E. Coli Infections
Learn how to prevent E. Coli Infection in your home

What is E. Coli?
E. Coli, short for Escherichia coli, is a form of bacteria that can cause severe cramps and diarrhea. E. Coli is a leading cause of bloody diarrhea and the symptoms are often worse in children and older people. E. Coli infection is more common in the summer months and in northern states.
E. Coli infections come from eating undercooked ground beef, drinking contaminated water, drinking unpasteurized milk, or working with cattle.

Healthy dairy and beef cattle might carry the E. Coli germ in their intestines. The meat is contaminated with the germ during the slaughtering process. As beef is ground up, the E. Coli germs are mixed with the rest of the meat.
One of the most common ways of getting this infection is through eating contaminated food. The E. Coli germ can be present in food if you don’t use a high enough temperature to cook your beef, or if you don’t cook it long enough. When you eat undercooked beef, the E. Coli germ travels into your stomach and intestines.
The germ can also be passed from person to person in settings such as nursing homes or day care centers. You can transmit the germ to other people when you touch things without washing your hands. Wash your hands especially before handling food or water going to the bathroom.
People infected with E. Coli are highly contagious and young children should keep away from day care centers until the infection has passed.

What are some symptoms of E. Coli infection?
The symptoms typically start a week after you are infected with the germ. Symptoms include severe abdominal cramps, watery diarrhea, and dehydration. The diarrhea may then change to bright red bloody stools. The stools become bloody through sores in your intestines caused by the infection. The bloody diarrhea may last two to five days. You might also have to make ten or more bowel movements per day.
You might experience a fever, nausea, or vomiting. Get to your doctor right away to get treated if you experience bloody, watery diarrhea, cramps, vomiting, fever, or nausea.

What are some complications from E. Coli infection?
The most common complication from E. Coli infections is called hemolytic uremic syndrome. People with this complication experience kidney damage, low blood cell counts, and low platelet counts. This complication is more common among young children. It may cause renal failure in children. The complication starts typically five to ten days after the diarrhea starts.

How do you treat E. Coli?
Unfortunately, there is no way to treat E. Coli beyond watching for complications and drinking a lot of water. Do not take anti-diarrhea medications such as Immodium unless approved by the doctor; this may prohibit your intestines from expelling the E. Coli germ.