Updated: May 21, 2026
What is Campylobacteriosis?
Campylobacteriosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Campylobacter. The CDC recognizes Campylobacter as being responsible for the most diarrheal illnesses attributable to bacteria in the United States, and estimates that 1.5 million people in the United States get ill from Campylobacter every year. In South Carolina, an average of 549 cases are reported annually; however, this number appears to be gradually increasing.
What are the symptoms?
Most people who become ill with campylobacteriosis get diarrhea (that can be bloody), cramping, abdominal pain, and fever within 2 to 5 days after exposure to the organism. The illness typically lasts 7 days, but occasionally symptoms persist for as long as 10 days. Some persons who are infected with Campylobacter don't have any symptoms at all.
Rarely, Campylobacter infection results in long-term consequences. Some people develop conditions like arthritis or irritable bowel syndrome. Others may develop a rare disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome that affects the nerves of the body beginning several weeks after the diarrheal illness. This occurs when a person's immune system is "triggered" to attack the body's own nerves resulting in paralysis that lasts several weeks.
How is Campylobacter treated?
Almost all persons infected with Campylobacter recover without any specific treatment. It is advised that patients drink extra fluids as long as the diarrhea lasts. Additionally, it might be advisable for patients to eat a bland diet. Antibiotics are sometimes used to treat severe illness caused by Campylobacter infection and may even be used to treat Campylobacter infection in people at risk for severe illness.
How do people catch this disease?
Campylobacteriosis usually occurs in single, sporadic cases, but it can also be responsible for outbreaks, when a number of people become ill at one time from a specific source. Campylobacter only requires a small amount of bacteria to make someone sick. For example, a single drop of juice from raw chicken can contain enough Campylobacter to cause an infection.
Common Ways People Get Infected Include
- Eating raw or undercooked poultry, seafood, meat, or produce
- Preparing raw or lightly cooked foods, such as salad and fruits, with knives or cutting boards that have been used for raw poultry, seafood, or meat
- Handling animals or their food, water, feces, belongings (like toys and bowls), or living spaces (such as beds, cages, tanks, coops, stalls, and barns)
- Drinking untreated water
Outbreaks of Campylobacter are usually associated with unpasteurized milk or contaminated water.
People at Risk
Campylobacter can cause infection in anyone, but certain groups are at higher risk for infection or severe illness. These groups include:
- Children under 5
- Adults aged 65 and older
- People with weakened immune systems
- Individuals who work with animals
- International travelers
What can be done to stop the spread of this disease?
- Be sure to cook all poultry so that the meat is no longer pink and any juices run clear. If you are served undercooked poultry in a restaurant, send it back to be cooked completely.
- You should wash your hands with soap before and after handling raw meats. Prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen by using separate cutting boards for foods of animal origin and other foods. Be sure to clean all cutting boards, countertops and utensils with soap and hot water after preparing meat.
- Don't drink unpasteurized milk or untreated water.
- Make sure that persons with diarrhea, especially children, wash their hands carefully and frequently with soap to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
- Wash hands with soap after having contact with pet feces.