Campylobacter enteritis is a common bacterial gut infection, usually from undercooked poultry, unpasteurized milk or contaminated water. It causes diarrhea that is often bloody with strong cramps, and most people recover in about a week.
Key symptoms
- Diarrhea, often bloody
- Cramping abdominal pain, sometimes severe enough to mimic appendicitis
- Fever, headache and muscle aches
- Nausea, sometimes vomiting
- Recent undercooked chicken, raw milk or contact with farm animals
What you find on exam
- Hydration: dry mouth, fast pulse, low blood pressure
- Abdominal tenderness, often in the right lower quadrant
- Temperature
- Joint swelling or leg weakness weeks later (complications)
Tests
- Stool culture or multiplex PCR panel
- Blood count and electrolytes if dehydrated
- Kidney function in severe illness
- Blood cultures if very sick or immunocompromised
Treatment basics
- Oral rehydration; IV fluids for severe dehydration
- Most cases get better without antibiotics
- Azithromycin for severe illness, high fever, pregnancy or weak immunity
- Fluoroquinolones are not first choice because of resistance; no antimotility drugs with bloody diarrhea
- Hand hygiene and safe food handling
Red flags
- Signs of severe dehydration or sepsis
- Rising leg weakness weeks later: Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Severe abdominal pain or persistent high fever
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Sources: NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint; NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations; CDC, Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings. Written by Making Synapses. Making Synapses is not affiliated with these organizations.