February 11, 2012
Topics A-Z Children's Health Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli
Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli |
|
Dear Ask The Doctor: How long can a child have this form of Ecoli? My 20 month old has tested positive for it for 5 weeks going on 6. His kidneys and blood have not been affected and he has has no symptoms of it (other than occasionally diarrhea, which is down to only once a day at most). Even my childs dr seems perplexed by this. Dear Tricia: I understand how concerned you are about this severe condition. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections most frequently present as enteric disease, ranging from mild secretory diarrhea to severe hemorrhagic colitis. The most important complication is hemolytic uremic syndrome, which develops in 5 to 10 percent of patients, fortunately this complication is apparently ruled out. Transmitted primarily by food and less commonly by direct contact or water (i.e., contaminated swimming water). Treatment does not affect the duration of bloody diarrhea and may even increase the risk of hemolytic uremic syndrome; duration also depends on your son’s immune system ability to deal with the infection. The infection typically disappear from the feces by the time the illness is resolved, but may be shed for several weeks, even after symptoms go away. Young children tend to carry this condition longer than adults. A few people keep shedding these bacteria for several months. |
|
| Last Updated ( Friday, 25 June 2010 ) |
|
|
|
|
Print Article
Email