What is E. coli and how serious is it? Symptoms, treatment and how you can get it
While most E. coli bacteria are harmless and common, there are some that can make people sick, even leading to serious health conditions that can be fatal.
We are surrounded by bacteria throughout the environments we live in. There are even estimated to be over 10,000 microscopic organisms calling us humans home. Most of these are harmless as is the case with most E. Coli. However, some of them can cause illness, sometimes serious.
Every now and then when there is an outbreak of one of these harmful bacteria the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issues a health alert when a harmful strain is causing an outbreak.
What is E. Coli and how serious is it? Symptoms, treatment and how you can get it
E. coli is found in many places and for the most part are harmless, but, like other bacteria, certain types can make you sick with diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, sepsis, and other illnesses according to the CDC. E. coli is present in the environment, on food and in water as well as in the intestines of people and animals.
In fact, most of them that are living in our intestinal tract help keep the system healthy, digest foods so that we can get the nutrients from them and produce vitamins. They also protect us from other harmful germs.
We can get infected with E. coli after swallowing the germ in contaminated water or that is on food, or touching animals, environments or other people and then carrying the bacteria to our mouths. Thus protecting ourselves is relatively easy. “The best ways to prevent infection are by keeping your hands clean, preparing food safely, and drinking safe water,” advises the CDC.
There are four groups of people that are at more risk of an E. coli infection warn health officials. These include children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, people with weakened immune systems and international travelers
In the event that you fall ill with E. coli, call your healthcare provider, especially if you have any severe symptoms.
What are the symptoms of an E. coli infection?
According to the CDC, E. Coli can cause dehydration, vomiting, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps, and can be deadly, in the worst-case scenario.
The health agency advises that you should call your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms. Diarrhea and a fever above 102ºF, diarrhea for more than 3 days and its is not improving, or bloody diarrhea.
Likewise if you are vomiting so much that you cannot keep liquids down. Additionally, if you are showing signs of dehydration, which include not peeing much, a dry mouth and throat or feeling dizzy when standing up.
Symptoms typically begin three to four days after consuming an affected food, and can last about a week. For more information the CDC provides a frequently asked question page.
There is no specific treatment for E. coli infection, and generally people are advised to drink plenty of fluids. This helps flush the E. coli out of the system and also can prevent dehydration due to diarrhea.
However, antibiotics are sometimes used to treat severe intestinal illness or when there is a risk for severe illness says the CDC. But this is unnecessary for most people that get infected.