Escherichia Coli, or E. Coli is a bacteria that usually lives in your intestines. Most of them are good and necessary for humans or even animals, however, some are really harmful. There are over 200 strains of e. coli that is harmful, and one of the worst ones is the O157:H7. It is responsible for 31 deaths per year, 9600 hospitalizations and 32000 sicknesses per year! Harmful E Coli put in a Shiga toxin, which is responsible for the sickness. This Shiga toxin stimulates your intestines, causing you to produce more fluids and have diarrhoea.
How do you contract harmful E. Coli.
You can contract from humans, animals or from food, and most serious outbreaks are usually from ground beef, spinach or lettuce. In 1993, Jack in the Box's outbreak caused 3 children to die and 500+ to fall ill. In September 2006, over 275 cases and 3 deaths was reported in USA due to E. Coli found in spinach from a cattle ranch in Salinas Valley, and in 2018-19, 167 illnesses and 85 hospitalizations were reported due to E. Coli found in Romaine Lettuce also in Salinas Valley.
Symptoms:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Mild-Severe Diarrhoea
- Bloody diarrhoea especially if severe
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Anaemia
- Fatigue
- Seizures
- DEATH
Treatments:
For mild cases of E. Coli, medications are not necessarily needed. Just remember to drink more low-sugar fluids and rest more for the body to heal itself.
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