Introduction to campylobacter:

Campylobacter is everywhere! Almost any animal –wild animals, farm animals, and pets -- can carry it in their stool. It is in the stool of most or all chickens, turkeys, and seagulls. It can be found on the legs of flies, inside the shells of oysters, the cages of hamsters, the litter boxes of cats, and the diapers of toddlers. And if you have a puppy with diarrhea, watch out for diarrhea in your child.

What is campylobacter?

Campylobacter are bacteria that are a common cause of food poisoning and gastroenteritis. Campylobacter frequently appears as the number one food poisoning culprit on the list kept by the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network of the CDC.

Who gets campylobacter?

Anyone can get Campylobacter, from newborns to the elderly.

The most common way to get it is by eating contaminated food, especially improperly cooked poultry, or by drinking raw (unpasteurized) milk. Newborns can get it from their mothers or from infection in the nursery.

What are the symptoms of campylobacter?

Most children with Campylobacter have diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. They often feel quite sick. Campylobacter may be mistaken for appendicitis.

The stools may be bloody. In newborns, this bloody diarrhea may be the only sign – or they may become quite ill, in some cases even developing meningitis.

Some children develop temporary arthritis or other complications.

Is campylobacter contagious?

Campylobacter can be spread form person to person by the fecal-oral route.

How long does campylobacter last?

Most children develop symptoms between 1 and 7 days of being exposed. Most recover within a week, often within only a day or two.

In some children, Campylobacter infections last long enough that they are confused with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.

How is campylobacter diagnosed?

Campylobacter is suspected based on the history and physical exam. The diagnosis is made by stool culture or other stool tests.

How is campylobacter treated?

Antibiotics are often useful in Campylobacter infections, to decrease the length and severity of the illness. Appropriate antibiotics can also make children less contagious and prevent relapse.

Preventing or treating dehydration is important for all children with Campylobacter.

How can campylobacter be prevented?

Thankfully, cooking kills Campylobacter.

Campylobacter is best prevented by proper food handling and cooking, maintaining sanitary water supplies, and good hand washing.

Wash hands before preparing or serving foods. Have someone else prepare the food if you have cramps, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

When handling raw meat or poultry, consider them contaminated! Wash your hands and any surfaces they have touched before proceeding.