Campylobacter is Now the Most Common Cause of Food Poisoning in the United States

 Posted on April 29, 2017 in Food borne illness

Salmonella was once the most common cause of food poisoning in the United States. It has recently been dethroned by Campylobacter, a parasite frequently found in unpasteurized dairy products and chicken. According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Salmonella reigned for 20 years as the most common food poisoning cause in the nation. The report also noted other common causes of food poisoning, such as Listeria and E.Coli. It reported that overall, there has not been a change to the number of food poisoning cases reported in the United States and that there has been a decrease in Salmonella cases because of tighter regulations on the food industry and new vaccination requirements for chickens.

Foods that Harbor Campylobacter

The most common way for humans to become ill with Campylobacteriosis is to consume contaminated chicken. Campylobacter can be found in many types of meat, including pork and beef. It can also be transmitted through the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products, specifically raw milk and products made with raw milk. It can also be transmitted through drinking water supplies.

Campylobacter can also be transmitted from person to person through sexual contact and contact with a contaminated person's feces.

Symptoms of Campylobacteriosis

Campylobacteriosis, the name of the illness caused by campylobacter infection, has the following symptoms:

• Diarrhea, which can be watery or even bloody;
• Nausea;
• Fatigue;
• Vomiting;
• Fever; and
• Abdominal pain.

Typically, these symptoms last about a week. They generally appear within two to four days of coming into contact with the bacteria.

Treating Campylobacteriosis

Campylobacteriosis is diagnosed using a stool sample from the patient. Like other types of food poisoning, campylobacteriosis typically resolves itself without the need for additional medical care. Generally, patients recover within two to five days, but may take up to 10 days to recover completely. Patients should keep themselves appropriately hydrated while they experience the symptoms of campylobacteriosis because vomiting and diarrhea can deplete an individual's fluid levels, putting them at risk of dehydration.

It is rare for campylobacteriosis to have long-term complications for a patient, but this can happen. In individuals with weakened immune systems, the infection can spread to the heart or brain. Victims can also develop deep vein thrombosis, reactive arthritis, and Guillain-Barre syndrome, a nerve condition that can lead to paralysis.

Work with an Experienced Elk Grove Food Poisoning Attorney

If you are suffering from the financial effects of a case of food poisoning because of another party's negligence, you have the right to file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for these damages. To learn more about this right and how you can file and pursue such a claim, contact our team of experienced food poisoning lawyers at Newland & Newland, LLP today to schedule your initial consultation in our office. We serve clients in the Arlington Heights, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Libertyville, Mundelein, Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg, Elk Grove, and Itasca areas.

(image courtesy of Jenny Hill)