Yersiniosis

Yersiniosis is a relatively uncommon infection caused by bacteria called yersinia. It is typically contracted through the consumption of undercooked meat products, unpasteurized milk, or water contaminated by the bacteria.
Usually, a child with an infection caused by the yersinia bacteria recovers within a few days without medical treatment. But in some cases, doctors prescribe antibiotics.
The typical symptoms of yersiniosis include fever, stomach pain, and bloody diarrhea. Sometimes, older kids who get these infections also get pain in the lower right side of the abdomen. If your child has these symptoms, it's a good idea to call your child's doctor.
If your child is an infant, it's particularly important to call your child's doctor as soon as symptoms appear to prevent the infection from leading to other health problems.
What Causes Yersiniosis?Three main types of yersiniosis affect people. In the United States the form that most commonly causes infections is yersinia enterocolitica, which are bacteria that thrive in cooler temperatures. There is only 1 confirmed case per 100,000 people each year in the United States.
The bacteria can infect the digestive tracts of humans, cats, dogs, pigs, cattle, and goats. People can contract it by eating or handling contaminated foods such as raw or undercooked meat, or by drinking untreated water or unpasteurized milk that has been contaminated.
An infant can be infected if a parent or caretaker handles contaminated food without cleaning up adequately before handling the infant's toys, bottles, or pacifiers.
Signs and SymptomsSymptoms of yersiniosis, which typically appear 4 to 7 days after exposure and can last up to 3 weeks, may include:
fever abdominal pain nausea vomiting diarrhea that may be streaked with mucus or blood In older children, this infection also can cause fever as well as pain in the right lower part of the abdomen, which can mimic appendicitis. Doctors can distinguish between yersiniosis and appendicitis by analyzing a stool sample
In rare cases, the infection can cause a skin rash or joint pain that appears a month after the initial symptoms. But these symptoms go away without treatment.
TreatmentDiarrhea caused by yersiniosis generally goes away on its own, though in some cases antibiotics are prescribed. In infants, however - particularly those who are 3 months old or younger - yersiniosis can develop into a more serious condition called bacteremia, an infection of the blood. Infants who contract yersiniosis are usually treated in a hospital setting.
Depending on the severity of the diarrhea, your child's doctor may suggest modifying your child's diet for 1 to 2 days and encouraging your child to drink more fluids (which may include special drinks that replace body fluids quickly). If your child is having large amounts of diarrhea, be on the watch for signs of dehydration (a low level of body water). These include:
severe thirst dry mouth or tongue sunken eyes dry skin infrequent urination in infants, a dry diaper for several hours PreventionTo reduce the risk that your child will contract yersiniosis, it's a good idea to take the following precautions:
Don't allow your child to eat raw or undercoooked meat. Drink and serve only pasteurized milk or milk products. Wash hands with soap and water particularly before eating and preparing food; before touching infants or their toys, bottles, or pacifiers; and after contact with animals or handling raw meat. Use separate cutting boards for meat and other foods. Clean all cutting boards, countertops, and utensils with soap and hot water after preparing raw meat. Always cook meat thoroughly before you eat it, especially pork products. Dispose of animal feces and sanitize anything they have touched. Avoid drinking directly from natural water sources such as ponds and mountain streams, particularly if the water is near farmland where cattle, pigs, or goats are raised. As you care for a family member who has diarrhea, remember to wash your hands thoroughly before touching other people and before handling food. If your pet dog or cat has diarrhea, wash your hands frequently as you care for them, and check with your veterinarian about treatment and/or contagiousness.