Listeriosis: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Listeriosis is an infection that is caused by bacteria present in food, especially those that are unprocessed. It affects people with weakened immune system like pregnant women, newborn babies and those who suffer from diseases that affect the immune system. Those who are healthy usually do not get affected by this type of bacteria, called listeria. But for babies the infection can become near fatal.

If the listeriosis infection is mild, then the person becomes cured naturally. If not, then antibiotics need to be given to the patient immediately. The effect of listeriosis can be debilitating to pregnant women. She can face a miscarriage or give birth to a stillborn child if the infection goes untreated. The worst thing that can happen owing to food poisoning is the development of meningitis. In order to prevent listeriosis one should follow certain preventive measures, for example, one should maintain proper hygiene. This includes, washing the hands properly before preparing the food. The cooking utensils and the kitchen should be kept spick and span. Apart from that the vegetables should be scrubbed properly before cooking them. It is also an imperative to boil the food well, especially meats. It is better to avoid processed food and unpasteurized cheese.

In order to detect whether one has Listeriosis or not, the doctor will perform a blood test. If nothing is arrived at, even after a blood test, the patient has to undergo other tests like a urine test or a spinal fluid test. Antibiotics are the primary components that treat listeriosis. In the case of pregnant women the antibiotics might be inserted using an intravenous procedure. This is a type of disease that can put the life of the fetus in danger. However, immediate treatment can still save the life of the child in the womb.

Here is how antibiotics work. The medicine works by preventing the bacteria to create cell walls. In some cases antibiotics also destroys the cell membrane of the bacteria, so that they cannot replicate and some antibiotics affects the protein that the bacteria use to build the cells. Beta-Lactam, Macrolides, and, Quinolones are the most common types of antibiotics. The first type affects the cell wall of the bacteria. The second type of antibiotics affects the protein-building components of the bacteria and the third type of antibiotics prevent the bacteria from multiplying.

If the treatment is quick, the patient stands a better chance at surviving listeriosis. If not, the result can be fatal and treatment might not help.

The common symptoms of listeriosis include fever, nausea, diarrhea, stomach and abdominal pain, back pain, dizziness etc. If you observe these symptoms, you must see a doctor to see whether you have food poising or not.

Most of the ailments are characterized by symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, stomach and abdominal pain, back pain, dizziness etc. But these symptoms themselves do not mean that one has food poisoning. The doctor will be able to determine whether a person has listeriosis or not only after a blood test. If the blood test shows that the person has listeriosis, then the follow-up treatment will be rendered.

The various side effects of antibiotics include nausea, loss of appetite, discharge from the vagina, rashes etc. In rare cases antibiotics can also lead to an allergic reaction.

If you are a person who has been already affected by listeriosis try to avoid certain foods in the future like hot dogs, refrigerated meals (which include meat, seafood and other canned products.) Do not eat unpasteurized dairy products. Boil the milk well before drinking it. Also do not eat meats that are ready made. Cook the meat well before consuming it.

Meningitis and brain abscesses are some of the ailments that commonly develop as a result of listeriosis. In case of meningitis it takes three weeks for the person to recover. And, if the case is brain abscesses, then it should take six weeks for the person to recover completely. Mild listeriosis clears up within 7 days.

The price of the treatment in India can be anywhere between INR 250 and INR 4000, depending on the kind of antibiotic tablets that are used. If you need to be hospitalized, the charges will be higher.

Yes, the results are permanent until and unless you make an error of judgment as far as eating habits are concerned and expose yourself to this evel bacteria.

There is no evidence as to prove that listeriosis can be cured by home remedies. However, if the condition is moderate the person can rest till the symptoms go away. A person can drink a lot fluids too including coconut water. The person must maintain a very dull diet till the symptoms subside. The patient can also control muscle aches with warm or cold compress.