Campylobacter enteritis

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Campylobacter jejuni organism

Digestive system

Digestive system organs

Food poisoning - campylobacter enteritis; Infectious diarrhea - campylobacter enteritis; Bacterial diarrhea

The infection typically goes away on its own and is not usually treated with antibiotics. Severe symptoms may respond to treatment with antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and azithromycin.

Self-care measures to avoid dehydration include drinking electrolyte solutions to replace the fluids lost by diarrhea. People with diarrhea, especially children, who are unable to take fluids by mouth because of nausea, may need medical attention and intravenous fluids.

People taking diuretics ("water pills") need to be cautious with diarrhea and may need to stop taking the medicine during the acute episode, if directed by the health care provider.

Most people recover in 5-8 days.

Immunosuppressed people with this condition are more vulnerable to sepsis , endocarditis , meningitis , and thrombophlebitis from the spread of the bacteria into their bloodstream.

Some patients will get a form of arthritis called Reiter's syndrome after a Campylobacter enteritis infection.

About 1 in 1,000 patients with campylobacter enteritis develop a nerve problem that results in paralysis, called Guillain-Barre syndrome. Paralysis associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome is usually temporary.

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if diarrhea recurs or persists for more than a week, or if blood in the stool is noted.

Review Date: 10/13/2006
Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.