Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCan People Get It?SymptomsRecovery TimelineHome TreatmentComplicationsNeed for AntibioticsGut HealthPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Can People Get It?
Symptoms
Recovery Timeline
Home Treatment
Complications
Need for Antibiotics
Gut Health
Prevention
Can People Get Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis?
People can get hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. The type of bacteria causing hemorrhagic gastroenteritis is a Shiga toxin-producingE. coli(STEC).
Causes and Risk Factors
Most of the time, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis can live in your gut without causing problems. Sometimes, it can make you sick.
The majority of cases of hemorrhagic gastroenteritis in the United States are from consuming raw or undercooked beef, unpasteurized milk, unpasteurized juice, and leafy greens contaminated withE. coli.
Risk factors, according to public health experts, include:
Your Digestive System and How It Works
Gastrointestinal (GI) Symptoms and When They Start
Gastrointestinal symptoms (ranging from mild to severe) may start suddenly, within 24 hours, or present up to 10 days after exposure.
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis symptoms include:
An Overview of E. Coli
Symptoms may last from five to 10 days.Mild symptoms usually resolve on their own but exact recovery timelines depend on symptom severity, overall health, and risk factors for complications. Reach out to your healthcare provider if symptoms persist.
What Is Chronic Diarrhea?
Children who are sick with hemorrhagic gastroenteritis should stay home from daycare or school due to the highly contagious nature of STEC. That said, since E. coli usually resolves on its own, home treatment for hemorrhagic gastroenteritis includes monitoring symptoms andpreventing dehydration.
Over-the-Counter MedicationsDo not take over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications as they can make your illness last longer and increase risk of HUS.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Do not take over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications as they can make your illness last longer and increase risk of HUS.
What Is Diarrhea?
Complications From Severe Symptoms
Complications can arise from severe symptoms. One complication is a rare condition known ashemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). In cases of HUS, theE. coliO157 toxin targets and destroys red blood cells essential for healthy bodily functioning.
HUS is an emergency medical condition, and it can lead to kidney disease and failure, high blood pressure and stroke, seizures and neurological damage, blood-clotting problems, or coma.
How Common Are Complications?Estimates suggest around 2% to 7% ofE. coliO157 infections lead to HUS and 5% to 10% of cases are fatal.Certain groups of people are more vulnerable to infection and complications from hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. These include:Adults older than 65Children younger than 5International travelersPeople with a compromised immune system
How Common Are Complications?
Estimates suggest around 2% to 7% ofE. coliO157 infections lead to HUS and 5% to 10% of cases are fatal.Certain groups of people are more vulnerable to infection and complications from hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. These include:Adults older than 65Children younger than 5International travelersPeople with a compromised immune system
Estimates suggest around 2% to 7% ofE. coliO157 infections lead to HUS and 5% to 10% of cases are fatal.Certain groups of people are more vulnerable to infection and complications from hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. These include:
Signs of HUS include:
If you have the signs above, consult your healthcare provider or go to the emergency room immediately.
Digestive Health
SomeE. coliinfections need antibiotics—but hemorrhagic gastroenteritis is not treated with antibiotics. If you have STEC, antibiotics should not be used as they can increase risk of developing HUS.
Can Antibiotics Cause Diarrhea?
General Gut Health Reminders
Practicing food safety can help keep your gut healthy and reduce risk ofE. coliinfection.
General tips include:
Examples of Food Safety StepsFood safety examples for gut health are:Washing or peeling fruits and vegetables before eatingKeeping raw animal products (meat, poultry, seafood) separate from vegetables and cooked foodsEnsuring red meat like ground beef or hamburger is cooked to an internal temperature 160 degrees F
Examples of Food Safety Steps
Food safety examples for gut health are:Washing or peeling fruits and vegetables before eatingKeeping raw animal products (meat, poultry, seafood) separate from vegetables and cooked foodsEnsuring red meat like ground beef or hamburger is cooked to an internal temperature 160 degrees F
Food safety examples for gut health are:
Avoid swimming in and swallowing water contaminated with E. coli.
Preventing Infection
Hygiene prevention also means keeping surfaces clean. To preventE. colicontamination in the kitchen, be sure to not only wash your hands, but also wash the cooking utensils, cutting board, and countertops with warm, soapy water.
Why Do We Vomit When We Get Sick?
Summary
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis is a toxin-producingE. coliinfection typically presenting with bloody diarrhea and cramping. Symptoms usually resolve on their own, but in some cases can lead to serious health complications. People at risk of complications include older and younger persons, those with compromised immune systems, and international travelers.
Treatment typically involves monitoring symptoms and preventing dehydration. Antibiotics are not used in treating this type ofE. coliinfection. Prevention comes down to practicing food safety and good hygiene.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.North Carolina Public Health.Diseases and topics: Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of E. coli infection.Minnesota Department of Health.E. coli O157:H7 and HUS fact sheet.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of E. coli infection.New York State Department of Health.Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to prevent E. coli infection.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.North Carolina Public Health.Diseases and topics: Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of E. coli infection.Minnesota Department of Health.E. coli O157:H7 and HUS fact sheet.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of E. coli infection.New York State Department of Health.Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to prevent E. coli infection.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
North Carolina Public Health.Diseases and topics: Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of E. coli infection.Minnesota Department of Health.E. coli O157:H7 and HUS fact sheet.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of E. coli infection.New York State Department of Health.Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to prevent E. coli infection.
North Carolina Public Health.Diseases and topics: Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of E. coli infection.
Minnesota Department of Health.E. coli O157:H7 and HUS fact sheet.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of E. coli infection.
New York State Department of Health.Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to prevent E. coli infection.
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