Listeria bloody diarrhea
Home / Health Library / Disease & Conditions Listeria Infection/ListeriosisListeria infection/listeriosis can be a potentially dangerous illness caused by a bacteria found in food not properly prepared or stored. Listeriosis can cause fever, chills, nausea, headache and diarrhea.
OverviewWhat is Listeria infection (listeriosis)? Show
Listeria infection, or listeriosis, is a type of foodborne illness that can make some people very sick. Symptoms include fever and chills, headache, upset stomach, diarrhea and vomiting. While anyone can get it, people who are most at risk of becoming very ill or even dying from listeriosis are pregnant women, their unborn babies, older adults, and people who have a weakened immune system. A weakened immune system may be the result of another condition (like AIDS or cancer) or a medication they are taking. About 1,600 people get listeriosis in the United States each year. Symptoms and CausesWhat are the causes and symptoms of Listeria/listeriosis?Listeriosis is caused by Listeria monocytogenes, bacteria that is found in soil and water. It can be found in a variety of raw foods as well as in processed foods and foods made from unpasteurized milk. While these are high risk foods, Listeriosis has been associated with virtually every food category when the food is not properly handled and prepared. One thing that makes Listeria different from other foodborne illnesses is that it can grow even in a refrigerator.
Call your healthcare provider if you or your child experiences these symptoms. Diagnosis and TestsWhen should a doctor be called and how is Listeria/listeriosis diagnosed?Sometimes listeriosis is misdiagnosed, as it can have many of the same symptoms as other conditions. A definite diagnosis requires sending a sample of blood or spinal fluid to a lab for testing. If you learn that a food you have recently eaten has been recalled due to Listeria infection, especially if you are having any of the symptoms of listeriosis, you should tell your healthcare provider about it right away, so he or she can decide whether to order lab testing. Management and TreatmentHow is Listeria/listeriosis treated?Some people with mild symptoms of listeriosis might not need to be treated at all. For those who do need to be treated (especially pregnant women), antibiotics are used. Patients may also be given medication to manage symptoms such as nausea and vomiting if needed. PreventionHow is Listeria/listeriosis prevented?Taking care with what you eat and how you store and prepare food, especially during pregnancy, can help reduce your risk of contracting listeriosis. (Pregnant women are 20 times more likely to contract listeriosis than other people.) Here are tips on how you can decrease your chance of contracting listeriosis:
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