check with your doctor before increasing your intake of these foods). Eat some high-potassium foods, such as bananas, potatoes without the skin, and watered-down fruit juices. (If you have kidney disease, check with your doctor before increasing your intake of these foods). Outlook (Prognosis) Most people recover in 5 to 8 days.When a person's immune system does not work well, the Campylobacter infection may spread to the heart or brain.Other problems that may occur are:A form of arthritis called reactive arthritis Reactive arthritisReactive arthritis is a type of arthritis that follows an infection. It may also cause inflammation of the eyes, skin and urinary and genital system...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A nerve problem called Guillain-Barré syndrome, which leads to paralysis (rare)Guillain-Barré syndromeGuillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a serious health problem that occurs when the body's defense (immune) system mistakenly attacks part of the peripher...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if: You have diarrhea that continues for more than 1 week or it comes back. There is blood in your stools. Blood in your stoolsBlack or tarry stools with a foul smell are a sign of a problem in the upper digestive tract. It most often indicates that there is bleeding in the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You have diarrhea and are unable to drink fluids due to nausea or vomiting. You have a fever above 101°F (38.3°C), and diarrhea. You have signs of dehydration (thirst, dizziness, lightheadedness) You have recently traveled to a foreign country and developed diarrhea. Your diarrhea does not get better in 5 days, or it gets worse. You have severe abdominal pain. Contact your provider if your child has:A fever above 100.4°F (37.7°C) and diarrhea Diarrhea that does not get better in 2 days, or it gets worse Been vomiting for more than 12 hours (in a newborn under 3 months you should call as soon as vomiting or diarrhea begins) Reduced urine output, sunken eyes, sticky or dry mouth, or no tears when crying Prevention Learning how to prevent food poisoning can reduce the risk for this infection.Prevent food poisoningTo prevent food poisoning, take the following steps when preparing food:Carefully wash your hands often, and always before cooking or cleaning. Alwa...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesAllos BM. Campylobacter infections. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 287.Allos BM, Blaser MJ, Iovine NM, Kirkpatrick BD. Campylobacter jejuni and related species. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 216.Endtz HP. Campylobacter infections. In: Ryan ET, Hill DR, Solomon T, Aaronson NE, Endy TP. eds. Hunter's Tropical Medicine and Emerging Infectious Diseases. 10th ed., Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 50.