E. Coli Symptoms, Complications, and Prevention
Acute symptoms for E. coli poisoning are:
- abdominal cramping
- sudden, severe watery diarrhea that may change to bloody stools
- gas
- nausea or loss of appetite
- vomiting (rare)
- fatigue
- fever
Typically, symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 infection begin three or four days after exposure to the bacteria, but they might occur within 24 hours or not until more than a week after exposure.
Case-by-case, severity of symptoms will vary. Individuals most likely to have severe symptoms, and to develop complications, are:
- infants and young children
- the elderly
- individuals hospitalized
- the immune-suppressed
What Long-Term Complications Should Be Watched For?
Unfortunately, complications occur with some frequency from an E. coli infection. Among children, more than 1 in 7 such infections cause a type of kidney failure known as hemolytic uremic syndrome. HUS is most common in children under 5 years old and the elderly, but overall it occurs in about 6 percent of E. coli O157 patients. Some HUS patients make gradual recovery, others do not.
Symptoms of HUS to watch for are:
- bloody diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- pale skin
- fatigue
- fever
- unexplained bruises or bleeding
- decreased urination
How Can I Prevent E. Coli Food Poisoning?
- Avoid “high-risk” foods, chiefly non-pasteurized milk, cheese, or juice; alfalfa sprouts; and lightly cooked ground beef.
- Using a food thermometer, make sure a ground beef patty is cooked on the inside to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Before cooking food, wash hands after contact with any domestic animals or their living environment, or after diapering infants.
Contact us today by calling 877-928-9147 if you have any questions or would like a free consultation on your Oregon E. coli claim.
