What are the symptoms of shiga toxin-producing E. coli?
Symptoms may include severe bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting. In some instances, there may be no symptoms or non-bloody diarrhea. Usually little or no fever is present, and the illness resolves in 5 to 10 days. Generally, people will experience symptoms 2 to 8 days after being exposed, although it is usually 3-4 days. In some persons, particularly children under 5 years of age and the elderly, the infection can also cause a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), in which the red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail. How is shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection diagnosed? Infection with shiga toxin-producing E. coli is diagnosed by detecting the bacterium in the stool. What can you do to prevent shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection? • Cook all ground beef and hamburger thoroughly. • If you are served an undercooked hamburger or other ground beef product in a restaurant, send it back for further cooking. You may want to ask for a new bun and a
