E. Coli Symptoms

Fortunately, when most kids get diarrhea, it is caused by a virus and they quickly get better in 5 to 7 days. Even more severe viral infections typically only cause dehydration, which can be treated with a few days of treatment in the hospital.

It seems like we are hearing about more and more cases of E. coli as a cause of diarrhea these days, including the outbreaks associated with spinach last summer and another outbreak that may have been associated with fast food restaurants.

According to the CDC, there are about 73,000 cases of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections and 61 deaths each year in the United States.

E. Coli Outbreaks

E. coli normally lives in the intestines of people and animals and outbreaks can occur when food or water gets contaminated with this bacteria. Some sources of E. coli outbreaks include:

• undercooked meat
• unpasteurized milk, juice, or cider
• raw vegetables, sprouts, and fruits that were grown or washed in contaminated water
• contaminated drinking water, lakes, or swimming pools
• people who don't wash their hands well after using the bathroom or changing diapers
• petting zoos

Although these infections are not common, parents should be aware of the symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 infections, which can include:

• nonbloody diarrhea that becomes bloody diarrhea after a few days
• stomach pain that comes and goes
• fever, although the fever usually goes away once the child has bloody diarrhea, and some people don't have a fever
• vomiting
• irritability

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Hemolytic uremic syndrome or HUS is a complication of E. coli O157:H7 that includes hemolytic anemia (a low red blood cell count), thrombocytopenia (a low platelet count), and renal failure (kidney damage).

Sources:
Robin Goldman and Henry M. Adam. Escherichia coli. Pediatr. Rev., Mar 2006; 27: 114 - 115.
Nicole Shilkofski and Tina L. Cheng. Escherichia coli O157:H7. Pediatr. Rev., Feb 2004; 25: 75 - 76.
CDC. Escherichia coli O157:H7