Do I have E- Coli?

Question

I ate a salad from McDonalds about 2 hours ago and it had spinach in it. I heard on the news about the e-coli in spinach and I took the spinach out of the salad but I didn't think it was that serious anyway. I ate the salad without the spinach in it but could the e-coli have rubbed of onto the lettuce or got into the dressing?

I also feel like my stmach is a little upset right now.

Answer 1

How long ago did you eat the salad from McDonalds? Had you been infected with the E. coli which is currently being reported as contaminating spinach, you would be quite sick in about 2 to 9 days. Do you have bloody diarrhea? Nausea and vomiting? Severe abdominal cramps? Fever? If so, you should seek treatment at an emergency room and possibly be hospitalized.

Healthy adults infected with E. coli O157:H7 may recover within 5 to 10 days without treatment. The higher risk is for those with a compromised immune system, children and older adults. A serious complication of EHEC is called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). It leads to destruction of the red blood cells and kidney failure. About 2%-7% of infections lead to this complication. Even with the patient receiving intensive care, the death rate from hemolytic uremic syndrome can be about 3%-5%.

The very infectious E. coli -- type 0157:H7 may also be antibiotic resistant. During the current epidemic of E.coli 0157:H7 found in spinach an 85-year-old woman died in Wisconsin and 50 people have been hospitalized.

E. coli 0157:H7 has formerly been found on all types of produce including strawberries, lettuce and bean sprouts. It has also been found in meat. You should thoroughly wash all vegetables and fruits that you eat raw. The tap water is chlorinated which generally is sufficient to kill most bacteria but 0157:H7 is also resistant to chlorine so you must soak the vegetables for around 10 minutes and use friction to rub the vegetables. Fruit juices were the source of a large E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in 1996. Contaminated seeds, irrigation water, and flooding have contributed to E. coli outbreaks traced to alfalfa sprouts, lettuce, spinach, parsley, and other fresh produce.

Meat must be thoroughly cooked. E. coli O157:H7 bacteria is believed to mostly live in the intestines of cattle, but has also been found in the intestines of chickens, deer, sheep, and pigs. E. coli O157:H7 does not make the animals that carry it ill; the animals are merely the reservoir for the bacteria.

The CDC estimates that about 73,000 cases of E.coli occur each year. And 76 million cases of other food borne illness. For E. coli, every year, 2,100 Americans are hospitalized, and 61 people die as a direct result of E. coli infections and its complications. A recent study estimated the annual cost of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses to be $405 million (in 2003 dollars). Those costs that contributed to this estimate included $370 million for premature deaths, $30 million for medical care, and $5 million for lost productivity.

The virulence of E. coli O157:H7 is a result of its ability to produce Shiga-like toxins, or verotoxins. Shiga-like toxins inhibit protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells and play a role in hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome by causing damage to endothelial cells in the kidneys, pancreas, brain, and other organs, thus inhibiting those organs’ ability to function.

The primary mode of transmission of E. coli at agricultural fairs, petting zoos, and farm visits was previously thought to be fecal-oral – that is, by ingestion of bacteria-laden feces via contaminated food or water, or transfer by hand to mouth following contact with contaminated surfaces or animals. Conclusions reached by investigators in several recent fair-associated outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 suggest that ingestion or perhaps even inhalation of contaminated dust particles may be an additional cause of E. coli infection among fairgoers and visitors to petting zoos.

Answer 2

Depends on the news they said only bagged spinach had the e-coil in it not the fresh spinach. I don't know which kind McDonalds uses but if your that worried go to the doctor.

Answer 3

From what you have reported it seems such as you have a urinary tract an infection (UTI). E coli is a micro organism that's often latest in fecal rely/stool & can each and every now and returned reason urinary tract infections. Wiping your self after urination from front to back or in the direction of your anus & washing your palms usually can ward off you getting yet another urinary tract an infection. UTIs do not in many circumstances bypass from guy or woman to guy or woman for the period of intercourse, yet while he's having warning signs like burning on urination or challenge getting urine to bypass then he ought to circulate to the surgeon.

Answer 4

if you feel the need call the doc. It may be just in your head though. I hate a prepackaged salad last night and I felt sick today after I had heard the news. Then I realized it had no Spinach in it and I was making myself sick. If you feel you need to see a doc, do it.

Answer 5

I think you are getting yourself all worked up for nothing..I'm sure you don't ,but if I was that worried I'd call a doctor ..But I don't believe you have E-coli..Worrying will make you sick to your stomach..