About this topic
Yersiniosis is an infection of the bowels and belly. Pigs may have this germ. So can rabbits, rodents, cats, or dogs. Sheep or horses may also have this germ. You may get this illness by: ‚
- Eating foods contaminated with the feces of animals with Yersinia
- Drinking the milk of infected animals
- Touching raw meat that is infected with Yersinia
The signs of yersiniosis may start 3 to 7 days after you come in contact with the germ. The signs may last for 1 to 3 weeks. The infection often goes away without treatment. For very bad cases, the doctor may need to give drugs to help you feel better. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Your doctor may give you a special kind of fluid to help you replace the water you are losing from throwing up and loose stools. Take sips of this throughout the day.
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluids each day. This will help to prevent very bad fluid loss.
- Get lots of rest. Sleep when you are feeling tired. Avoid doing tiring activities.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your condition needs close monitoring. Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Fight an infection
- Keep your fever down
- Ease pain
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activity for a short time. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
- It may be easier to eat soups and pureed fruits and vegetables. Crackers or toast may also be good if you cannot eat full meals yet.
- Avoid foods that may upset your belly. Stay away from dairy products, fried or spicy foods, candies, and ice creams.
- Stay away from fruit juices and soft drinks. They can make the signs worse.
What problems could happen?
- Liver problems
- Low red blood cells
- Heart infection
- Kidney problems
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Be careful when eating.
- Do not eat unprocessed or raw animal products. This includes raw meats, milk, or unprocessed cheeses.
- Choose foods that are freshly cooked and served very hot.
- Do not eat food from street vendors.
- Do not eat raw vegetables or fruits. Be careful when eating salads as the produce may have been washed with tap water.
- Eat fruits and vegetables that are peeled or cooked.
- If you suspect that your drinking water may be contaminated, let it boil at more than 140 ‚ °F (60 ‚ °C) for at least 30 minutes.
- Follow good hygiene habits.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15 seconds. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers also work to kill germs. This is especially important:
- After using the bathroom or changing diapers
- Before eating
- Before cooking
- After working in dirt
- After touching your pet or other animals
- Make sure that you throw away animal birth products, stool, or other wastes the right way.
- Prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen: Use separate cutting boards for meat and other foods. Carefully clean all cutting boards, countertops, and tools with soap and hot water after preparing raw meat.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of fluid loss. These include dark-colored urine or no urine for more than 8 hours, dry mouth and tongue, dry skin, sunken eyes, lack of energy, feeling faint, or passing out.
- Belly pain that wont go away, even with drugs
- Problems eating
- Bloody stool
- Nonstop throwing up
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Changes in behavior
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how often I should try to drink fluids.
- I can tell what I will do if I have dark colored urine, dry mouth, bad belly pain, or bloody stools.
Where can I learn more?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/yersinia_g.htm ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/yersinia.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚