Read condition-specific symptoms and clinical context for Campylobacter jejuni. A spiral gut pathogen and one of the most common causes of diarrheal illness, often traced to poultry.
C. jejuni is a common cause of diarrheal illness, called campylobacteriosis. CDC estimates that nearly 1.9 million people in the United States get ill from Campylobacter every year and notes that a single drop of juice from raw chicken can contain enough bacteria to cause infection. PHAC describes spiral, S-shaped cells that move with a corkscrew-like motion using a polar flagellum, grow best at 42 degrees Celsius and need a microaerobic atmosphere. A large number of infections are asymptomatic or mild, and most people who do become ill recover within a week.
CDC states that symptoms usually start 2 to 5 days after swallowing Campylobacter and usually end within 7 days.
Possible symptoms: Diarrhea that can be bloody; Fever; Stomach cramps; Nausea or vomiting.
CDC states that most people fully recover within 7 days, and lists irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis and Guillain-Barré syndrome among complications. Bloody diarrhea or symptoms lasting beyond a week warrant medical assessment.
Infection can be present without illness, and mild or silent infection is common in some settings.
PHAC states that a large number of Campylobacter infections are asymptomatic and mild, and that asymptomatic cases in adults and children are common in developing regions. None of the symptoms listed above apply to this state.
Asymptomatic infection is not treated as illness. Clinical context and laboratory testing distinguish the two.
Source check: 2026-09-19. Educational content; independent scientific review remains pending.