If you, or your child, has a stomach upset, it could be a campylobacter infection. Here's what you need to know about this bacterial illness.
What causes campylobacter infections?
Campylobacter infection is caused by a bacteria found in poo. These bacteria can be found in poultry and cattle, unpasteurised milk, and can be spread from person to person. Puppies, kittens, and contaminated water can also transmit the bacteria that cause campylobacter infections.
Are campylobacter infections serious?
Most campylobacter infections are not serious and go away without treatment in a few days. Many people never even know their child has a campylobacter infection at all and believe their child just has an upset tummy.
Rarely, campylobacter infections can be a precursor for Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a serious condition that results in paralysis.
Can I prevent campylobacter infections?
Most bacterial infections, including campylobacter infections can be prevented by teaching kids good personal hygiene. Teach kids to wash their hands often. Also, washing your own hands whenever preparing food, especially meats (which should be cooked well), and washing hands thoroughly after handling pets, after gardening, and after changing nappies will assist in protecting your family against campylobacter infections.
Campylobacter infections are contagious and can be easily spread by hand to hand contact. Kids are considered infectious for up to ten days before showing symptoms and for two to three weeks after the illness has run its course.
How do I know if my child has a campylobacter infection?
Symptoms of a campylobacter infections include:
- Diarrhoea, sometimes bloody diarrhoea
- Nausea and stomach cramps
- Children may or may not experience vomiting
How do I treat a campylobacter infection?
When your child has a campylobacter infection, it is important to make sure that she gets plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Make sure that children who are breastfeeding get extra fluids between feeds. Avoid giving anti-diarrhoeal medications unless your doctor advises you to do so. Your doctor may advise paracetamol for fever. Keep your child at home until about two days after the diarrhoea has disappeared. Most campylobacter infections clear up on their own in a few days and rarely need antibiotic treatment.
Should I call the doctor?
Call the doctor if any of the following occurs:
- Your child is less than a year old.
- Your child appears dehydrated.
- Your child's diarrhoea is bloody.
What you need to know about campylobacter infections
- A campylobacter infection is a bacterial infection.
- Most campylobacter infections clear up on their own in a few days and rarely require antibiotic treatment.
- Campylobacter infections are caused by contact with fecal matter, infected poultry and cattle, unpasteurized milk, pets, and other infected persons.
- Good hand washing can help prevent the transmission of campylobacter infections.
Written by Rebecca Stigall for Kidspot, Australia's parenting resource for family health. Sources include Better Health Channel, NSW Health and Health Insite.