A bacterial infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes. It occurs in newborns, elderly, and immunocompromised patients. The bacteria are transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food. Clinical manifestations include fever, muscle pain, respiratory distress, nausea, diarrhea, neck stiffness, irritability, seizures, and lethargy
Symptoms of Listeriosis
The following features are indicative of Listeriosis:
fever
muscle aches
nausea
diarrhea
headache
stiff neck
confusion
loss of balance
convulsions
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Common Causes of Listeriosis
The following are the most common causes of Listeriosis:
use of contaminated raw vegetables
use of contaminated animal meat
unpasteurized milk
infection from the mother via the placenta
Risk Factors for Listeriosis
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Listeriosis:
miscarriage
stillbirth
premature birth
fatal infection after birth
age>60 years
AIDS
undergoing chemotherapy
diabetes
kidney disease
Prevention of Listeriosis
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Listeriosis. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
proper washing of hands
cook food thoroughly
proper cleaning of vegetables
Occurrence of Listeriosis
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Listeriosis cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Listeriosis most commonly occurs in the following age group:
Aged > 50 years
Common Gender
Listeriosis can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Listeriosis
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Listeriosis:
Spinal fluid Culturing: Helps to detect the bacteria in amniotic fluid, blood, feces, urine
Doctor for Diagnosis of Listeriosis
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Listeriosis:
Infectious Disease Specialist
Complications of Listeriosis if untreated
Yes, Listeriosis causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Listeriosis is left untreated:
septicemia
meningitis
Self-care for Listeriosis
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Listeriosis:
Proper washing of hands: Helps in prevention of bacterial infections
Proper scrubbing of raw vegetables: Helps in reducing bacterial infections
Cook food thoroughly: Helps in killing bacteria
Time for Treatment of Listeriosis
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Listeriosis to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
In 1 - 3 months
Is Listeriosis Infectious?
Yes, Listeriosis is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means:
bacterial infection spread through contaminated food and unpasteurized milk