By eating contaminated or undercooked poultry or meat, or drinking raw milk or contaminated water, may cause Campylobacter infection, campylobacteriosis. Symptoms of campylobacteriosis usually occur within two to 10 days of ingesting the bacteria. Children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. The most common symptoms include mild to severe diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Most people infected with Campylobacter can get well on their own without treatment, through antibiotics may be prescribed for severe cases.
Complications can occur, such as urinary tract infections or meningitis.
The bacteria also is now recognized as a major contributing factor to Guillian-Barre syndrome, the most common cause of acute paralysis in both children and adults. Campylobacter is not the only thing that triggers Guillian-Barre syndrome, but it is now recognized as one of the disorder's major forerunners. Guillian-Barre, which also may follow a viral illness, is an autoimmune attack on the peripheral nerves that may cause weakness and paralysis. A team of Navy, Army, and drug industry researchers are moving ahead in the development of a prototype vaccine for Campylobacter. The vaccine has shown promise in animal models and currently is undergoing clinical trials.