Imagine that you've just had a good meal and suddenly feel sick to your stomach and have to run to the bathroom. Many of us have had this experience, right? We usually call it "food poisoning." Campylobacter is one of the main bacteria that causes stomach upset. Although this is a very common occurrence, it's important to be aware of it.
Simply put, what is this Campylobacter infection?
This is also a stomach infection. To be precise, this condition occurs when a type of bacteria called `(Campylobacter)` enters your body. Most often, it is transmitted to us through the food or drink we eat. When this occurs, it mainly shows symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting, and fever.
Although many people call this "food poisoning," this bacteria can also be spread in other ways. For example, it can be spread by touching an infected animal. But the best thing is that most people get better within five to seven days without any special treatment. The most important thing to do is to get plenty of rest at home and drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration .
What are the symptoms of this infection?
Symptoms start to appear two to five days after you are exposed to this bacteria. Symptoms usually last about a week.
| Main symptoms |
|---|
| Diarrhea: Sometimes there may be blood in the stool. This may be the only symptom that a young baby has. |
| Stomach cramps and pain: You may feel a strange pain in your stomach. |
| Fever: The body may become hot and feverish. |
| Nausea and vomiting: Feeling like vomiting and vomiting. |
Be especially careful about dehydration!
The most dangerous thing that can happen with stomach problems like this is dehydration, which means a lack of water in the body. This is especially dangerous for young children.
| Age group | Symptoms of dehydration |
|---|---|
| Young children and adults |
|
| Babies and young children |
How do we get this disease?
The cause of this disease is a bacteria called `(Campylobacter)`. This is not a virus, but a bacterial infection . Although there are more than 20 species of this bacterial family, the main one that makes us sick is `(Campylobacter jejuni).`
This bacteria often enters our bodies through contaminated food and water.
- Drinking unpasteurized milk: This is what we call "raw milk." This bacteria can get into the milk if the cow has an infection in the udder or if even a small amount of feces gets into the milk during milking.
- Eating undercooked poultry: This bacteria will not be killed if meats like chicken, duck, and turkey are not cooked properly.
- Drinking untreated water: This bacteria can be found in untreated water from dirty wells or streams.
Additionally, although less common, it can also be transmitted through these methods:
- Preparing another dish (e.g., a salad) in a place where raw chicken was or where water from that meat has fallen.
- Undercooked meat or seafood.
- Contact with feces of infected animals (including pets).
The most important thing is that even a drop of water from raw chicken can be enough to make you sick. So you need to be very careful in the kitchen.
Is this contagious from person to person?
Yes, it can be transmitted. This bacteria is in your feces. So if you don't wash your hands with soap and water after going to the bathroom, you can pass it on to someone else. The bacteria can get on things you touch, and then someone else can get it from their hands to their mouth. But it's not as common as it is from things like raw meat.
If you have a stomach ache, consult your doctor about going to school or work. It is best to stay home until your symptoms are completely gone, especially if you work in a food preparation or healthcare setting.
Are there any complications? What are the dangerous situations?
Most people recover from this without any complications, but some may experience long-term effects.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Reactive Arthritis
- The very rare Guillain-Barré syndrome
If someone with a weakened immune system develops this infection, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause a dangerous condition called sepsis.
| Situations that require emergency medical treatment (Sepsis symptoms) | |
|---|---|
| Symptom | What to do |
| If you have one or more of these symptoms, it is a medical emergency. Go to a hospital's ETU (Emergency Treatment Unit) immediately. |
How does the doctor diagnose and treat this?
A doctor can usually make an opinion about this just by listening to your symptoms. If you want to be sure, a stool test can detect the presence of this bacteria.
As for treatment, as I said before, most people don't need any special medication. You just have to wait until it heals on its own. During that time:
- Drink plenty of fluids: things like water, porridge, soup, and orange juice are good.
- Replenish salts and minerals: Drinking things like Jeevani is very important to replenish the things that have been lost from the body due to diarrhea.
However, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics for people in certain risk groups.
- People over 65 years of age
- Pregnant mothers
- People with weakened immune systems (e.g. cancer patients, HIV infected people)
Only your doctor can decide whether you need antibiotics or not. Don't take medication on your own.
How can I protect myself from this disease?
While we can't be 100% sure of getting rid of these infections, we can greatly reduce our risk. Incorporating these simple habits into your life will go a long way in protecting yourself and your family.
| Protection method | Description and importance |
|---|---|
| Be careful in the kitchen. | Use separate cutting boards and knives for raw meat (especially poultry). Wash everything and your hands thoroughly after preparing meat. Don't let water from raw meat spill onto other foods. |
| Cook meat and fish well. | Cooking to the proper temperature kills bacteria. If the meat is pink inside, it's not fully cooked yet. |
| Choose pasteurized milk. | When buying milk, yogurt, and cheese from the store, look for the label that says "Pasteurized." Avoid drinking raw milk. |
| Drink clean water. | If you have any doubts about the purity of the water, drink water that has been thoroughly boiled. |
| Wash your hands often. | Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, such as before eating, after using the toilet, after handling raw meat, after changing a child's diaper, and after touching animals. |
Take-Home Message
- Campylobacter is a common bacterial infection that is transmitted through food. It is the cause of most of what we call "food poisoning".
- The main symptoms are diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever.
- The most dangerous thing that can happen is dehydration, so it's essential to drink plenty of fluids.
- It usually heals within 5-7 days without any special medication.
- Practicing food safety (cooking thoroughly, washing hands) can go a long way in protecting against this infection.
- If your symptoms last more than a week, if you have blood in your stool, if you have a high fever, or if you belong to a risk group, be sure to see a doctor.
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