MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: E. coli enteritis

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E. coli enteritis

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Causes, incidence, and risk factors Symptoms Signs and tests	Treatment Expectations (prognosis) Complications Calling your health care provider Prevention

Illustrations

Digestive system

Digestive system organs

Alternative names Return to top

Traveler's diarrhea - E. coli; Food poisoning - E. coli; E. coli diarrhea; Hamburger disease

Definition Return to top

E. coli enteritis is an inflammation of the small intestine caused by Escherichia coli bacteria.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

E. coli enteritis is a type of bacterial gastroenteritis. The symptoms are a result of toxins or bacterial invasion into the intestine. The incubation period is 24 to 72 hours. In adults, the infection is usually not severe, but in children and infants, the infection frequently requires hospitalization, and in some cases is life-threatening.

Certain types of E. coli infection are associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a disease characterized by destruction of the red blood cells, drastic decrease in the platelets, and acute kidney failure.

Risk factors include recent family illness with E. coli, recent family illness with gastroenteritis symptoms, recent travel to an area with unsanitary food services, or drinking untreated or contaminated water.

Symptoms Return to top

diarrhea that is acute and severe, both bloody and nonbloody
stomach cramping
gas
vomiting (although rare)
loss of appetite
abdominal pain
fever

Signs and tests Return to top

A stool culture grows disease-causing E. coli, which is tested in the laboratory to distinguish it from the regular "friendly" E. coli in your intestine.

Treatment Return to top

Cases usually resolve themselves in 1 to 3 days, and no treatment is required. Antidiarrheal medication may delay the elimination of the organism from the digestive tract, and therefore may not be recommended.

Rehydration with electrolyte solutions may be necessary if dehydration from diarrhea occurs. People with diarrhea (especially in young children) who are unable to take oral fluids because of nausea may need medical attention and intravenous fluids.

People taking diuretics need to be cautious with diarrhea, and may need to stop taking the diuretic during the acute episode, as directed by the health care provider.

Dairy products should be avoided, as they can make the diarrhea worse (due to the temporary lactose intolerance that can arise.)

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

The illness usually runs its course without treatment in a few days.

Complications Return to top

dehydration
prolonged diarrhea
temporary lactose intolerance afterwards

Calling your health care provider Return to top

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you are unable to keep fluids down, if diarrhea does not resolve in 3 to 4 days, or if blood in stools is noted.

Call your health care provider if symptoms of dehydration develop, symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment, or new symptoms develop.

Prevention Return to top

Careful handwashing may be helpful. Do not drink untreated or possibly contaminated food or water. Always cook meats adequately, especially ground meats. Cook meats at high enough temperatures to kill organisms.

Update Date: 1/16/2004

Updated by: Daniel Levy, M.D., Ph.D., Infectious Diseases, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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