Table 2.
Campylobacteriosis in Switzerland: reported duration of illness, signs and symptoms, perceived severity, medical treatment and medication, December 2012–February 2013
| n (%) or median (range) (N = 159) |
|
|---|---|
| Campylobacter-associated morbidity | |
| Duration of illness (days)a | 7 (2.5–33) |
| No recovery by the time of the interview | 43 (27.0) |
| Perceived severity of illnessb | 8 (2–10) |
| Symptoms c | |
| Diarrhoea | 156 (98.1) |
| Abdominal pain | 128 (80.5) |
| Fever | 105 (66.0) |
| Nausea | 70 (44.0) |
| Vomiting | 54 (34.0) |
| Headache | 20 (12.6) |
| Help seeking behaviour | |
| Health care seeking before consulting a physicianc | |
| None: immediate consultation of a physician | 52 (32.7) |
| Pharmacy | 31 (19.5) |
| Medical hotline | 8 (5.0) |
| Friends and family | 68 (42.8) |
| Internet | 23 (14.5) |
| Health guide | 8 (5.0) |
| Other | 10 (6.3) |
| Medical care seeking | |
| General practitioner (GP) | 100 (62.9) |
| Emergency department | 23 (14.5) |
| Emergency practice | 19 (11.9) |
| Paediatrician | 6 (3.8) |
| Medical specialist | 4 (2.5) |
| Other | 7 (4.4) |
| Reasons for medical care seekingc | |
| Severe symptoms | 105 (66.0) |
| No amelioration | 70 (44.0) |
| Need of a medical certificate | 6 (3.8) |
| Other | 44 (27.7) |
| Hospitalisation | |
| Total | 23 (14.5) |
| Malesd | 13 (15.9) |
| Femalese | 10 (13.0) |
| Number of nights in hospital | 3 (1–13) |
| Medication | |
| Consumed drugs | 158 (99.4) |
| Drug classesc | |
| Antibiotic (Fluoroquinolones, Macrolides) | 98 (61.6) |
| Antidiarrhoeal (Loperamide, Charcoal) | 84 (52.8) |
| Probiotic (enterococci, saccharomyces) | 73 (45.9) |
| Analgesic (Acetaminophen, Dipyrone, NSAIDs) | 66 (41.5) |
| Antiemetic (Domperidone, Metoclopramide, Meclozine) | 17 (10.7) |
| Spasmolytics (Butylscopolamine) | 17 (10.7) |
| Acid blockers (Proton pump inhibitors) | 5 (3.1) |
| Parenteral rehydration and/or drug application | 38 (23.9) |
aOnly those recovered at time of interview included (n = 116)
bN = 158
cMultiple answers possible
dN = 82
eN = 77