{"id":4642,"date":"2016-09-07T10:48:18","date_gmt":"2016-09-07T14:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/epidemiology\/?page_id=4642"},"modified":"2025-08-06T19:03:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T23:03:18","slug":"campylobacteriosis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/epidemiology\/epidemiology\/epidemiology-fact-sheets\/campylobacteriosis\/","title":{"rendered":"Campylobacteriosis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What is campylobacteriosis?<\/h2>\n

Campylobacteriosis is an illness caused by bacteria called Campylobacter<\/em>. It affects the intestinal tract (gut) and causes diarrhea.<\/p>\n

Who gets campylobacteriosis?<\/h2>\n

Anyone can get campylobacteriosis, although babies, children, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have serious illness. Campylobacter<\/em> is one of the most common causes of diarrheal illness in the United States.<\/p>\n

How is campylobacteriosis\u00a0spread?<\/h2>\n

Campylobacter<\/em> bacteria are commonly found in the gut of animals and birds, which carry the bacteria without becoming ill. The bacteria can infect people who drink unpasteurized (raw) milk or contaminated water, or eat undercooked meats and organs, especially chicken. Just one drop of raw chicken juice can contain enough bacteria to cause illness. Other food items can be contaminated, for example, from contact with improperly cleaned cutting boards. Handling infected animals, without carefully washing hands afterwards, can also lead to illness.<\/p>\n

What are the symptoms of campylobacteriosis?<\/h2>\n

Campylobacteriosis can cause mild to severe diarrhea, often with traces of blood in the stool. Most people also have a fever and stomach cramping, and some might have nausea and vomiting. The illness usually lasts about one week. Some people infected with Campylobacter<\/em> do not have any symptoms. In people with weakened immune systems, the bacteria can spread occasionally to the bloodstream and cause a life-threatening infection. In rare cases, Campylobacter <\/em>infection results in long-term effects, such as arthritis or a condition called Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome, which affects the nerves of the body and begins several weeks after the diarrheal illness.<\/p>\n

How soon after exposure do symptoms of campylobacteriosis appear?<\/h2>\n

The symptoms generally appear two to five days after the exposure.<\/p>\n

How is campylobacteriosis diagnosed?<\/h2>\n

Campylobacteriosis is diagnosed when a laboratory test detects Campylobacter<\/em> bacteria in stools, body tissue, or body fluids.<\/p>\n

What is the treatment for campylobacteriosis?<\/h2>\n

Most people with a Campylobacter<\/em> infection will recover without treatment. People with diarrhea should drink plenty of fluids. Antibiotics are sometimes used to treat the very ill or those at high risk for severe disease. Your doctor will decide whether antibiotics are necessary.<\/p>\n

Should people who have been in contact with someone with campylobacteriosis be tested and treated?<\/h2>\n

Person-to-person spread of campylobacteriosis is uncommon. People who have been in contact with someone with campylobacteriosis do not need to be tested and treated, but they can watch out for potential diarrheal illness.<\/p>\n

How can campylobacteriosis be prevented?<\/h2>\n