Introduction:
Campylobacter is the most common type of intestinal infection. In addition, it is the most common intestinal infection infecting humans. Some people call it an intestinal infection, food poisoning, or diarrhea. The common symptoms of the conditions are fever, vomiting, stomach cramping, pain, or dysentery. Enteritis is a stomach infection caused due to Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli. Campylobacter species are comma or s-shaped rods, gram-negative, and cause zoonotic diseases. The bacteria can be transmitted through the fecal-oral route, direct contact, or contaminated food and water ingested. Skirrow introduced campylobacter enteritis in 1977. It is the most common cause of diarrhea. Some infections may heal on their own, and some need antibiotic treatment. More than one million people are infected with the bacteria in the United States yearly. Around 25 cases are diagnosed each year for every 100000 people. Some patients are undiagnosed, and some are not reported. There is a high incidence rate of bacterial infection in children and adults in developing countries. It is a seasonal infection; most cases are reported in warmer climates. The article discusses bacteria, its causes, pathophysiology, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
What Are the Causes of Campylobacter Enteritis Infection?
The fecal-oral route, person-to-person contact, or through contaminated food and water can transmit the Campylobacter enteritis infection. The infection is caused by Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter coli. People may get an infection after eating food and water contaminated with Campylobacter bacteria. Raw or undercooked food can lead to an infection. Meat, seafood, and unsterilized dairy products are the typical food that may have Campylobacter bacteria. People may also get an infection by touching the stool of an infected animal, like a cat, dog, or pig.
What Are the Risk Factors of Campylobacter Enteritis Infection?
The infection affects all ages, but children and older people are at higher risk. Other risk factors are as follows:
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People with weakened immune systems are easily infected. The weakened immune system may be due to cancer treatment; smoking and drinking alcohol increases the risk of infection.
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Water supplies contaminated with bacteria increase the risk.
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People with occupational exposures, like poultry farming in abattoirs and handling pet dogs and cats, may quickly get infected.
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Exposure to the bacteria is more frequent during traveling; so-called traveler's diarrhea usually occurs in South East Asia.
What Is the Mode of Transmission of Campylobacter Enteritis?
The typical route of transmission is fecal-oral or person-to-person contact transmission. As it is a zoonotic disease, the infection can be transmitted from animals to animal products and humans. People get infected by ingesting unpasteurized dairy products like milk and contaminated drinking water. Contact with unclean livestock, poultry, and domestic pets as dogs, can also cause an infection. However, animals eaten as meat are the primary source of the condition. The disease outbreaks occur in institutions and nurseries. In addition, people with poor personal hygiene may have person-to-person contact transmission. Campylobacter species are more delicate to hydrochloric acid in the stomach; acid reduction treatment can limit the infection.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Campylobacter Enteritis?
The incubation period of the condition is two to five days. It is an intestinal infection that causes food poisoning and stomach- flu symptoms. Some people may remain asymptomatic. However, people will start feeling symptoms from one to seven days after infection. The symptoms are as follows:
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There may be fever, illness, myalgia, and headache lasting up to twenty-four hours. The high or low fever may persist for a week.
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There may be abdominal pain or cramps with profuse diarrhea with ten stools per day. The stools may be watery or bloody.
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There may be nausea and vomiting.
How Can Campylobacter Enteritis Be Diagnosed?
The person with Campylobacter enteritis will look ill. The healthcare provider may check the high or low fever and localized abdomen tenderness with pain. The infection may be diagnosed with a stool test. The doctor may ask the patient for the stool sample and send it to the laboratory. The presence of leukocytes in the stool may indicate inflammatory diarrhea. The doctor may prescribe blood tests for the patient with bloody diarrhea and rare, life-threatening infections.
How Can Campylobacter Enteritis Be Managed?
Most people recover from Campylobacter enteritis infection without medications and specific treatment. However, the doctor may prescribe rehydration and antibiotic therapy for severe illness.
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Rehydration: The doctor may prescribe oral rehydration in case of severe diarrhea. In extreme cases, intravenous fluids are recommended.
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Antibiotic Treatment: Antibiotic treatment depends on the infection's severity. The doctor may prescribe antibiotic therapy in case of high fever, compromised immune system, and severe diarrhea. The medications include Erythromycin in children and Tetracycline in adults. Erythromycin will eliminate the Campylobacter bacteria from the stool. Clarithromycin 250 to 500 mg twice daily for five to seven days may be recommended. In case of intestinal perforation and prolonged illness, Loperamide may be prescribed by the healthcare provider.
How Can Campylobacter Enteritis Be Prevented?
The preventive measures that limit the transmission of the infection are as follows:
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Proper hand washing before and after handling the food.
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People should not share their towels.
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Food should be properly cooked and served.
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People should consume sterilized and pasteurized dairy products.
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Wash the vegetables and fruits regularly.
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Maintenance of personal hygiene.
What Are the Complications of Campylobacter Enteritis?
Most Campylobacter enteritis infections are treated, and symptoms resolve within a week. However, in some people, it may cause severe complications, including severe joint inflammation, painful condition on the leg's skin, a fatty layer known as erythema nodosum, and the immune system attacking the body's nerves, leading to pain and weakness. The condition is known as Guillain-Barre-Syndrome. In addition, around 15 percent of the patients may suffer from irritable bowel syndrome. Pregnant women are at high risk of dehydration.
Conclusion:
Campylobacter enteritis is a bacterial intestinal infection in humans. The disease can be transmitted through handling domestic pets and contaminated food and water. However, the primary source of infection is unpasteurized dairy products. Children, old age, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk. The symptoms are fever, abdominal cramps, and watery or bloody diarrhea. Some Campylobacter enteritis infections are resolved by themselves, and some need rehydration and antibiotic treatment. The healthcare provider may recommend intravenous fluids in case of severe diarrhea. People must adopt preventive measures to prevent further complications.
