What is E. coli O157:H7?

Question

What is E. coli O157:H7?

Answer 1

E. coli O157:H7 is a bacterium that causes diarrhea that is often bloody; the diarrhea can be accompanied by abdominal cramps. Fever may be absent or mild. Symptoms usually occur within 2-3 days following exposure, but may occur as soon as 1 day following exposure or up to one week following exposure.

Healthy adults can typically recover completely from E. coli O157:H7 exposure within a week. However, some people, especially young children and the elderly, can develop Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) as a result of exposure to E. coli O157:H7, a condition that can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

Answer 2

You haven't described E. coli infection. The symptoms manifest 7 days after the initial infection. It's usually caused by undercooked meat. First there are severe cramps. After a few hours of this there's watery diarrhea for a day or two, followed by bloody stools for 2-5 days. Mostly blood, not much stool because this bacteria creates open sores in the intestines. There can also be nausea, vomiting and sometimes fever. But these last three symptoms don't necessarily appear.

Answer 3

One of hundreds of strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli. Although most strains are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals, this strain produces a powerful toxin and can cause severe illness.

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