US and Canada urged to avoid romaine lettuce amid E coli outbreak. what kind of monster is he?
Escherichia coli or abbreviated E. coli is a bacterium commonly found in the human intestine. These bacteria consist of several types and most of them are harmless. That means that only a handful of types of E. coli bacteria can harm health.
One of the dangerous E. coli bacteria is E. coli O157: H7. These bacteria can cause food poisoning and infections that are quite serious. E. coli O157: H7 can produce poisons that can damage the walls of the small intestine and cause stomach cramps, diarrhea mixed with blood, and vomiting.
Factors that can increase risk
Here are some factors that can increase a person's risk of contracting an E. coli infection, including:
- Age. Children, pregnant women, and elderly people are prone to suffer from diseases caused by coliosis and more serious complications from these bacteria.
- Weakened immune system. People with AIDS or people who are undergoing chemotherapy will be more at risk for coli infection.
- Decreased acid levels in the stomach. Acid produced by the stomach can provide protection against coli bacteria. Some gastric acid relievers such as esomeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazole, and omeprazole have the potential to increase the risk of E. coli infection.
Symptoms of infection with E. coli bacteria usually begin to be felt three to four days after the body is exposed to these bacteria. But symptoms can also appear a day or even a week later. The following are symptoms that commonly occur due to E. coli infection:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea, with mild to severe severity, and even bleeding.
- Loss of appetite.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Fever.
- Fatigue.
In general, E. coli infections can be treated at home and can recover in a matter of days or one week. However, it is recommended to immediately see a doctor if someone experiences severe symptoms as follows:
- Diarrhea that does not show signs of improvement after five days in adults, or for two days in infants and children.
- Fever accompanied by diarrhea.
- Vomiting for more than 12 hours. If it occurs in infants under the age of three months, immediately see a pediatrician.
- The appearance of symptoms of dehydration, such as the amount of urine decreases, feels very thirsty, or consciousness decreases.
- Cannot maintain fluid in the body.
- Abdominal pain does not disappear after defecation.
- Having intestinal infections after traveling abroad.
- Stool mixed with pus or blood.
Diagnosis and Treatment of E. coli Infection
To diagnose an infection with E. coli bacteria and related poisons in the patient's body, the doctor will carry out laboratory tests through stool samples. Treatment will be recommended according to the conditions experienced.
For those who have mild infections, treatment can be done at home by consuming enough water, fruit juice, or clear soda drinks to prevent dehydration. Avoid apple juice, pears, coffee and alcoholic beverages during the recovery process.
In addition, consume soup or mild food when symptoms are still felt, followed by low-fiber foods such as eggs, rice, or bread when conditions start to improve. Avoid foods that contain milk, fat, high fiber, or spicy foods so that the symptoms don't get worse.
E. coli infections, both in the bladder (cystitis) and gastrointestinal tract, usually do not need antibiotics. Patients only need to consume large amounts of water to replace fluids lost due to diarrhea and vomiting, and take adequate rest.
To overcome dehydration in children who have diarrhea, ORS can help restore fluid in their bodies. In addition, ORS also functions to replace sodium, potassium, and also glucose lost from the body. Do not give antidiarrheal drugs that can slow down the digestive system because this drug will prevent wasting toxins out of the body.
If the E. coli infection that occurs is quite serious and causes uremic hemolytic syndrome, patients usually need to get intensive care at the hospital.
