Some people who are infected with the bacteria do not notice any symptoms. They may spread the bacteria to others without knowing it. There are many conditions with symptoms similar to those of E. Diagnosis of E. If you have no fever or only a mild fever, your doctor may suspect that something other than bacteria is causing your symptoms.
Bloody diarrhea is common in confirmed cases of E. For more information on when to call a doctor about non-bloody diarrhea, see:. Symptoms of E. But severe blood and kidney problems may occur within 2 weeks after the onset of diarrhea.
These problems can cause kidney failure and sometimes long-term disability or death in some children and older adults. The medical evaluation for diarrhea that may be caused by disease-causing E. During the medical history, your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms, such as:. Infection with E. A doctor may suspect you have E.
During the medical history, your doctor may ask if you have:. During the physical examination, a doctor will usually:. Doctors who suspect E. Because the bacteria can leave the body in only a few days, the sample should be obtained as soon as possible after symptoms appear.
Other tests are sometimes used when the diagnosis is unclear, but these are not yet widely available. If a child or older adult is diagnosed with E. Monitoring requires blood and urine tests to measure essential elements of blood and body fluids.
Treatment of infection with disease-causing E. If you develop symptoms of severe blood or kidney problems, such as anemia or kidney failure, your treatment may include:. Most people recover from E. Antibiotics are not recommended. Tell your doctor if you think you may have E. Non-prescription or prescription diarrhea medicines usually are not used to treat E.
Many antidiarrheal products slow the rate at which food and waste products move through the intestines. This may allow more time for the body to absorb the poisons produced by the bacteria, increasing the risk of complications such as severe blood and kidney problems. Avoid these non-prescription products if you have or suspect you have an E. Prescription diarrhea medicines may be harmful when given to a person with E.
A doctor may prescribe one of these medicines if he or she does not know that E. Be sure to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. Sharing information is important to get the proper diagnosis of your condition. Avoid diphenoxylate with atropine Lomotil prescription medicine if you have or think you may have an E. Home treatment of infection with disease-causing E. If you aren't infected, take steps to prevent infection. If you think that you or someone in your care may be infected with E.
Do not treat diarrhea symptoms with any non-prescription or prescription medicines. Especially in children and adults age 65 and older, watch for symptoms of severe blood and kidney problems, such as fever, weakness, pale skin, or passing small amounts of urine. If any of these symptoms develop, see a doctor immediately. Current as of: September 23, Author: Healthwise Staff.
Medical Review: E. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Top of the page. Topic Overview What is an E. What causes an E. Bacteria can spread from a cow's udders to its milk. Check the labels on dairy products to make sure they contain the word "pasteurized. Raw fruits and vegetables, such as lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, or unpasteurized apple cider or other unpasteurized juices that have come in contact with infected animal feces. What are the symptoms? Stomach cramps.
Nausea and vomiting. A fever. Passing only small amounts of urine. Coli Infections? How Do E. Coli Infections Happen? At-risk foods include: undercooked ground beef such as in hamburgers produce grown in animal manure of cows, sheep, goat, or deer or washed in contaminated water unpasteurized dairy or juice products The bacteria also can spread from person to person on unwashed hands and surfaces, by swimming in contaminated water, and from touching animals at farms or petting zoos.
What Are the Signs of an E. Coli Infection? Are E. Coli Infections Contagious? What Problems Can Happen? Signs of HUS include: decreased urination peeing a pale or swollen appearance unexplained bruises bleeding from the nose or gums extreme tiredness seizures HUS can be life-threatening and needs to be treated in a hospital.
Coli Infections Treated? Can E. Coli Infections Be Prevented? Thoroughly clean anything that comes into contact with raw meat. Choose pasteurized juices and dairy products. But certain kinds of E. Food poisoning is extremely common, but its symptoms and severity can vary, making it hard to identify. This article lists 10 symptoms of food…. Do you have a stomach bug or food poisoning? Discriminating between the two can be difficult. A stomach bug and food poisoning can be commonly…. Food poisoning occurs when you consume foods contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites.
Symptoms are usually uncomfortable but not severe. Boils are caused by bacteria building up in a hair follicle and pushing up to the surface of the skin. Recurring boils happen for a number of reasons…. Certain E. Learn about other bacteria and parasites like pinworms and how to prevent….
Shigellosis is a bacterial infection that affects the digestive system. The Shigella bacterium is spread through contact with contaminated feces. As a boil on the skin matures, it typically develops a visible core of pus.
0コメント