Campylobacter enteritis in the acute surgical ward

Campylobacter jejuni now represents an important cause of acute infectious diarrhoeal illness. This paper examines the clinical course and management of eight patients, with campylobacter enteritis, presenting as acute surgical admissions. The severity of their symptoms and signs provided difficulty in distinguishing this diagnosis from acute surgical emergencies, in particular acute appendicitis. One patient underwent a laparotomy--a normal appendicectomy.