Symptoms, Causes, Drugs, etc.

Definition

What is an E. coli bacterial infection?

Bacterial infection Escherichia coli (E. coli) is an infection that can occur due to water or food contaminated with these bacteria, especially raw vegetables and undercooked meat.

E. coli bacteria are actually bacteria that normally live in the intestines of humans and animals.

Although most types Escherichia coli harmless or cause only mild diarrhea, certain types can cause serious intestinal infections resulting in diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever.

Healthy adults usually recover from E. coli O157: H7 bacterial infection within a week.

However, children and the elderly, people with weak immune systems, pregnant women, have a higher risk of developing life-threatening kidney failure, otherwise known as hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Many cases of E. coli infection can be treated at home.

How common is this condition?

Bacterial infection Escherichia coli very common and usually more common in women than men. This condition can occur in patients of any age.

E. coli bacterial infection can be treated by reducing risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Disease caused by E. coli bacteria

What diseases are caused by E. coli bacteria?

The following are the types of diseases most commonly caused by bacteria Escherichia coli:

urinary tract infection,
enteric infections, and
invasive infection.

The most common diseases caused by bacteria Escherichia coli is a urinary tract infection. Escherichia coli can also cause prostatitis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

Bacteria Escherichia coli usually inhabit the digestive tract. However, some strains of E. coli also cause diarrhea. In babies, especially those born prematurely, E. coli bacteria can cause meningitis.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of infection will usually appear three or four days after exposure to the bacteria. Common symptoms of an E. coli bacterial infection are:

diarrhea that is sudden, severe, and watery or bloody,
cramps, pain in the stomach,
nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite,
fatigue, and
fever.

In more serious cases, infection can also cause symptoms such as:

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms.

Diarrhea does not improve after 4 days, or 2 days in infants or children.
Fever associated with diarrhea.
Stomach pain does not reduce after bowel movements.
The presence of pus or blood in the stool.
Vomiting for more than 12 hours.
Symptoms of intestinal infection and recently eating unhygienic food.
Symptoms of dehydration, such as less urine, excessive thirst, or dizziness.

Cause

What causes E. coli bacterial infection?

Only a few bacteria Escherichia coli which triggers symptoms of infection. These bacteria belong to a group called shiga-toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). This means that the STEC bacteria can release a toxin called Shiga which can damage the lining of the small intestine and cause diarrhea.

One type of E. coli which is included in the STEC group is E. coli O157: H7. There is also a type of STEC non-O157, but these bacteria cause milder symptoms than the type O157: H7.

Unlike many other disease-causing bacteria, Escherichia coli can cause infection even if you only swallow a small amount.

Because of this, you can get sick from E. coli bacteria just from eating undercooked meat or from ingesting contaminated pool water.

Quoted from Mayo ClinicBelow are things that could trigger or worsen your condition.

Contaminated food

Eating contaminated food is the most common cause. Food can become contaminated due to improper preparation, here are some examples.

Not washing hands thoroughly before preparing or eating food.
Using unclean utensils, cutting boards, or plates.
Eating contaminated food due to inadequate conditions (temperature and humidity).
Eating foods that are not cooked yet.
Eating raw seafood products or other products that have not been thoroughly washed.
Consume unpasteurized milk.
Slaughtering process: poultry and meat products are contaminated with bacteria from the intestines of animals.

Contaminated water

Human and animal waste can contaminate ground and surface water, including rivers and lakes that are used to irrigate crops.

The presence of E. coli bacteria is still found in urban areas, even though ultraviolet light or ozone is said to be able to kill these bacteria.

Private wells are a major cause of E. coli infection because the water supply does not have a disinfecting system. Some people can also become infected from swimming in ponds or lakes contaminated with feces.

Human-to-human spread

Indeed, infection Escherichia coli is not a disease air-borne which can spread through the air. However, you can still spread these bacteria to other people.

Bacteria spreads easily if you don’t wash your hands thoroughly after changing baby diapers or cleaning animal waste.

Then, you touch someone else’s hand. If people who are touched eat with dirty hands, these bacteria can enter the body.

The spread of animals

People who work with animals, such as cows, goats, and sheep can become infected with bacteria that live in the animal’s body.

Risk factors

What increases my risk of getting an E. coli bacterial infection?

There are many risk factors for E. coli bacterial infection, the following are among them.

Age. Young children and the elderly have a higher risk of getting E. coli bacteria.
A weakened immune system, such as people with AIDS or people taking cancer treatments, or drugs to prevent organ transplant rejection.
Eating certain types of food, for example: undercooked meat, unpasteurized milk, apple juice or vinegar, soft cheese made from raw milk.
June to September is the time when E. coli infection is most prevalent.
Decreased stomach acid levels when using drugs to reduce stomach acid levels, such as esomeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazole, and omeprazole.

Diagnosis and treatment

How to diagnose this condition?

E. coli bacterial infection can be diagnosed by checking for the presence or absence of bacteria in a stool sample in the laboratory.

How do you treat an E. coli bacterial infection?

There is no specific drug to treat infection Escherichia coli. Most mild infections go away on their own.

You just need to recover with lots of rest and drinking water to replace lost fluids. Depending on the condition, there are some patients who require hospitalization in order to get the infusion.

Anti-diarrheal drugs or antibiotics are not usually given to patients with infection. This is because anti-diarrhea drugs can slow down your digestive system, making it more difficult to get rid of toxins.

Meanwhile, antibiotics are not recommended because it is feared that they can worsen your condition and even cause serious complications.

Home remedies

What are some home remedies that can be done to treat an E. coli bacterial infection?

Here are some steps that can help you recover and prevent E. coli bacterial infection.

Cleanly wash fruits and vegetables and other food.
Wash your hands thoroughly before eating, after using the toilet, after contact with animals.
Use clean utensils, pans, and plates.
Keep raw meat away from clean objects or food.
Decrease the temperature of frozen meat in the refrigerator or microwave and not at the table.
Immediately put leftovers into the refrigerator.
Only consume pasteurized milk.
Drink boiled water.
Don’t cook and prepare food if you have diarrhea.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.

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