Got a stomach ache? It could be a Campylobacter infection!

After eating and drinking well the day before, when you wake up the next morning, your stomach feels like it's being thrown up, and you're on the toilet all day... We're all familiar with this experience, right? Although we call it 'food poisoning', most of the time it's caused by a small bacteria called Campylobacter . This is actually a very common cause of stomach upset. So today, let's talk about this Campylobacter infection, how it develops, what are the symptoms, and most importantly, how can we protect ourselves from it.

What exactly are the symptoms of a Campylobacter infection?

Symptoms usually begin to appear within two to five days after exposure to the Campylobacter bacteria. These symptoms can last for about a week.

These are the commonly seen symptoms:

• Diarrhea: This is the main symptom. Sometimes there may be a little blood in the stool. Younger babies may have diarrhea alone without any other symptoms.
• Stomach ache and nausea: Severe stomach pain may occur.
• Fever: The body becomes hot and feverish.
• Vomiting and nausea: Vomiting may be accompanied by an aversion to eating and drinking.

How do we get this disease?

Simply put, Campylobacter bacteria enter our bodies through the food or drink we eat. This bacteria usually lives in the intestines of birds like chickens and turkeys, and animals like cattle. So there are a few main ways that this bacteria can infect us.

Main ways of transmission:

• Undercooked meat, especially chicken: This is the main cause of Campylobacter infections. Imagine you are having a BBQ at home. Even though the chicken pieces may look cooked on the outside, if they are not cooked well inside, the bacteria on them will not be killed. If you eat such a piece of chicken, you can get sick.
• Unpasteurized milk: Drinking raw milk straight from a farm can lead to this bacteria. Pasteurization is a process used to kill harmful bacteria in milk. Therefore, milk labeled "pasteurized" is safe to drink.
• Dirty water: This bacteria can also enter the body by drinking water from untreated wells, rivers, or streams.

Other less common but potentially contagious ways:

• Cross-contamination: This can happen a lot in the kitchen. Imagine using the same cutting board and knife you used to cut raw chicken and then cutting vegetables to make a salad without washing them. Then the bacteria from the raw meat can transfer to the vegetables and make you sick.
• Other undercooked meat or seafood.
• Contact with feces of infected animals: Pets like dogs and cats can also carry this infection. If you touch their feces or touch an area contaminated by them, you can become infected if you don't wash your hands properly.

Is this a virus? Is it a bacteria?

This is a problem that many people have. Campylobacter is not a virus, it is a bacterial infection. Stomach upset can be caused by both viruses (stomach flu) and bacteria. Although the symptoms are similar, the cause is different. The main bacterial species that causes this is *Campylobacter jejuni*.

Is this contagious from person to person?

Yes, it can be spread from person to person, but it's not as common as foodborne transmission. The bacteria are present in the stool of an infected person. So if you don't wash your hands thoroughly after going to the bathroom, you can pass the bacteria on to someone else through things you touch (doorknobs, taps).

Therefore, if you or someone in your family has a stomach ache like this, it is imperative to wash your hands thoroughly with soap after using the toilet.

Usually, once the diarrhea has stopped and your stools have returned to normal, you can return to work or school. However, if you work in a food service environment, such as a hotel or restaurant, or if you work in a healthcare setting, such as a hospital, it is best to stay home until your symptoms are completely gone. Consult your doctor about this.

Are there any cases where this could be serious? (Complications)

Most people recover from this disease without any complications. However, very rarely, some people may develop complications.

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): After the infection clears up, some people may experience changes in bowel function, such as stomach pain and bloating.
• Reactive Arthritis: The body's immune system attacks the joints in response to infection, causing joint swelling and pain.
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome: This is a very rare condition in which the immune system damages the nerves.

In people with weakened immune systems (e.g., cancer patients, HIV-infected people), this bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause a dangerous condition called sepsis .

How does the doctor diagnose this? What is the treatment?

After listening to your symptoms, if your doctor suspects that you have a Campylobacter infection, they will order a stool test to confirm the diagnosis. It will be sent to a lab to check for the presence of the bacteria.

Most of the time, this infection does not require any special treatment. It will get better on its own within a week or so. The most important thing we need to do is prevent dehydration.

• Drink plenty of fluids like water, porridge, soup, orange juice, and juice.
• Rest well.

However, for people in certain risk groups, the doctor may decide to prescribe antibiotics.

• People over 65 years of age.
• Pregnant mothers.
• People with weak immune systems (e.g. cancer patients).

How can you avoid this disease? (Prevention)

While it's impossible to prevent 100% of infections like these, there are some simple things that can greatly reduce our risk. If you make these habits a habit, you can protect yourself and your family.

If you have a pet...

Pets like dogs and cats in our homes can sometimes be carriers of Campylobacter bacteria. Therefore, take care of these things to prevent them from spreading the disease.

• Wash your hands after touching your pet.
• Wash your hands after touching their food, water bowls, and toys.
• Be sure to wash your hands with soap after cleaning up their feces and urine.