10 Symptoms of E. Coli Infection

E. Coli is a bacteria that usually colonizes the intestines, and is often referred to as 'good gut bacteria'. At least this is the case with most E. Coli strains. Some strains have the potential to cause severe infections inside and outside the intestines, which are known as pathogenic strains. Depending on the localization, E. Coli may cause a broad spectrum of diseases and symptoms, from diarrhea to urinary infections and in rare cases severe conditions such as kidney failure or sepsis. Here are the most common symptoms of pathogenic strains of E. Coli: 1 Diarrhea. Certain strains of E. Coli cause diarrhea. Typically, the gut infection occurs while traveling to parts of the world with poor food hygiene. Most often, the stools are completely watery or with just a few traces of mushy lumps. The urge to go to the toilet is sudden and uncontrollable. The stools are often voluminous, which causes severe water loss and dehydration. If there are no complications, it lasts no longer than 10 days. The stools slowly change consistency to mushy before returning to normal. More symptoms on next page... 2 Stomach cramps. Stomach cramps are almost always present in patients with intestinal E. Coli infection. The cramps may be so severe that the entire abdominal wall becomes sensitive to touch. Children are particularly vulnerable to these cramps. Typically, cramps are followed with violent, voluminous diarrhea. The first sign of recovery is the decrease in the cramp's intensity and frequency. The cramp will be at its peak in 3-5 days, just like diarrhea. In some cases, patients recover faster, but generally 10 days is a typical duration of the disease without complications. More food intake can provoke cramps and diarrhea, so it is recommended to avoid big solid meals, and instead take food in minimal amounts throughout the day. 3 Bloody stool. Some strains of E. Coli are particularly aggressive - they cause the destruction and bleeding of the colon lining. As a result, there are traces of blood in the stool. The destruction of the lining opens a whole new world of problems for the patient; bacteria can break into the blood causing septicemia and sepsis. Besides severe water loss, the patient now faces blood loss as well. Infections from such strains have a potential to trigger severe and even life-threatening complications, so if you have bloody stools it's recommended to seek immediate attention of trained health professionals to find out the cause. 4 Fever. Fever is not always present, and develops with the first symptoms between 1 to 10 days after exposure to pathogenic E. Coli strains. Even when present the fever is mild. A sudden increase in body temperature followed by other worsening symptoms may suggest that the bacteria have reached the bloodstream; a condition known as septicemia. If treated timely this is not dangerous, but if left untreated it can cause sepsis and possible death. Luckily, lethal cases are rare these days, as adequate antibiotics and diagnostic tools are widely available. 5 Dehydration. Untreated diarrhea will always cause dehydration to a certain degree. Sometimes, it’s just a mild problem that can be resolved with a bit more water intake. In some cases, it requires the intake of Oral Rehydration Solutions, and in particularly severe cases, hospital treatments are necessary. Children are particularly vulnerable to dehydration, and the younger the child, the greater the risk of severe dehydration. Dry mouth, thirst, headache and decreased urine output are the signs of dehydration. 6 Painful Urination. Other than intestinal infections, E. Coli is one of the most common causes of urinary infections as well. The most distinctive symptom of urinary infection is pain when urinating. Some patients describe it as a burning sensation, or mild discomfort, while others suffer extreme pain. Just as E. Coli destroys lining in the guts, when the infection is localized in the urinary tract, it destroys the lining of the bladder and urethra which causes the symptoms. In severe cases, patients report red (bloody) urine. Due to differences in anatomy, women are more prone to E. Coli urinary infections than men. Taking sufficient amounts of water and antibiotics can bring relief within a few days. 7 Frequent urination. More frequent urination is another characteristic of urinary infections. Typically, it is combined with painful urination and discomfort. The inflammation of a bladder causes spasm of the muscles inside the bladder wall (regarding anatomy, the urinary bladder is just a sack made of muscles, lined with epithelial cells on the inside and connective tissue on the outside). Because of the spasm, it’s capacity is greatly reduced and even the smallest amounts of urine trigger the call for urination. Unlike pathologic intestinal strains of E. Coli, those that cause urinary infections are easier to treat, so after a few days of treatment a patient can return to normal. 8 Decreased urine output. While the smaller urine output in cases of intestinal E. Coli infections signals dehydration, patients who report urinary infection followed by decreased urine output needs to be thoroughly examined. Sometimes, E. Coli strain may be very aggressive, or the patient’s immunity may be compromised, so the bacteria advance quickly through the bladder, up the ureters reaching the kidneys. This condition is known as pyelonephritis and may lead to kidney failure, which causes the decrease in urine output. Keep in mind that most patients fully recover from infections, so cases of simultaneous bilateral kidney failure due to E. Coli infection are very rare. 9 Fatigue. Fatigue is an unspecific symptom caused by a systemic body response to the infection. Sometimes, dehydration is the primary cause, while in other cases, it can be due to high fever or some other health issue in a patient with E. Coli infection. Whatever the case may be, patients describe feeling drained, without motivation to do anything. As soon as the patient recovers, with rest and proper nutrition, fatigue fades away. The elderly are more prone to suffer from fatigue. 10 Confusion. In general, mild infections do not cause any mental alterations. In cases of severe dehydration, blood loss, or a high fever, the first symptom of mental impairment is confusion. Often, it signals dehydration syndrome, kidney failure, extreme fatigue, severe fever, and other serious health conditions. Patients often describe it as feeling drowsy or unable to think clearly. Whatever the case may be, confusion requires close medical attention. After treatment and rest, the patient quickly returns to normal, and a full recovery is expected.

1 Diarrhea

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