Yersiniosis

What Is Yersiniosis
Yersiniosis is caused by a member of the Yersinia bacteria family. This particular illness is caused specifically by Yersinia Enterocolitica. Yersinis is an infectious disease and the bacteria is shaped like rods. Yersinia bacteria are also responsible for illnesses such as the Bubonic Plague and Pneumonic Plague. Children seem to be the main target of this illness.

What Are The Symptoms Of Yersiniosis
The symptoms of Yersiniosis are fever, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea. Rarer symptoms include rashes and joint pain. Symptoms appear four days to a week after being exposed to the bacteria and can last up to 3 weeks. Some people may experience abdominal pain on the right side, which can lead to an improper diagnosis of appendicitis. The bacteria can enter the bloodstream in rare cases.

How Is Yersiniosis Contracted?
Yersinia bacterial transmission occurs when contaminated fecal matter enters a human orally, such as through the mouth. The most common way to get Yersiniosis is by eating food that has been contaminated with the bacteria, especially raw and undercooked pork. You can also get the Yersinia bacteria by preparing raw pork intestines (also called chitterlings), drinking unpasteurized milk or untreated water.

Babies can be at risk for this illness if their caretakers handle raw food and do not practice proper hand washing techniques. The bacteria can even spread to toys, so even if someone does not touch the baby, they can still get the illness if people are not careful.

Animals that are infected with the Yersinia bacteria can pass it on to humans. It is important to practice good hygiene. On rare occasions, the bacteria can be transmitted during a blood transfusion.

How Do You Get Diagnosed With Yersiniosis ?
Yersiniosis can be diagnosed by testing the stool, although medical professionals may also look at your urine, blood, throat, and joint fluid.

What Is The Treatment For Yersiniosis?
Yersiniosiscan be treated with antibiotics effectively in most cases. Sometimes a patient will experience join pain about 4 weeks after the first sign of symptoms, but the pain will generally dissipate within 6 months of treatment.

How Can I Prevent Yersiniosis?
Preventive measures for Yersiniosis are quite simple. Practicing frequent hand washing and other hygiene techniques is the best way to prevent getting the illness. You should also not eat raw or undercooked pork and avoid drinking unpasteurized milk.

Wash your hands with soap and water frequently. In addition to washing your hands properly before and after eating and preparing food, you will need to be diligent about hygiene after touching animals.

Make sure that you clean your hands and fingernails thoroughly and use separate cutting boards for different food products. For example, use one cutting board for meat and another one for vegetables to avoid cross-contamination. After preparing the meal, make sure you clean cutting boards, counters, and utensils in hot soapy water. If you are preparing foods like chitterlings, then someone else should tend to the children. Another basic prevention method is to dispose of animal droppings in a sanitary method.

Although Yersiniosis is a rare disease, outbreaks are usually caused by common exposure, such as families preparing food together and farmhands tending to animals.

Sources:

MedTerms: Yersiniosis, http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=17592

Oregon Department of Human Services: Yersiniosis, http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/acd/diseases/yersinia/yersinia.shtml