Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Medical Author:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor:
William
C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Escherichia coli, or E. coli for short, is a very common bacterium. There are
hundreds of different strains of E. coli. Some are harmless while others cause
serious illness. Non-pathogenic strains of E. coli -- those that do not cause
disease -- are normal inhabitants of the intestinal tract in humans and animals.
But certain strains of E. coli can cause severe diarrhea and infect the genital
and urinary tracts.
ExamplesofShiga toxin-producing E. coli outbreaks
The most notorious type of pathogenic E. coli is known as
E. coli 0157:H7.
The name refers to the chemical compounds found on the surface of the bacterium.
This strain was identified in 1982 following an outbreak of diarrhea resulting
from the eating of undercooked beef. The 0157:H7 E coli strain belongs to a
group of bacteria known as "Shiga toxin-producing" E. coli, or STEC for short.
They have also been referred to as verocytotoxic E. coli (VTEC) or
enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). Outbreaks of
E. coli 0157:H7-induced illness
have been common in recent years. In 2011, a deadly outbreak began in Europe due
to a rare strain of E coli, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O104, or STEC O104,
that produces a serious illness similar to that produced by E coli 0157:H7. At
the time of the outbreak, which was centered in Germany and related to
contaminated vegetables, the STEC 0104 strain had never been identified in the
United States.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a condition characterized by destruction
of red blood cells and kidney failure.
HUS often follows a digestive infection caused by
E. coli OH157:H7, although
there are other causes.
Symptoms of HUS include vomiting and diarrhea (often bloody), weakness, lethargy,
and bruising (purpura). These symptoms are due to a combination of dehydration,
anemia and uremia (the inability of the kidneys to clear waste products from the
body).
Diagnosis of HUS is made by a combination of history, physical exam, and abnormal
blood tests. There is no one test that makes the diagnosis of hemolytic uremic
syndrome.
Treatment of HUS is supportive with intravenous fluids. Anemia may require blood
transfusion and temporary dialysis may be necessary.
Children tend to recover from HUS, while adults with HUS may fare less well.
What is a "syndrome?"
In medicine, a syndrome defined as is a collection of symptoms (patient
complaints), signs (findings on physical examination), and laboratory or imaging
findings that tend to group together and be associated with a specific disease
or illness.
What is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)?
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a disease of two body systems. Hemolysis describes the destruction of red blood cells. In
hemolytic uremic syndrome, blood within capillaries, the smallest blood vessels in the body, begins to clot abnormally. When red blood cells pass through the clogged capillaries, they are sheared apart and broken. (hemo=blood +lysis=destruction). The second failed system, kidney failure (uremia), occurs when urea and other waste products build up in the bloodstream because the
kidneys cannot filter and dispose of them. (urea=a waste chemical + emia= in the blood).
HUS is also related to another disease caused by a similar normal clotting process
within the capillaries called thrombotic
thrombocytic purpura (TTP). Within the
medical literature, these two conditions are often considered together. HUS is
more widely known, however, because it has been discussed in the press because
of its relationship to a special type of
E. Coli (Escherichia coli) infection
associated with food poisoning.
Kidney failure can occur from an acute event or a chronic condition or disease. Prerenal kidney failure is caused by blood loss, dehydration, medication. Some of the renal causes of kidney failure are from sepsis, medications, rhabdomyolysis, multiple myeloma, and acute glomerulonephritis. Post renal causes of kidney failure include bladder obstruction, prostate problems, tumors, or kidney stones. Treatment options included diet, medications, or dialysis.
Pneumonia is inflammation of one or both lungs with consolidation. Pneumonia is frequently but not always due to infection. The infection may be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic. Symptoms may include fever, chills, cough with sputum production, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Gastroenteritis (viral gastroenteritis, stomach flu) is an infection caused by a variety of viruses that results in vomiting and/or diarrhea. Even though it is often called the "stomach flu," it is not caused by the influenza viruses. Viruses that can cause gastroenteritis (stomach flu) include: rotaviruses, adenoviruses, caliciviruses, astroviruses, Norwalk virus, and a group of Noroviruses. Gastroenteritis is not caused by bacteria. The main symptoms of gastroenteritis include vomiting and watery diarrhea, however, headache, fever, and abdominal cramps (stomach ache) may also be present.
Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. There are a number of causes of dehydration including heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exercise, and some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The best way to treat dehydration is to prevent it from occurring.
Food poisoning is common, but can also be life threatening. The most common form of food poisoning is caused by bacteria and include symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
There are many types of E. Coli (Escherichia coli ). Pathogenic E. coli can cause urinary tract and bladder infections, or lead to sepsis. E coli O157:H7 (EHEC) causes bloody diarrhea and colitis. Complications of E. coli infection include hemorrhagic diarrhea, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. E coli O157:H7 commonly is due to eating raw or undercooked hamburger or raw milk or dairy products.
Pregnancy planning is important to help prevent exposure of the mother and fetus to potentially harmful medications and substances during the early days, and throughout the pregnancy. Nutritional planning, prevention of birth defects, conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease need careful monitoring. Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and pregnancy induced hypertension are conditions that may arise during pregnancy. Immunizations, inherited disorders, exercise, air travel, intercourse, and birth control are important factors to consider when planning a pregnancy.
There are a number of different methods of birth control to include: barrier methods, IUDs, hormonal methods, natural methods, and surgical sterilization. Birth control methods can be reversible or permanent. In simple terms, all methods of birth control are based on either preventing a man's sperm from reaching and entering a woman's egg (fertilization) or preventing the fertilized egg from implanting in the woman's uterus (her womb) and starting to grow.
Enterovirulent Escherichia coli (E. coli) are strains of related bacteria that have a strong propensity to cause gastrointestinal tract infections. Examples of strains include: EHEC (enterohemorrhagic E. coli), ETEC (enterotoxigenic E. coli), EPEC (enteropathogenic E. coli), EIEC (enteroinvasive E. coli), EAEC (enteroadherent E. coli), and EAggEC (enteroaggregative E. coli). Symptoms may vary depending on the strain the individual contracts. Infection is spread generally through contaminated food or drink.
Gastroenteritis is inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, involving the
stomach, intestines, or both; usually resulting in diarrhea, abdominal cramps,
nausea and possibly vomiting. Gastroenteritis is frequently termed
"stomach flu"
or "gastric flu" because the most frequent cause of gastroenteritis is viral.
However, this loose terminology confuses some people because
influenza viruses
(flu viruses) do not cause gastroenteritis.
Gastroenteritis also can be confusing to people because gastroenteritis
itself is considered a disease, but gastroenteritis can also be considered a
symptom of other diseases. For example, a person who has the symptoms of
gastroenteritis and eventually develops bloody diarrhea is usually not diagnosed
with gastroenteritis, but with a specific disease such
as shigellosis. Unfortunately, there are many specific diseases that manifest
with symptoms of gastroenteritis,...
Healthy Living Tips
This site complies with the