Everything you need to know about escherichia coli bacterial infection

Escherichia coli (or commonly abbreviated as E. coli) is a type of bacteria that usually lives in the intestines of humans and animals. Most types of E. coli bacteria are harmless and even help keep your digestive tract healthy. Even so, there are certain types of E. coli bacteria that can cause severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, and kidney failure.

Come on, find out all information about Escherichia coli bacterial infection including the causes, symptoms, treatment, and ways to prevent it below.

Various causes of Escherichia coli bacterial infection

Actually, humans and animals have some E. coli bacteria in the intestines to help keep the digestive tract healthy. However, certain types of E. coli bacteria, especially E. coli 0157: H7, can cause intestinal infections. The bacteria that cause infection can enter your body in several ways, including:

1. Contaminated food

• Eating dairy products or foods that contain mayonnaise that has been sitting on for too long
• Eating food that is not stored at the right temperature
• Eating uncooked food for the correct temperature or duration, especially meat and poultry
• Drink unpasteurized milk
• Eat raw foods
• Eating fresh vegetables or fruit that have not been washed thoroughly

2. Contaminated water

Poor sanitation can cause water to contain bacteria from human or animal waste. You can get an infection from drinking contaminated water or by swimming in it.

3. Person to person

E. coli can be spread when an infected person does not wash their hands after defecating. The bacteria are then transferred when the person touches someone or something, such as food.

4. Animals

People who come in direct contact with animals, especially cattle, goats and sheep, are at a higher risk of being infected with the E. coli bacteria. Therefore, anyone who has daily direct contact with animals must wash their hands thoroughly after and before doing activities.

Symptoms of Escherichia coli infection

A person can show symptoms of infection 1 to 10 days after being infected with the E. Coli bacteria. Once they appear, symptoms can last from a few days to more than a week.

The most typical symptoms of an E. coli bacterial infection include:

• Stomach cramps
• Suddenly experiencing severe watery diarrhea that is sometimes mixed with blood
• Bloated
• Nausea
• Throws up
• Decreased appetite
• Limp, lethargic, and weak
• Fever

Symptoms of a severe E. coli infection may include:

• Urine mixed with blood
• Urinating less frequently
• Pale skin
• You have bruises
• Experiencing symptoms of dehydration

A report from the CDC, the disease prevention and control agency in the United States, shows that about 5 to 10 percent of people infected with this bacteria can develop hemolytic uremic syndrome. Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a condition in which red blood cells are damaged. This condition can lead to kidney failure, which can be life threatening, especially for children and the elderly. Hemolytic uremic syndrome usually starts about 5 to 10 days after the diarrhea symptoms don't go away.

Immediately consult a doctor if you experience one or more of the symptoms mentioned above. The sooner your symptoms are treated, the better your chances of getting better without complications.

Risk factors for escherichia coli infection

Although everyone can get an E. coli bacterial infection, some people are more at risk of developing this infection than others. Some of the risk factors for this infection include:

• Age. The elderly and children are more likely to experience serious complications from E. coli.
• Weak immune system. People with weakened immune systems due to certain diseases, such as cancer or HIV / AIDS, are more susceptible to E. coli infection.
• Season. E. coli infection is more likely to occur during the summer than during the rainy season.
• Certain drugs. Medicines used to lower stomach acid levels can increase the risk of E. coli infection.
• Certain foods. Drinking unpasteurized milk or eating undercooked meat can increase your risk of becoming infected with E. coli.

Escherichia coli infection treatment

In many cases, the infection usually goes away on its own. However, to confirm the diagnosis whether you really have an E. coli bacterial infection or not is to do a laboratory test. The doctor will take a sample of your stool and test it in a laboratory for analysis.

The doctor may prescribe antibiotics to stop bacterial growth and relieve the symptoms of diarrhea if it is still in the mild category.

On the other hand, antibiotics should not be used when the patient has fever, bloody diarrhea, or if the doctor suspects that the E. coli infecting your body produces Shiga poison. Administration of antibiotics in this condition can actually increase the production of Shiga toxin and worsen your symptoms.

In general, doctors will advise patients to get plenty of rest and drink water to prevent dehydration. Do not take over-the-counter drugs to treat diarrhea arbitrarily. Avoid dairy products and foods that are high in fat or fiber as they can worsen your symptoms.

A powerful way to prevent escherichia coli bacterial infection

One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself and your family against E. coli infection is to wash your hands regularly, especially at times such as:

• Before preparing food
• Before preparing bottles or food for babies or toddlers
• Before touching anything, such as a pacifier, that goes into a young child's mouth.
• After using the bathroom or changing diapers
• After touching with animals, even your own pets
• After processing raw meat

Apart from washing your hands, other ways you can avoid escherichia coli infection are:

• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly
• Make sure your cooking and eating utensils are clean
• Only consume pasteurized dairy products
• Cook the meat until it is perfectly cooked
• Avoid consuming raw foods too often
• Process and store food in a good way and at the right temperature

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