What is the course of the disease?
EHEC infection can take different courses. Depending on the severity of the infection, it can rarely even become life-threatening. The first sign of an infection is usually watery and often bloody diarrhea.
If such symptoms occur, a doctor should always be consulted. In addition to diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting are often also seen. The vomit may also contain slight traces of blood.
In most cases these symptoms subside after a few days to weeks and the disease seems to be cured. In rare cases, the infection can also cause other diseases, such as HU syndrome. In this case, diarrhea and vomiting may subside while other symptoms such as paleness, weakness and urinary retention occur.
If this is the case, the course of the disease is prolonged and can last up to several weeks. In the most severe case, HU syndrome can also cause persistent kidney failure, so that the affected person is dependent on external blood detoxification by dialysis for the rest of his or her life. The incubation period is the time that elapses between infection and the onset of the infection within the body.
It therefore describes the time that the bacterium needs to take effect within the body. In case of an EHEC infection, the incubation period is two to ten days. On average, three to four days are given. The hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) triggered by the EHEC infection shows first signs after about one week. The first symptoms of HUS do not appear until after the outbreak of EHEC infection.
How to treat the infection with EHEC
There are several treatment approaches for EHEC infection. Since enterohaemorrhagic Escheria coli are bacteria, antibiotic therapy can be considered. This is generally only recommended in exceptional cases, as it would delay the excretion of bacteria.
Consequently, the bacteria would have longer time to release their toxins. The treatment of EHEC infections is therefore mostly symptom-specific. There is no direct medication against the infection.
The goal is to remove the pathogenic bacteria from the intestine as quickly as possible before they can cause worse diseases. Due to the high fluid and nutrient losses, an intake of potassium, sodium and fluid is therefore of great importance. This intake is usually done via infusions or tablets.
However, treatment of EHEC infection with diarrhea medication is absolutely not recommended. Even though diarrhoea is an extremely unpleasant situation, the pathogenic bacteria are eliminated through it. If the EHEC bacterium has already caused the HU syndrome (hemolytic-uremic syndrome), its symptoms must also be treated as soon as possible.
If there is no quick, concrete treatment, the hemolytic-uremic syndrome can lead to death. The treatment involves stimulating the weakened kidney function with various drugs, for example diuretics. If this treatment option is not successful, dialysis must be used, as this is the only way to remove the toxins from the blood of the affected person.
