When you get sick after eating undercooked chicken or drinking raw milk, it’s often not just bad luck—it could be a Campylobacter infection, a bacterial illness caused by Campylobacter jejuni or other species that live in the intestines of birds and animals. Also known as bacterial gastroenteritis, it’s one of the most common causes of diarrhea worldwide, affecting millions every year. Unlike viral stomach bugs, this one comes from real, measurable contamination—usually in undercooked meat, unpasteurized dairy, or water touched by infected animals.
Most people get infected after handling or eating poultry that wasn’t cooked enough. You don’t even need to eat it raw—cross-contamination from cutting boards, knives, or hands after touching raw chicken is a major culprit. Kids under five and older adults are more likely to get seriously ill, but healthy adults can end up bedridden for days. Symptoms usually show up 2 to 5 days after exposure: watery or bloody diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. It’s not usually deadly, but it can lead to complications like reactive arthritis or, in rare cases, Guillain-Barré syndrome—a nerve condition that can cause paralysis.
What’s interesting is that most cases don’t need antibiotics. Your body clears the infection on its own in about a week. The real focus should be on hydration and avoiding dehydration, especially in kids and seniors. Replacing lost fluids with water, broths, or oral rehydration solutions matters more than popping pills. Antibiotics like azithromycin are only used in severe cases or for people with weakened immune systems. And here’s the thing: you can’t just blame the food. Poor kitchen hygiene—like washing chicken before cooking (which spreads bacteria) or not sanitizing surfaces—is just as dangerous.
Prevention isn’t complicated. Cook poultry to 165°F, use separate cutting boards for meat and veggies, wash hands after handling raw food, and skip raw milk. If you’re traveling, drink bottled water and avoid street food that looks suspicious. The infection doesn’t stick around long in the environment, but it spreads fast in homes and restaurants where people cut corners.
Below, you’ll find real, practical guides on how this infection connects to other health topics—like antibiotic use, gut health, and how certain medications might affect recovery. Whether you’re dealing with symptoms now or just want to avoid getting sick, these posts give you the facts without the fluff.
