EHEC infection
EHEC infection is caused by the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli bacterium. EHEC intestinal bacteria can cause bloody intestinal inflammation. In addition, nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting are typical symptoms of an EHEC infection.
What is EHEC infection?
The EHEC in EHEC infection means enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. These bacteria cause the sufferer to complain of bloody diarrhea. As a rule, these are harmless intestinal bacteria that are naturally present in the human intestine. EHEC bacteria, on the other hand, produce cell toxins that make the body ill.
Even if EHEC is not life-threatening, ignoring the disease does not make sense. EHEC can very well lead to life-threatening complications – these are expressed through the HUS syndrome.
Doctors and researchers came to the conclusion that it is a special variant of the Escherichia coli bacterium. The scientific name is: E. coli 0104:H4. The bacteria are transmitted due to different causes; It is mainly due to the lack of hygiene and the failure to wash vegetables or fruit.
causes
Reasons for an EHEC infection: Ruminants offer a natural reservoir for the bacteria. However, these do not become ill from the bacteria, but excrete them – and thus the risk of infection begins. Humans also excrete the bacteria and thus increase the risk of infection. Infection occurs either through contaminated food – primarily raw milk or raw meat, as well as unwashed fruit and vegetables.There is a further risk of infection if the person concerned swims in EHEC-contaminated waters. The problem: Often there is no warning that the water is dirty or contaminated. Since EHEC is a smear infection , transmission from person to person is also possible. In Germany, vegetable sprouts were the main reason for EHEC diseases. Mainly older people (seniors), people with a weak or weakened immune system or children get sick. Adults, on the other hand, do not belong to the risk group.
When to the doctor?
In the case of EHEC infection, a doctor must be consulted in any case. As a rule, spontaneous healing or a positive course of the disease does not occur without treatment or only with the help of self-help methods. Therefore, the patient should always consult a doctor if the complaints and symptoms of the EHEC infection occur.
Furthermore, this disease is notifiable and those affected must avoid contact with other people at all costs. Bloody stools and diarrhea usually occur .
Those affected also suffer from nausea and vomiting and often complain of fever. If these symptoms occur and last for several days, a doctor must be consulted in any case. Bloody stool in particular is a characteristic symptom of EHEC infection.
If treatment is not treated in time, it can lead to inflammation and ulcers in the stomach . The EHEC infection can usually be treated and examined by a general practitioner. In acute emergencies or if the symptoms are very severe, the patient should go to the hospital or call an ambulance.
symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of an EHEC infection:
EHEC bacteria express themselves through watery and severe diarrhea. The patient often complains of nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, which sometimes gets worse and sometimes worse. Elevated temperature also occurs. Around 20 percent of those affected have bloody diarrhea, very severe – almost colicky – abdominal pain and high fever.
10 percent suffer life-threatening complications from the infection. As a result, they suffer from the haemolytic uremic syndrome – in short: HUS. Acute kidney failure , anemia and a lack of blood platelets are possible here . The first signs of the syndrome appear after about seven days. As a rule, children suffer from the HUS syndrome.
Diagnose
If you have bloody diarrhea or severe diarrhea that lasts more than three days, you need to see a doctor. If an EHEC infection is suspected, the doctor examines the patient’s blood. Here the doctor checks any elevated liver values and a lack of blood platelets as well as anemia.
Furthermore, the doctor can determine erythrocytes in the blood count. The doctor can also detect the EHEC bacteria in the blood. However, this is not always possible. Furthermore, there is already a rapid test that was introduced in 2011 – after EHEC infections occurred relatively quickly. This made it possible to be certain after just a few hours: EHEC yes or no. The EHEC infection is subject to reporting under the Infection Protection Act.
complications
The EHEC infection represents a serious infection of the patient and should therefore always be examined and treated by a doctor. It is also notifiable in Germany. The complaints and symptoms are very similar to gastroenteritis. Those affected suffer from severe diarrhea and also from vomiting.
It is not uncommon for there to be blood in the stool, which can lead to a panic attack or sweating in many patients .
There is also a high fever and a general feeling of illness. The patients feel exhausted and tired and the quality of life is greatly reduced.
The patients continue to suffer from severe cramps and are therefore severely restricted in their everyday life. The loss of fluid severely restricts and weakens the entire immune system.
If the EHEC infection is not treated, it can lead to kidney problems. For this reason, immediate treatment is necessary, especially in children. This is carried out with the help of antibiotics and does not lead to further complications. The symptoms usually disappear relatively quickly and there is always a positive course of the disease. Life expectancy is usually not reduced by EHEC infection.
treatment and therapy
As a rule, there are no drugs or antibiotics that kill the bacteria or attack the cause of the EHEC infection. An antibacterial treatment even causes them to spread even more cell toxin through the attack and thus the symptoms of the disease become stronger.
First and foremost, the doctor does not treat the cause – i.e. the bacteria – but the symptoms of the infection. This means that the loss of fluids and electrolytes is replaced by the profuse diarrhea (and vomiting). If it is also the HUS syndrome, intensive medical care is necessary.
If the course of the disease takes on stronger forms, a blood wash will help . Here the doctor filters the toxic EHEC products out of the blood. A promising therapy has been demonstrated with eculizumab. This also stops HUS syndrome and ensures rapid improvement in symptoms and disease progression.
prevention
The person affected can easily avoid the EHEC infection. First and foremost, you have to make sure that both fruit and vegetables are properly cleaned. A quick wash under the tap is usually not enough. The fruit and the salad should be rinsed thoroughly – this way pathogens can be killed.Another measure – even if it goes without saying – is the necessary hygiene after going to the toilet. Above all, dirty hands after a bowel movement are the perfect EHEC transmitter. Even if people cannot usually check whether the person opposite has washed their hands, you should set a good example yourself.
Another measure that the person concerned can take is to avoid raw milk or raw meat. Here, too, the risk of infection (for risk groups) is relatively high – a healthy adult with a normal immune system is usually armed against EHEC.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.