The Mercy Family Health Line is reporting an increase in call volume of patients who have diarrhea and abdominal pain issues.
Health officials say hand washing is the best preventative measure you can take.
To treat it, get plenty of fluids. Water is best, and keep the diet bland.
Nurses with mercy also say Campylobacter infection is causing people troubles right now.
The infectious disease is caused by a bacterium and is one of the most common causes of diarrhea in the U.S.
Most cases are associated with handling raw poultry or eating raw or undercooked poultry meat.
Here's more information to check out:
Symptoms being reported are: frequent, watery diarrhea; abdominal cramping and fatigue.
Preventative Measures
- Hand washing! This is the number one preventative measure to stop the spread of illness!
- Get plenty of fluids (avoid fruit juices and dairy products)
- Gator-ade, Sprite and 7-Up are great choices (water is best)
- If you are finding it difficult to drink fluids, start with pieces of popsicle or ice chips and work up to sips of liquid
- Keep the diet BLAND! We recommend the BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. It is best to consume a high carbohydrate diet when dealing with diarrhea symptoms (things like white bread, mashed potatoes and crackers are digested more easily).
See your physician if:
- You develop signs and symptoms of dehydration (such as no urine output in 8 hours, rapid pulse or very dry lips and mouth)
- If diarrhea persists longer than 48 hours with appropriate home treatment
- If you develop fever
- If any blood is present in the diarrhea
Call Mercy Family Health Line at 641-422-7777 or 1-800-468-0050 for further discussion with a nurse.
What is campylobacter?
Campylobacter is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Campylobacter. It is one of the most common causes of diarrhea in the United States, and occurs much more frequently in the summer months than in the winter. What are the symptoms caused by campylobacter?
Most people who become ill with campylobacter get diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever within two to five days after exposure to the organism. This illness generally lasts for approximately one week. The diarrhea may be bloody and can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. In people with compromised immune systems, campylobacter occasionally spreads to the blood stream and can cause a serious life-threatening infection. While some infected people have no symptoms, it has been estimated that approximately 124 persons with campylobacter infections die each year, from complications related to the disease.
How is campylobacter contracted?
Most cases of campylobacter are associated with handling raw poultry or eating raw or undercooked poultry meat. Campylobacter can also be transmitted via a cutting board or countertop where raw meat has been prepared, prior to using the same surface to prepare other food.
Larger outbreaks due to campylobacter can be associated with drinking unpasteurized milk or contaminated water. This type of outbreak generally would occur in a developing country.
How is campylobacter infection diagnosed?
Diagnosis of campylobacter infection requires a special laboratory stool culture, which can be ordered by a physician.
How is campylobacter treated?
Almost all cases recover without any specific treatment. People infected should drink extra fluids as long as the diarrhea lasts. In more severe cases, the infected person’s physician may order antibiotics.
What can be done to prevent campylobacter infection?
Cook all poultry products thoroughly. Make sure that the meat is cooked throughout (no longer pink) and any juices run clear. All poultry should be cooked to reach a minimum internal temperature of 170 degrees F / 77 degrees C.
If you are served undercooked poultry in a restaurant, send it back.
Do not allow children to handle meat products while shopping in a grocery store, or otherwise.
Wash your hands thoroughly, with soap and water, after handling meat products.
Utilize a specified “meat cutting board” when cutting raw meat, and wash thoroughly with hot soapy water after use. It is recommended to use a different cutting board for vegetables or other food products than the one that is used to prepare meat.
Refrain from drinking unpasteurized milk or contaminated water, like surface water or mountain streams.
This infection is common in the developing world and travelers to foreign countries are at risk for becoming infected with campylobacter.
