Medical expert of the article
New publications
Symptoms of campylobacteriosis
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
The incubation period of campylobacteriosis lasts from 6 hours to 11 (usually 1-2) days. In approximately 30-50% of patients, the development of characteristic clinical manifestations of the disease may be preceded by a febrile prodromal period lasting up to 3 days. Typical symptoms of campylobacteriosis during this period are general weakness, arthralgia, headache, chills. Body temperature most often remains within the range of 38-40 °C. The disease may begin acutely, with the simultaneous development of all symptoms. Patients complain of nausea, pain in the epigastric region, and often vomiting. The stool is profuse, liquid, foamy, in 20% of patients with an admixture of mucus and blood. Signs of dehydration may appear (dry skin and mucous membranes, oliguria, short-term convulsions are observed in some patients).
The symptoms of campylobacteriosis are varied. This is due to the variety of forms of the disease - from asymptomatic bacterial excretion to generalized infection. Most often, campylobacteriosis is an acute diarrheal disease, which can take the form of acute gastritis, gastroenteritis, gastroenterocolitis, enterocolitis and colitis. The last two forms are noted in the vast majority of patients in Europe, North America and Japan.
The generalized (septic) form is more often observed in children of the first 5 months of life and in individuals with immunodeficiency. Campylobacteriosis is characterized by bacteremia, high fever with a large daily difference in body temperature, multiple organ lesions. Vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and liver enlargement are often observed. Against this background, pneumonia, endocarditis, peritonitis, liver abscesses, brain abscesses, and meningitis may develop. It is possible to develop ISS and thrombohemorrhagic syndrome.
Subclinical (inapparent, i.e. when symptoms of campylobacteriosis are absent) form of campylobacteriosis in the focus is usually diagnosed during examination of healthy people. The isolation of pathogens from feces and the increase in the titer of specific antibodies in the blood serum of patients are observed.
Chronic forms of campylobacteriosis are rare. This form of the disease is characterized by prolonged subfebrile temperature, weakness, irritability, poor appetite, sleep disturbances, weight loss. Sometimes nausea, vomiting, short-term softening of the stool, alternating with constipation, appear. Conjunctivitis, keratitis, sometimes pharyngitis (less often arthritis, thrombophlebitis, endocarditis, pericarditis, pleural empyema) are possible. In women, vaginitis, vulvovaginitis, endocervicitis are observed.
[